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Hi Folks, I'm interested to see what you guys suggest, I've a friend with a tree surgery business (Cambridgeshire). They're well established, about 90% of their clients come from word of mouth. They were asking how to improve their website so it doesn't just sit there, but actively draws in customers, but to be honest I'd really appreciate your thoughts. Is there any particular content you have on your site that works well, or any directories that work in particular? Also while we're on the subject... do you include pricing on your site? I've seem some people list 'from prices', and some even seem to have quote calculators. In some ways, that seems like a good idea, as people who get in touch know roughly what to expect, but what are your thoughts? Any suggestions much appreciated!!

This is a follow up to the thread Website optimisation, and is a look at the web service Key World Media who are mentioned there. The core of what Key World Media are doing is charging their clients money for a service which by definition costs them precisely nothing, in a way where they can define their own guaranteed profit margin. Genius ! I think it works like this. They seem to rely on their "client" (i.e., victim) not knowing the ins and outs of advertising on Google and other search engines, and making a promise to appear in the top few adverts displayed next to search results while giving letting a client assume that it is in the search results themselves where their site will appear. (*) The terms and conditions all refer to the "Online Agreement". They make only one promise (from their "Online Agreement"), and it has nothing to do with search results: The genius is that this will NEVER cost them ANYTHING, because Google and Yahoo search ads are by definition Pay Per Click, and "display" is completely free. Charges are only made for actual clicks, and clicks in non-competitive niches (such as for highly targeted local ads) cost from about 5p each. And you can define a daily limit for how much money you spend on an advert, so you: 1 - Charge your client a cheap sounding £1 a day. 2 - Set up 3 or 5 ads (takes about 10-15 minutes using the Google ads wizard) which cost nothing to display. 3 - Limit the spend per to about 20p per day - which will deliver several clicks. 4 - Walk away with a rolling, guaranteed, continuing, 80% profit margin. If the victim complains, the agreement actually talks about ads not search results (SERPS), so you're bulletproof. Create a boiler room cold-calling setup to sell it, and bingo ! Other factors that should give pause for thought: * Their website is dominated by silly and pointless flash videos, rather than useful content. Amateurs 'r' us. * The About page on their website is flagged by Google as "hosting malware". * Since when does a competent SEO company only have 14 Twitter followers, and Tweets going back a fortnight? * If you search on "Key World Media" in Google, the results are full of people explaining how they have been scammed, and how the company keeps changing its name. For example, here, here, here and here. * Their website boasts 250 employees in 3 locations, yet can only muster a single positive review - for a B&B in Llandudno. I expect that it belongs to somebody's mum, or perhaps to Mrs Trellis of North Wales. * For an online business, it is strange that cancellation can only be in writing. * Spellings such as "adverting on Google" and "callendar". They have previously been "MatchMaker Marketing", amongst others. Detailed accounts are here, here and here. (*) I've said "I think" and "seem to" because this is somebody else's forum and I don't want to land our kind host any legal. I'll be doing my own post to land at the top of Google for "Key World Media" elsewhere. Ferdinand

Hi Steve Hope your well, been trying to load the homepage but keep getting a errornotfound.html on the web window and in the bar it says: http://arbtalk.co.uk/profile.php?do=dst just tried it again seems to work fine. adam

Hi all, As some of you already know, I do website design in my spare time. And I am pleased to announce that I can offer all you nice people a FREE website. The only catch is: YOU HAVE TO DESIGN IT YOURSELF!!! Or, I can give you a FREE quote for a custom built one. Check out my site: Crowmere Creations - Mid Cheshire and click website design. Here you can read more about the FREE SITE offer and also request a FREE no obligation quote for a custom built website by myself. Crowmere Creations - Mid Cheshire If you choose the FREE option, you can design your own website with no design skills. All you need is a decent internet connection and and a flash enabled pc/laptop..... NO SOFTWARE TO DOWNLOAD OR INSTALL If you would like some more information, please contact me by direct email: [email protected] or call me at home any evening from 6pm on 01606 889504 ask for Lee. Crowmere Creations - Mid Cheshire I would like to help as many arborists as possible to get their business online. Hope to hear from some of you very soon.. Regards Lee :-) Crowmere Creations - Mid Cheshire

Hi, We have just employed a full time web designer to enable us to provide a full website design and build service specifically for the landscaping and arb industries. We give discounts to our members and just thought we would let you know we would be happy to also offer discounts to Arb Talk and Landscaper Talk members. If any of you are interested please see our web design section on our site http://www.gardenbusinessinsider.co.uk Merry Christmas from all at Garden Business Insider