Work Ethic / Manifesto

I think that our work ethic and manifesto is expressed best in the following email sent to a prospective client:

*names have been changed  *emphasis added

Hi Laura[the prospect],

I was talking to Brad[the client that referred me to Laura] yesterday and he mentioned to me that you are interested in starting a website for the salon and that you were interested in the online appointment booking feature on his website. He suggested I contact you.
If you need any help or advice about the web I do web development as a part-time side business and did Brad’s website.

I am interested in what your goals are as far as a website, particularly if you are looking to attract new local customers online. For instance Brad’s listing shows up #3 on the list if you Google “Tampa Upholstery” (which receives 110 searches/month).

“Tampa Nails” receives 720 searches/month (you can check this by going to https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal and entering “Tampa nails“). It is possible for you to create a website that shows up high in these listings and works as part of your business system (i.e. the online appointment booking) without spending much money.

When it comes to websites I believe more than anything businesses should start small and inexpensively but also focused like a laser on using the website as a tool (not just a pretty [expensive] thing that sits there). Also it is good for you to be very hands on as it is your marketing tool. With the tools available today it is easy for you to edit and update the text of your website yourself.

You might want to start with just a one page website: a page with pictures of your salon, you and the staff; testimonials from customers; your contact info and a map, and the online appointment booking button.

This would be inexpensive which is where you want to start as you test out the web.

The online appointment booking for example (you can see it in action on my website eaglelandgrace.com) is a third party service. The basic plan has no monthly fee and is probably all you will need, especially starting out. Before this service existed an appointment booking service would have cost thousands. Today to set their booking system up on your website I only charge $85. All of my prices are fixed (I don’t charge by the hour) so you know exactly how much the project will start from the beginning.

If you are like most small businesses starting out you likely need a lot of information instead of a lot of sales (you don’t need any of that really). I enjoy teaching people about how to use the web and how to do it effectively while bootstrapping. And I love helping small businesses. Even if you are not going to start your website right away or are looking around I would be happy to meet you and share tips with you that might be helpful.

Give me a call
-Tori Johnson