The response to our first giveaway could be described as underwhelming at best and I’m not going to waste time analysing the whys and wherefores. Instead, we will be offering a fully featured web site and a year’s complimentary hosting to the one and only entry as a thankyou for making the effort.

Congratulations go to Liam of Not Half Bad Productions, who I’m sure will agree that it was neither difficult nor time-consuming.

Send us an email and we’ll get the ball rolling.

To mark the first ever computer-to-computer link, established on ARPANET (which grew up to become the Internet) on 29^th October 1969, and in an effort to ease the woes of the recession locally, Bendigo Web Design is offering you the chance to win one of 26 awesome prizes worth over $4000, including websites, blogs, domain names and hosting.

Deadline extended to Midnight Friday November 13th, 2009 to get your entries in.

All you need to do is register on the Bendigo Web Design discussion forum and tell us what eye-popping domain name you would register and tell us all about your proposed website. Finally, answer the tie-break question by telling us why you deserve a website.

Your site idea might be a recession-busting business or perhaps you’ve decided that it’s about time your already established local enterprise joined the Noughties. Maybe you would like an online gathering point for a club, society or organisation, a blog for your own personal musings or perhaps something completely kooky. Whatever your reason for wanting an online presence, here and now is your chance!

Remember, the more interesting, entertaining or eccentric your suggestions are, the better your chances are of turning them into reality.

Have more than one idea? Increase your chances of winning by submitting up to 3 separate entries!

Registration is free and painless and you could walk away with one of the following great prizes:

1^st Prize

1 x lucky winner takes home a fully-featured website package incl. 12 months free domain name registration and secure Melbourne-based hosting.

2^nd Prize

2 x lucky winners will receive their very own feature-rich blog site with 12 months free domain name registration and hosting.

3^rd Prize

3 x winners will receive their own personalized email address package free for the first year.

Consolation Prizes

20 x entrants will receive a voucher code for 20% off any website package from Bendigo Web Design.

What’s included?

Your choice from hundreds of themes and templates, custom graphics including a custom designed logo should you require one, a domain name of your choice*, Australian hosting, free management tools, search engine optimization as standard, complimentary search engine and directory submissions, comprehensive traffic statistics, lifetime* of maintenance and technical support, inclusion in forthcoming press releases, hints and tips on how best to promote your new site and the knowledge that your new site is locally built.

*See Competition Rules.

What’s the catch?

There isn’t one! You do not have to order or purchase anything from Bendigo Web Design to take part. It might sound somewhat trite but we really do believe that our local community is an important asset and an essential pool of resources, especially during the current economic blip and so we would be happy to put something back in.

Don’t forget, you have until Midnight Friday November 13th, 2009 to get your entries in.

Good luck!

How to Win Clients During a Recession

The following are just five simple methods to secure new and existing clients during an economic downturn.

1. Revisit Old Leads

Rummage through your desk drawers, cupboards and filing cabinets for old business cards, flyers, pamphlets and brochures. Don’t forget to check that old business suit gathering dust in the wardrobe. In fact, dig out any business literature you may have and start calling your contacts now. It’s likely that you may not come up trumps on your first, second or even third attempt but remain positive and persevere. After all, what do you have to lose?

2. Make Existing Clients Feel Extra Special

Your existing clients are your bread and butter, particularly during lean times and taking the time to make them feel extra special will validate and enforce their decision to remain your client and not defect to the competition.

Send all of your clients a brief email, thanking them for their business and let them know how much you appreciate their loyalty during difficult times. Consider offering them a reward of special discounts or gifts as a measure of your appreciation and don’t forget to include any news of new services or products, future special events or promotions.

3. Be Flexible To Accommodate New Clients

If you rigidly market towards a particular clientele, consider the potential revenue that comes with flexibility. If you previously excluded smaller clients that generate less income, now is the time to reconsider that policy because multiple smaller clients could make the difference between sinking and swimming during a recession.

Where logistically and financially feasible, look outside your familiar geographical target area and market to a wider audience.

4. Increase Your Service Level

During a financial downturn, competitors may decide to undercut each other. By all means, reduce your prices to a manageable level but avoid getting into a price war. Instead, increase your level of service above that of your competitors. Nothing speaks louder than satisfied customers.

Your clients will feel content in the knowledge that they are receiving more than they expect and bending over backwards for them, to the extent of a strained muscle, will pay dividends.

5. Offer Your Clients Something More

Where possible, the provision of additional services to your clients should not cost the Earth but will go a long way to pleasing new and existing customers. Offering additional warranty on products and services, same day or on-site support, a home delivery service, free gift wrapping or just a hand carrying the shopping to the clients car are but a few worth consideration.

We all feel the negative effects of a recession but these few tips should help, even if they serve to inspire you to develop your own alternative means of economic survival. Here at Bendigo Web Design, we go the extra mile as a matter of course for all our clients and in addition to offering free hosting and domain names with all web design projects, every new client receives a free meat pie in Winter and deliciously refreshing sorbet during the hot Summer!

Be inventive and think out of the box.

Choosing  Bendigo Web Design to visualize your web presence qualifies you for not only a complimentary domain name of your choice but a whole year of free web hosting too! That’s 12 months of ultra secure, Melbourne-based hosting, absolutely free!

In addition, all our web design packages are custom designed and include free Search Engine Optimisation and search engine registration/directory submission, Google Analytics and interactive Google Map, maintenance, free email support and use of our discussion forums. Unlike many of our competitors, all of our sites are developed to strict W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) accessibility guidelines and are cross-browser compatible to deliver your online presence to the widest possible audience.

Bendigo Web Design offers a range of design packages to suit most needs from the simple one-page Webvert to the database-driven e-commerce solution. We also specialise in the award-winning, highly versatile Content Management System (CMS), Joomla!

Prices start from just $295 for a custom designed Webvert and our most popular package is the 5-page business site at $795. Consider the comparative cost of newspaper advert and the choice becomes obvious…….Bendigo Web Design!