C&L Auto and Boat DetailingThis is my website I have used for almost a year. I sometimes feel like because I look it constantly I lose the ability to pick out things that could be improved. So I am looking for questions or comments you might have or ideas that could help improve my website! Think constructive criticism!
My website
- Thread starter C&LDetail
- Start date
Shane731
Active member
- Dec 25, 2009
- 3,498
- 0
This seems rather confusing:
Package 3*
SUV / Truck - $120 - $150
Ultimate Package*
SUV / Truck - $300+
Shouldn't the Ultimate Package really be Package 2+? The Ultimate Package is really a glorified Package 3. Also, why the huge price difference between Package 3 and the Ultimate Package? Aside from additional polishing and the combination of a sealant and wax, what are you doing that makes it $150 more? If you don't wish to lower the price of the Ultimate Package, perhaps you should consider raising the price of Package 3.
In the gallery movie, is that a recording? Liked the song, but it seemed kinda distracting as I kept hearing the fingers sliding up and down the guitar strings instead of the music, which made it harder to focus on the pictures. Whoever was playing the guitar just needed to be quieter with their fingers. Kinda piddly, but I thought I would point that out.
Other than that, I think it looks good. I like it! :xyxthumbs:
Package 3*
- Package 2+
- 1 Step Polish
- Paint Sealant
- Light Swirl Removal
- Engine detail (+$10)
SUV / Truck - $120 - $150
Ultimate Package*
- Package 3+
- 2 Step Polish
- Moderate to Heavy Swirl Removal
- Engine Detail
- Paint Sealant and Hand Wax
SUV / Truck - $300+
Shouldn't the Ultimate Package really be Package 2+? The Ultimate Package is really a glorified Package 3. Also, why the huge price difference between Package 3 and the Ultimate Package? Aside from additional polishing and the combination of a sealant and wax, what are you doing that makes it $150 more? If you don't wish to lower the price of the Ultimate Package, perhaps you should consider raising the price of Package 3.
In the gallery movie, is that a recording? Liked the song, but it seemed kinda distracting as I kept hearing the fingers sliding up and down the guitar strings instead of the music, which made it harder to focus on the pictures. Whoever was playing the guitar just needed to be quieter with their fingers. Kinda piddly, but I thought I would point that out.
Other than that, I think it looks good. I like it! :xyxthumbs:
C. Charles Hahn
New member
- Aug 27, 2007
- 3,103
- 0
Have you thought about upgrading to something more along the lines of a WordPress powered site? It would make managing your content much easier.
I'm currently re-working my site as well and moving things over to WP. Should be a lot cleaner than my current site when I'm done.
I'm currently re-working my site as well and moving things over to WP. Should be a lot cleaner than my current site when I'm done.
- Thread starter
- #4
Thanks for the input! I have thought about bringing the prices a little closer together but the Ultimate package does also include an engine detail I noticed you didn't mention that. Because I would rather not lower the price unless its a necessity.
The song is an acoustic guitar song from a great player which is why you can hear the fingers. On that note I am in the process of reworking the video to be in a totally different format in the next month or so!
- Thread starter
- #5
I dont know what word press is?? It could be something I would be interested in looking into.
kb2ehj
Member
- Aug 10, 2009
- 472
- 0
I'd say it is a start.
I'd agree with Shiny Lil Detlr, you might want to look at moving it up to a CMS based page (WordPress, Joomla, etc).
From a non-detailing view and strictly general content/layout view work on the photography and the captions your putting on them.
Two examples:
1 - The graphic at the top that rolls through a couple pictures of vehicles I assume you've done looks like the aspect ratio is off. Some look ok, some look like they've been squished into a set size box that just doesn't work for what resolution they were originally.
2 - In the 'Picture of the Week' the title of what it is and what package was done is very distracting. The black text against the white background against the photograph really look unprofessional.
I personally wouldn't add any of that information onto the picture itself other then your company logo and even that I would use a clear background. This way it will 'blend into the picture and not be distracting but will still allow the viewer to see who did the work.
As for the text I'd just put a caption below the picture explaining what was done. Side by side before and after pictures would also be nice (more so the 'this got an 'X' package)
If you want to PM me I can show you how to do the side by side picture stuff and how to do the clear back ground text stuff. Clear background with the logo is a bit more involved and would probably require something like photoshop to accomplish. The other two you can do with Irfanview (free application)
Mark
I'd agree with Shiny Lil Detlr, you might want to look at moving it up to a CMS based page (WordPress, Joomla, etc).
From a non-detailing view and strictly general content/layout view work on the photography and the captions your putting on them.
Two examples:
1 - The graphic at the top that rolls through a couple pictures of vehicles I assume you've done looks like the aspect ratio is off. Some look ok, some look like they've been squished into a set size box that just doesn't work for what resolution they were originally.
2 - In the 'Picture of the Week' the title of what it is and what package was done is very distracting. The black text against the white background against the photograph really look unprofessional.
I personally wouldn't add any of that information onto the picture itself other then your company logo and even that I would use a clear background. This way it will 'blend into the picture and not be distracting but will still allow the viewer to see who did the work.
As for the text I'd just put a caption below the picture explaining what was done. Side by side before and after pictures would also be nice (more so the 'this got an 'X' package)
If you want to PM me I can show you how to do the side by side picture stuff and how to do the clear back ground text stuff. Clear background with the logo is a bit more involved and would probably require something like photoshop to accomplish. The other two you can do with Irfanview (free application)
Mark
C. Charles Hahn
New member
- Aug 27, 2007
- 3,103
- 0
That's another reason that I'm a proponent of CMS based sites. The gallery software I'm toying with automatically adds a watermark like you're describing along with generating thumbnails and re-sizing full size images to a more appropriate resolution. All I have to do is upload the files and it does the rest!
Also I realized I didn't post a link to my current site that I'm revamping:
C. Charles Hahn - Automotive Appearance Specialist
detailjohn
New member
- Mar 11, 2010
- 109
- 0
I think you need a little more "glam". Vibrant colors and some pictures of nice cars can really make a statement. I also would change the name of your packages, and also have an itemized cost for services, and offer more smaller packages. It's also a good idea to have some upgrades you can upsell, like Aquapel, or paint sealant. Best of luck.
zackslapshot20
New member
- Mar 26, 2010
- 3
- 0
Did you make the site yourself, or was it done by someone? Also on my computer on Internet Explorer the navigation toolbar is all jacked up. You cannot see some of the content as it covers it up.
- Thread starter
- #10
I made the website myself with the help of a website builder. Hmm I havent ever had anyone say the website has messed up while they were looking at it. I wonder why it would be like that?
Gadgetech
Member
- Jul 7, 2008
- 55
- 0
I don't know much about website design so I'll leave that up to others. I'm sure you don't want to go in detail here, but on your pricing, what is it based on? As someone else mentioned there seems to be some disparity in pricing from one package to the next. I guess the point I would make is to make sure that you have a pricing philosophy and stick to it. I've seen a lot of people go in business and soon back out or not be as successful as they could b/c they didn't understand the economics of pricing. I would imagine the prices are determine by the cost of product used and the amount of labor hours (assuming you have a good idea of how long it consistently takes you to detail a car). For example, no one would want to pay me an hourly wage b/c I'm slow as molasses but I would guess doing it for a living you have a good idea of what your up against. The other thing I would suggest is pricing based on the type of vehicle, moreso than just auto vs. truck or suv. A Ford Escape vs. Expedition is a big difference. Maybe you do this and don't detail all the info on diff. sized vehicles as that's really more info than a cust. needs to know but it's something I would think about.