opinons on one man band wording on website (easy question)

bikerchris

Hi all,

It'll be very interesting to hear your views, I've been an employee for too long now and have decided to go it alone. I'm going to be providing construction drawings, surveys and so on. Thing is, I don't know whether I should refer to 'we' on my website, like most do. Or if I should be honest and just say 'I'? As in, "we can provide land and building surveys", or "I can provide land and building surveys...".

It's just a silly question really, I just don't feel good about pretending the company has more than one person in it! Saying that, people might think I won't have time to give a good service if there's just one of me?

Thanks in advance!

Chris

Bean_Counter

Can you not just say "land and building surveys can be provided" and avoid the issue completely?

Personally I would not notice the "I" / "We" issue. However will there not be a page on the website of "who we are" / company history etc that will disclose that you are a one man band anyway?

PlutoinCapricorn

Are you a registered sole trader, or did you start a limited company? In the latter case, you could say "the company can provide ..." but I think that it is best to be honest.

There are many independent consultants and freelancers out here, and most do not try to hide the fact that they are on their own.

Are you hoping to bring in cold business via your website, or have you already got some contacts who are familiar with your work?

bikerchris

Hi Bean Counter & PlutoinCapricorn,

As it's snowing and I don't have to go into work (bit difficult with snow on a motorcycle!), so I thought I'd answer - seeing that you've been kind enough to answer.

Thanks for your opinions, really do appreciate them. You are right Bean Counter, I have used the description 'land and building surveys..." as it avoids the issue. In the 'about' page I've just said how long I've been doing it for (bit of a 'get out' there).

Pluto', no I'm just a sole trader - I've yet to register it as some sort of company.

I'm partly interested in cold business via the website, but more so that I can make a company card and give it to people - by having it set up I don't look a prat if they go to the mighty web! I mainly work through recommendation at the moment. It is ironic though, I was in a pub once and a friend introduced me to a friend. A year later, in conversation they asked me what I did, I told them and got £500 of work out of them, very nice indeed!

Thanks again to both of you and hope you're not infront of a computer screen today, it's great out there! :-)

amberene

bikerchris wrote: »

<amazing pic>

That is a wonderful picture!

Here's my tuppence: I think it depends on what you will be. I have always "we'd" on websites because I didn't envisage them always being me. It's for the prospective customers, but also for me, psychologically. Food for thought, maybe.

bikerchris

Thanks for the picture compliment - took it this morning :beer:
Fair point about the psychological perspective. I don't think I have an ego really though, hence I'm "rich in friends but poor in pocket". Darn! Good practical thought though. Have another picture :-)



These two are probably the best, you're welcome to look at the others this morning - just no nasty comments! :-)

melipona

My 2p, a company web site is a marketing opportunity and a one man band using the royal "we" seems fair enough to me. It could also be construed to be the customer and supplier relationship which is also a positive.

"I" could suggest an egotistic supplier.

PlutoinCapricorn

Starting out as a sole trader is very sensible. You have the option of incorporating if and when the volume of business reaches a certain level.

Getting business via personal contacts and creating the website for reference makes things easier too: there is less need to sell your services to strangers.

I think that this makes the use of 'I' rather than 'we' even more advisable, as your clients will already know that you are a sole trader.

I was in Worthing yesterday, and I saw some snowy scenes on the train home, but they were not as good as your pictures. They are beautiful.