Low cost web presence for small and micro businesses

I am often amazed at how much people pay just to have a web site. In fact I remember one company paying $500 dollars to have a domain registered. I asked the business owner what was his site address thinking this was quite a sum of money and would like to check out his site. He said he didn’t have a site, this was just the registration of the domain name.

It doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to get your business started on the internet. With a small amount of knowledge it needn’t cost your anything, but I suggest spending an appropriate amount where the business has a single page site and the domain name reflects their business name or service. A one page site will enable the business to have an internet presence they are in control of, will enable their customers to find them on the internet and provide important contact and product or service information.

My approach is different to most web designers. As a computer consultant I charge for my time so my approach is to assist clients with my knowledge and empower them by setting them up so they are in control. Most web designers will set clients up using their facilities (most likely reselling larger companies services) and the designer retains control. I set clients up so they are the owner of the domain and in control of the hosting. Since most people don’t know how to create a web page I create the page for them, but they are free to use anyone, even a family member to create the page, or modify the page I create for them. The small business owner is not tied to me in any way.

The latest site I set up is Herding Dog Training (www.HerdingDogTraining.com). The cost or registering the domain was $12 for two years (discounted from $9 per year). I assisted the client to set up their hosting service which is where they’ll host their web page so the page can be found by others on the internet. I have a hosting company I suggest for reasons which provide future opportunities for the client, but the client is free to use their own preferred hosting company if they know one. The cost for hosting is around $10 a month which they pay directly to the company each month.

What I do is act as a facilitator. The time involved to register the domain and set up the hosting is around an hour.

Most people can’t create their own web page, so I’m happy to create the web page for their site. Once created however they are free to change it and update it if they wish to learn the skills, or know someone who already has the skills. The cost of creating the page can vary from one to two hours, but the approach I use is to have the client create a web page using a product they know such as Microsoft Word. There can be a lot of time involved in designing even a simple page, so if people design the layout themselves, that is a lot of time and thus money that can be saved. I then take the design they’ve created in Word and recreate the document as a web page. The software I use is reasonably priced commercial software and can be purchased by the client to maintain their own page if they want. Converting a page usually takes around an hour to an hour and a half.

An additional benefit to the client is the time from when they provide the material to the time the site goes live, which can be a matter of only days. One client provided their material on Tuesday morning, the web page was provided for review on Wednesday and changes were made. We organised a meeting for the Friday to set up the hosting (they already owned a domain), I then did the rest and they were live Friday afternoon. Their site appeared in Google in the first position when searching on their business name on Saturday night. I use some techniques which enables Google to quickly find sites and with some luck, usually provides the client with a very good position in Google. I say luck, but whilst the technique consistently works, I cannot control what Google may or may not do. As part of creating the page I also perform basic search engine optimisation (SEO) as part of the service, something others may charge hundreds of dollars for.

So in summary, if you’re thinking about a site to start your presence on the internet keep in mind it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. You can purchase an Australian domain for around $24 for two years and hosting for around $10 a month or less. If you don’t have the skills to set things up and don’t want to take the time to learn what you’d need to learn from the information provided on sites, a consultant like myself can assist you. I suggest to allow around an hour for registering the domain and setting up the hosting. If you need a page created and can create a document (most people are able to use Word to create a printed document they’d be happy to hand out to advertise their business) then you can have a web page created in one to two hours. You also don’t have to wait weeks or months as a site can be live within a matter of days. Keep in mind it also isn’t just about having a site. My approach often provides a strong presence on the internet, so make sure whoever you use can also give you a strong presence for your site to get you started without additional SEO costs.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Helping small and micro businesses get started on the internet.

For sale: Cherry Hill Tavern & BWS, 189 Reynolds Road, Doncaster East, Vic 3109

New 20 Year Lease, Blue Chip Covenant: ALH (75% owned by Woolworths)... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Heavy Haulers founder Craig Abbott

Heavy Haulers founder Craig Abbott says the popularity of the class is down to results, the fact they can hold sessions all year round, and the uniqueness of the program.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

They would make Victoria St in Doncaster and King St in Doncaster East much safer for pedestrians.

ELDERLY residents from two retirement villages will be able to cross the road in safety after the installation of two sets of traffic lights.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Three-story complex of 23 apartments and basement carpark at 51-53 Talford St in Doncaster East

The application made by De Felice Homes to build a three-story complex of 23 apartments and basement carpark at 51-53 Talford St in Doncaster East angered residents who raised concerns about traffic congestion, parking issues, over-crowding and loss of amenity.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Doncaster East resident Zara Salem, whose car was vandalised in Pine Way on Easter Sunday

MANNINGHAM police were kept busy during the Easter break, dealing with a range of crimes including vandalism, burglary and the discovery of a sawn-off shotgun.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Doncaster football club kicked out of hall

BUILDERS have begun upgrading a Doncaster East scout hall after Manningham Council booted out a football club using it as a gym.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Pizza Templestowe - Panic Pizza Menu

Pizza Templestowe

Looking for reasonably priced, good quality pizza in Templestowe. Panic Pizza is located at The Pines Shopping Centre on Blackburn Road. We’ve found the pizzas at Panic Pizza to be tasty and reasonably price. To make it easier for locals to order pizza from Panic Pizza, I’ve provided their menu online and you can also find their menu on the JustLocal 3106 and JustLocal 3109 postcode page.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support

Graceland Cafe owner Bijan Roy - Doncaster East

Graceland Cafe owner Bijan Roy will hold the Inaugural Community Dinner on Thursday, May 3, to raise money for welfare organisation, Doncare.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

FORMER AFL star Nathan Thompson prised open the jaws of a savage dog with his bare hands to save his eight-year-old son

An unleashed american staffordshire terrier targeted Mr Thompson's sons Louis, eight, and Benjamin, six... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Young Caucasian boy and hurled colour-related abuse

I WAS walking along Blackburn Rd in East Doncaster, close to the McDonald's, when a little boy aged eight or nine hurled racial abuse at me from a Mazda hatchback. ... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Photography courses Melbourne 2012 - CVC Studios Camera Skills Workshop

CVC Studios – Camera Skills Workshop starts April 17^th

Find out how to make the most of your digital camera
Learn about the rules of photography and how you can take great photos
Limited to 10 people
Book now to start on April 17
Four Tuesday evenings and a group field trip
Just $295

To register for this course, which is one evening a week over four weeks, phone 9842 0222

The program is designed for people new to photography and for photographers wanting to improve or refresh their knowledge and skills.

Learn how to use all the settings available on your digital camera. Understand when and how to use aperture and shutter settings. Use your camera in manual mode to control exposure and take creative photos.

Find out about the 'Rules of Photography' learn about light, composition and develop practical skills to make the most of the technology at your fingertips.

To reserve your place or for more information please call 9842 0222 now or email des@cvcstudios.com.au

CVC Studios (Des Pitfield Photography) can be found on the JustLocal 3109 postcode page.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.JustLocal.com.au/3109

Protest outside Mary Wooldridge's offices in Doncaster East.

Health and Community Services Union members protested outside Doncaster MP and Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge’s Doncaster East electorate office last week during a two-hour strike.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

SEVEN poker machine venues across Manningham face a hike in rates

Five of the affected venues – Doncaster Inn, Shopping Town Hotel, Cherry Hill Tavern and Manningham Club – are owned by the ALH Group, Australia’s largest poker machine operator with 13,000 machines. Templestowe Hotel, Yarra Valley Country Club and the Veneto Club are the others. ... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

NBN Co rollout plan for Doncaster East 3109

NBN have now released maps for the rollout plan for the next three years.

According to the NBN site Doncaster East is not in the schedule for the next year, or scheduled for the next three years.

Visually checking the map does indicate that part of Doncaster East is included. My guess is that perhaps because not all of Doncaster East is included, they are being cautious by not including any of Doncaster East in the result when a search for the area is performed.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.

Dolce Mio Doncaster East cake flops

We recently had a birthday function which went off very well. The venue and the decorations all met our expectations. One disappointment however was the cake. We decided to give Dolce Mio Pasticceria & Gelateria which is located in Tunstall Square in Doncaster East, the business to produce a small main cake with forty cup cakes.

When we arrived to pick up the cake the manager and staff member presented us with the cake. I noticed the decorative icing had fallen off one side and my wife noticed a hole in the icing on the side of the cake. How both the manager and the staff member stood there thinking they were presenting us with an acceptable product is beyond me. We aren't talking about a $40 cake, but quite an expensive cake. They did attempt to repair the cake but it was still pretty rough. The happy birthday decoration placed on the top of the cake was meant to be at the front as it was described and as a result looked tacky on the cake.

On Master Chef we often here about cooking with love. There was no love here. The cupcakes were poorly iced as though they were slapped together. At almost $4 a cupcake you would think they would put some effort into producing consistent cupcakes. Instead the icing was rough and often not covering the cakes. The venue manager even asked us if the cupcakes were homemade, which is another indication the quality wasn't there. Had they been homemade, I'm pretty sure the result would have been consistent and professional.

What saddens me the most is I really like to support local traders. I've now had two poor experiences with traders at Tunstall Square and will think twice about going there again. We certainly won't be recommending Dolce Mio to others.

Even though this was a poor experience for us, there are good traders in the Manningham area and I'm happy to give those businesses our business.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.JustLocal.com.au/3109

One page web sites for local businesses.

Over the years I’ve been amazed that local businesses often don’t have a presence as simple as a one page web site. I suspect the main reason is if they approach a web designer they’ll often be quote hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, when to get started it can cost much less.

To put this in context, all a small business generally requires is one new customer, or keep an existing customer from going elsewhere and their web presence can pay for itself.

Many times when I’ve wanted to buy take away for family or friends, the only menus we can find online are the big companies, yet most of the time we use the smaller local businesses for ourselves. I’ve done some testing over the years and small take-away businesses can get a reasonable amount of business by having their menu online. At worst they don’t lose potential business from good customers when the customers need to see a menu online.

To show local businesses the value of promoting themselves online I’ve now sponsored a number of local business to provide them with an online presence. They are the businesses I use so now they’ll gain my business when I need an online menu.

 

Flying Dragon Chinese Restaurant, Papa Loui's Pizza and Pasta, Bolton Fish Shop, Panic Pizza Doncaster East, Middle Camberwell Fish and Chips

If you own a small business and would like to have your menu online for your customers, but don’t want to pay a small fortune, then send me an email. The way I set up a small business is I create a one page site with their menu and then help them sign up for hosting and registering their domain, By getting the business to register domain and sign up for hosting they retain total control which is a strategy in business. Most web design businesses tie businesses in so if they want anything done, they have to go back to the designer to get expensive changes done. My approach is to have businesses use me if they want to, but because they have total control over their site, they can easily have someone else, including a family member or friend, look after their site. No lock in means businesses use my services because they want to, not because they have to.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Helping micro and small businesses with a cost effective online presence.

Welfare organisation Doncare's Angels for Women Network (DAWN)

Angel Michelle Bean, of Doncaster East, said being part of the program had been one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Head of the King St reference panel, Ted Parker, has been lobbying for road repairs since 2003

VICROADS has agreed to a road swap deal with Manningham Council which could see long neglected King St fixed - but there’s a catch.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Lyn Brooks won a national award for helping a man escape his attacker

A DONCASTER East woman who helped a wounded man escape his attacker has been recognised with a national bravery award.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Doncaster East ADSL broadband support

One thing I’m promoting to residents and local businesses in Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Lower Plenty, Montmorency and Eltham, is the advantage of dealing with a local computer support business.

Because I’m local and don’t charge a call-out fee, travel time, or a minimum fee, the only cost is the time to fix the problem.

One example is a restaurant in Doncaster East had Telstra repair a telephone point which ceased to work. The point was repositioned in another location, but the repair person didn’t know how to set up the broadband correctly for the business. The business called me in and I set the wiring up correctly, checked that all their devices worked correctly,  including access to their Wi-Fi service.

The cost was $33 for a quarter of an hour’s work. Normally people could expect to pay much more for such a service.

Not all local businesses work this way, but it is the way I work. I once went to use a local business in Eltham to repair my garage door. Their call-out fee was the same whether I lived in neighbouring Templestowe, or lived in Werribee. To me that doesn’t encourage people to use a local business.

I’d like to encourage other local businesses to reconsider their call-out charges. It should be more cost effective to use a local business than calling out a business from the other side of the city.

By not having a call-out fee, travel time, or a minimum fee, in effect I’m now as cost effective as having a person onsite, but only being paying for their services when required.

If you have a computer related problem give me a call on 0415 910 703.

 

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you have a computer related problem.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding areas.