Out of work and out of money!

Annisele

DJKris2010 wrote: »

I'm afraid that side of things I really have very little knowledge of and leave in her hands as she is the one with the experience.

I agree with the people strongly suggesting you take the business name out of your post. MSE tends to come fairly high up Google's rankings, and you don't want prospective customers to google you and find out your financial situation (or your comment that you're lacking that sort of experience).

From your website, I can't work out whether your business is a limited company, a partnership, or a sole trader. Companies House tells me it isn't a limited company or a limited partnership - so that means either you're in partnership with your mum, or one of you is a sole trader employing the other. You don't have to answer here, but are you absolutely clear in your own mind which one it is? And that you're complying with all the associated legal requirements?

I ask because your website makes me *seriously* doubt you know what you're doing regarding the legal status of your own business. I know that's a horrible thing to say, but it's the most helpful thing I can come up with. As things stand, I wouldn't let somebody with your website anywhere near my business.

StumpyPumpy

Sorry to add to the chorus of doom, but I wouldn't want to do business with you based on your website either.

From a design perspective, it is cluttered with poor choices of colours and fonts and is difficult to navigate despite its simplicity. It is supposed to be a shop window onto your skills as a web designer, but it looks like something that would have been considered just "passable" ten years ago. Too many links go to dead ends (e.g. your "Graphic Design" pictures which should really be in a lightbox applet or some such). It does not scale to different resolutions and if I were paying for someone to design a website for me I'd at least expect their website to be showing off their HTML 5 proficiency and Java skills. A single Spry menu does not cut it, sorry.

You should also be aware that people are pedantic. So your website needs to be spot on in every respect. Long, rambling sentences will put people off, and yours has them in abundance. Misspellings? "Spread sheet" is one word when used in an Excel context, and little details such as the double spacing in the phrase "correct grammar and spelling" are unfortunate to say the least. Yes, it doesn't look like it is a double space on the page, but you must expect people to look at the page source and see that it is. I could go on but these points alone would discount you for web design, "Word Processing" and Correspondence" in many eyes.

But what about the rest? I am intrigued by your claim to be "...currently working with Microsoft Excel 2010 and Microsoft Works 10" as Works was discontinued 5 years ago... at version 9. I'm sure some people still use Works but you are pitching at a very small (and shrinking) market here: is it really the best you can offer? Even before it was discontinued Works was in maintenance mode for several years - to such an extent that in 2005 (IIRC - time passes, memory fails) MS UK only had one engineer supporting it and he actually worked for the Flightsim team! But I digress. If you have identified a market for Works, go for it; target it even, but at least get the product versions right. If not, ditch it as it just gives the impression that you have a limited and dated skill set.

Your prices are all over the place and, as others have stated, are a lot higher than other on-line services. Personally I'm curious about the extra £ I would have to pay an hour to hire you for "Database Maintenance" rather than "Correspondence" or "Word Processing" but maybe that is just me.

Again, apologies for being blunt but the examples of your work are poor. The video example is dark, out of focus and badly merged/cut. Obviously, it might be like that in the original but it is a poor choice of showcase. Some of the "Graphics" examples seem very old:a wrestling DVD cover from 1998? a wedding from 2010? Sure, you may have actually made these last week, but it doesn't say so on the website. Also, some of the graphics have spelling errors on them, unless, for instance, you meant to write "...take on their south cost neighbours".

I appreciate that the above sounds, and indeed is, negative. But it is intended as constructive criticism. Take a step back and look at how the website projects you and your business to prospective customers. Then Google around for similar services and see what the competition looks like. Then you might get an idea why work is scarce.

SP

flexrider

StumpyPumpy wrote: »

Sorry to add to the chorus of doom, but I wouldn't want to do business with you based on your website either.

From a design perspective, it is cluttered with poor choices of colours and fonts and is difficult to navigate despite its simplicity. It is supposed to be a shop window onto your skills as a web designer, but it looks like something that would have been considered just "passable" ten years ago. Too many links go to dead ends (e.g. your "Graphic Design" pictures which should really be in a lightbox applet or some such). It does not scale to different resolutions and if I were paying for someone to design a website for me I'd at least expect their website to be showing off their HTML 5 proficiency and Java skills. A single Spry menu does not cut it, sorry.

You should also be aware that people are pedantic. So your website needs to be spot on in every respect. Long, rambling sentences will put people off, and yours has them in abundance. Misspellings? "Spread sheet" is one word when used in an Excel context, and little details such as the double spacing in the phrase "correct grammar and spelling" are unfortunate to say the least. Yes, it doesn't look like it is a double space on the page, but you must expect people to look at the page source and see that it is. I could go on but these points alone would discount you for web design, "Word Processing" and Correspondence" in many eyes.

But what about the rest? I am intrigued by your claim to be "...currently working with Microsoft Excel 2010 and Microsoft Works 10" as Works was discontinued 5 years ago... at version 9. I'm sure some people still use Works but you are pitching at a very small (and shrinking) market here: is it really the best you can offer? Even before it was discontinued Works was in maintenance mode for several years - to such an extent that in 2005 (IIRC - time passes, memory fails) MS UK only had one engineer supporting it and he actually worked for the Flightsim team! But I digress. If you have identified a market for Works, go for it; target it even, but at least get the product versions right. If not, ditch it as it just gives the impression that you have a limited and dated skill set.

Your prices are all over the place and, as others have stated, are a lot higher than other on-line services. Personally I'm curious about the extra £ I would have to pay an hour to hire you for "Database Maintenance" rather than "Correspondence" or "Word Processing" but maybe that is just me.

Again, apologies for being blunt but the examples of your work are poor. The video example is dark, out of focus and badly merged/cut. Obviously, it might be like that in the original but it is a poor choice of showcase. Some of the "Graphics" examples seem very old:a wrestling DVD cover from 1998? a wedding from 2010? Sure, you may have actually made these last week, but it doesn't say so on the website. Also, some of the graphics have spelling errors on them, unless, for instance, you meant to write "...take on their south cost neighbours".

I appreciate that the above sounds, and indeed is, negative. But it is intended as constructive criticism. Take a step back and look at how the website projects you and your business to prospective customers. Then Google around for similar services and see what the competition looks like. Then you might get an idea why work is scarce.

SP

I :T this forum user being a web deisgner and programmer myself clarity is the first key, rememeber if a user does not find the infomation they seek in 20 seconds they are gone for good because they know they will use mr google to find a well better developed site

Before you re-do your site please read this from one of the Experts on the matter
http://www.usability.gov/methods/test_refine/heuristic.html or try and get hold of a book call webpage usbility or Prioritlzing web Usbility by Jakob Neilson

sorry to be harsh but your site is pre 1992 and need fixing, would also like to say run your site through w3c to clearly see the faults you have as if you can get your site w3c friendly then google you love you more also rather then the link which i beleive is keeping you up high on page 1-2 as goggle determines your content but you will be de-indexed (Sandboxed) by goggle soon and its a hard feat to get your site back trusted by goggle when it happens


http://www.w3.org/

cheers

gb12345

Annisele wrote: »

I agree with the people strongly suggesting you take the business name out of your post. MSE tends to come fairly high up Google's rankings, and you don't want prospective customers to google you and find out your financial situation (or your comment that you're lacking that sort of experience).

This thread currently appears high on the second page when searching for your URL with the heading "Out of work and out of money" and the preview showing that you've only had one client since October - hardly the image of a successful business.

Talking about image, another result in the search is a link to your PeoplePerHour page. Sorry, but the photo doesn't give the professional image you need. If you must have a photo of yourself on there then at the very least lose the cap.

Then there is the LC Sales Facebook page that comes up, which I assume is your attempt to flog cheap rubbish on ebay. Again, not really something that gives a professional image of the business.

And talking about Facebook, there are the various personal pages (yours included) that come up. A potential client is going to know immediately that you have just got a few mates to add you as a favourite. They are also going to forever associate your business with "Naughty And Sexy Jokes", "Adult Jokes 18+", " Going out for a quiet one and coming home with no pants and a new cat" and " I'd tap that LOL JK i wouldn't even poke it on facebook".

Sorry, but you really don't give the image of a professional businessman.

Mischa8

On the back of this but not having seen website is there anyone, gov agency, small business advisor, local business network who could advise you and your mum re all issues mentioned in past few posts and updating what you do etc?

My boss belongs to some sort of business group i think run by local town Guild. They have breakfast meetings and other events. The good thing about these groups is other businesses can "help" others. Anything from marketing to printing companies etc.

My boss is lucky as his best friend runs small business which also does direct marketing and IT support and therefore does this for our company.

Good bookkeepers are invaluable and always a resource which will attract customers if priced/marketed well. my nana before she died owned her own business (employment agency but also office support/bookkeeping) - she was so good and well trusted that into her 70s/80s she did bookkeeping for a select couple of clients as she enjoyed it and they preferred to use her!

Savvy_Sue

DJKris2010 wrote: »

Dancingfairy, I have done a benefits checker, unfortunately I earn to much for Jobseekers allowance.

too much for income based, did you get your 6 months of contributions based?

miduck

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

too much for income based, did you get your 6 months of contributions based?

He also earns too much for CB JSA.

Savvy_Sue

miduck wrote: »

He also earns too much for CB JSA.

??? Sorry, I thought Contributions based simply depended on the NI contributions you'd paid: if you've paid enough in the right tax years, you're entitled to 6 months' worth, regardless of income. THEN you go onto income based.

If not, when did that change?

miduck

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

??? Sorry, I thought Contributions based simply depended on the NI contributions you'd paid: if you've paid enough in the right tax years, you're entitled to 6 months' worth, regardless of income. THEN you go onto income based.

If not, when did that change?

CB JSA takes into account income from employment, it always has. It does not take into account capital or income from a claimant's partner, whereas IB JSA does.

Daedalus

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

??? Sorry, I thought Contributions based simply depended on the NI contributions you'd paid: if you've paid enough in the right tax years, you're entitled to 6 months' worth, regardless of income. THEN you go onto income based.

If not, when did that change?

If it is not based on income then how does it work? Can I claim 6 months JSA after every two years of NI contributions? As it is not income based I don't even need to give up my work! :P