Nice people thread part 3- Nice as pie

SingleSue

PasturesNew wrote: »

When I chose my O levels it wasn't like that at all. One day we were just lead into the main hall, given a sheet with a grid on it, 6 columns, list of subjects down the left hand side and we were told "pick six subjects, one tick in each column". And that was it. No warning, no help, no careers advice/guidance, no clue as to why you'd choose one over another - and the ones I wanted to do clashed with each other, so I had to pick randomly just to be able to tick 6 and hand it back

So, you're aged 14, given a list and told to tick these and hand them back now. You pick the ones you like, or might like.... then the least horrible for the last 2-3.

Pretty much the same for me, we could tick 1 item out of each column and that was it.

I did however, choose carefully...I chose the sciences for the career I wanted plus also the back up of an RSA in office practice just in case things didn't pan out as expected.

That RSA got me my first office job when things were not going the way I wanted them to and it turned out to be the best move I could ever have made as it went onto to make me lots of money!

tomterm8

PasturesNew wrote: »

and if I started it'd get all huge, with a huge business plan and marketing plan ... and you'd run away scared to start.

Yeah, I had to restrain myself... for example, with the hostgator account, you get a $100 adword voucher. Now, a smart businessman, with a knowledge of the local area could actually put adverts practically down to the post code, so if someone from the posh side of town types 'how do i replace the taps in my bathroom'... your website pops up, right at the top of google.

And because it would be so targeted, you'd get very high conversion.

Do it right, and that adword voucher would probably make you thousands of pounds, and repeat customers.

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'm evidence that it's possible to bumble along without any help and still survive. It's not been good/easy at all though - and still isn't. But at least now "I know", even though I have no help/support. Now I know. Like last night, eyes were crying as I got upset at something and I had to leave the room for 2 minutes, before I'd have rushed off home, probably over-revved the car/nearly had an accident, cried for 20 miles, and never gone again. Now "I know", so it's a 2 minute "time out" outside and back in to carry on.

The difference of knowing is immense.

Well, don't get me wrong, I think SingleSue's children should get as much help as they want, and think they are very lucky to have a mother like SingleSue who takes such good care of them.

silvercar

PasturesNew wrote: »

When I chose my O levels it wasn't like that at all. One day we were just lead into the main hall, given a sheet with a grid on it, 6 columns, list of subjects down the left hand side and we were told "pick six subjects, one tick in each column". And that was it. No warning, no help, no careers advice/guidance, no clue as to why you'd choose one over another - and the ones I wanted to do clashed with each other, so I had to pick randomly just to be able to tick 6 and hand it back

So, you're aged 14, given a list and told to tick these and hand them back now. You pick the ones you like, or might like.... then the least horrible for the last 2-3.

I doubt its much different now. Sure they get letters home and time to consider and parents consultation....

The advice is still the same, you've got around 5 options to choose, you have to do maths, english and science. For balance you should include at least one foreign language, one humanity and one practical subject.

Only difference is now they mess around with computers to try and timetable it, before it was marker pens and white boards. the result is the same - most combinations are possible but there will be the odd child who has to re-choose a subject.

Main difference is years ago you chose from physics, chem and biology. Now you do single, double or triple. For single you do a third of each science, double two thirds of each science and triple a whole GCSE in each science.

Doozergirl

tomterm8 wrote: »

Yeah, I had to restrain myself... for example, with the hostgator account, you get a $100 adword voucher. Now, a smart businessman, with a knowledge of the local area could actually put adverts practically down to the post code, so if someone from the posh side of town types 'how do i replace the taps in my bathroom'... your website pops up, right at the top of google.

And because it would be so targeted, you'd get very high conversion.

Do it right, and that adword voucher would probably make you thousands of pounds, and repeat customers.

Aaargh! I bought myself a domain and hosting last night and I'm waiting for some kind of activation email. I picked one with decent reviews, one click wordpress, a money off code and cashback.

I nearly picked one with adwords voucher and something else but I decided that as you hadn't mentioned it, it probably wasn't important...

Once I get the website confirmed, I will use the googlemaps thing, very clever! And the posh part of town has just made me think to include the footballers' village name!

PasturesNew I am happy for you to scare me. Please feel free! Lovely suggestions, proper blogging etc. If you have time to help with direction via PM me perhaps, save taking up this thread, I'd be grateful.

What scares me most in general about things is not knowing anything! The more I know, the happier I am. Still takes me ages to procrastinate first though.

tomterm8

Doozergirl wrote: »

I nearly picked one with adwords voucher and something else but I decided that as you hadn't mentioned it, it probably wasn't important....

Nah, not important, google wants to hook you on adwords, so the vouchers can be obtained easily... in fact your host will probably send you one as a surprise bonus.... google pays the web host to give you the voucher But I would wait for a while, and do the rest of the stuff pastures new suggests first. Getting the most out of adwords is hard.

michaels

Not web advice but builders web presence seems to be dire - I had a recommendation but no contact details and could not actually find the contact details online at all - similarly websites are very few and far between considering that is the first thing I look for when I am making a buying decision.

Doozergirl wrote: »

Aaargh! I bought myself a domain and hosting last night and I'm waiting for some kind of activation email. I picked one with decent reviews, one click wordpress, a money off code and cashback.

I nearly picked one with adwords voucher and something else but I decided that as you hadn't mentioned it, it probably wasn't important...

Once I get the website confirmed, I will use the googlemaps thing, very clever! And the posh part of town has just made me think to include the footballers' village name!

PasturesNew I am happy for you to scare me. Please feel free! Lovely suggestions, proper blogging etc. If you have time to help with direction via PM me perhaps, save taking up this thread, I'd be grateful.

What scares me most in general about things is not knowing anything! The more I know, the happier I am. Still takes me ages to procrastinate first though.

silvercar

michaels wrote: »

Not web advice but builders web presence seems to be dire - I had a recommendation but no contact details and could not actually find the contact details online at all - similarly websites are very few and far between considering that is the first thing I look for when I am making a buying decision.

You want a good builder not a fancy IT expert. A local well recommended handyman comes round to quote with a pencil behind his ear and a notebook. He can only just use a mobile phone and has never touched the web.

Doozergirl

michaels wrote: »

Not web advice but builders web presence seems to be dire - I had a recommendation but no contact details and could not actually find the contact details online at all - similarly websites are very few and far between considering that is the first thing I look for when I am making a buying decision.

Yes. I think most of the guys we use get most of their stuff by word of mouth. our electrician has stopped using the yellow pages now he has enough work from elsewhere. But some are desperate for work and don't advertise anywhere... But most of the guys, their experience is purely manual, they hate even writing out invoices, let alone creating websites and marketing themselves.

If I can create a site that people can see when they google and try to make it look as professional (!) or at least as friendly as I can. I have hundreds of photos, in all different places, more than I imagined and some that I frustratingly can't find. Either way, I definitely have enough, it's taken me two hours of sorting so far and I still have stuff that I can scan! Floorplans...

Then wondering whether I should pay to get us members of the FMB... It's expensive though! A friend says that his hasn't really got him much work but I wonder if it's something that people check after they've found a builder - or do people really check at all? They'll find us at Companies House etc.

I've got very little budget at the moment. I'd love some estimating software and CAD designers and get a bit of sign-writing for the monster truck Just the estimating software is £1000 although I suspect we could save that very quickly as soon as the next project starts if it's good, but what if it's rubbish!? I don't have any money to waste at all.

Sigh. Me, me, me. Sorry guys.

Doozergirl

silvercar wrote: »

You want a good builder not a fancy IT expert. A local well recommended handyman comes round to quote with a pencil behind his ear and a notebook. He can only just use a mobile phone and has never touched the web.

Pencil and notebook yes. But these men are experts with a mobile phone! After the team on this house sent the theme tune from A Fistful of Dollars via Bluetooth to nearly everyone in the pub. As well as a picture of one of them wearing nothing but three socks (I'll let you guess where the third one was worn).

The picture comes up on the screen every time he phones my H. I can also categorically tell you that the ring tone is also incredibly annoying.

tomterm8

The thing is, though, that a yellow pages advert can cost hundreds or even thousands... website, very little if you DIY. And these days, a lot of people under 40 go to google first. (I mean, around £40 a year all inclusive... one customer a year will make you a profit if you DIY)

It doesn't need to be all singing and dancing... just a nice clear website, with a obvious contact address and email.