To celebrate Wales’ win over Ireland in this morning’s 6 Nations thriller at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, we are offering this huge discount to all new clients.

The offer is applicable to any new website build ordered before Wales kick-off their second match of the championship against Scotland at Cardiff on Sunday 12th Feb at 3pm GMT (Mon 14th 2am AEST).

This special offer includes a top-notch professional design, a Content Management System based website, Search Engine Optimisation and submission to the major search engines, maintenance and support.

This business package normally costs $1299 but when you take advantage of this great offer, you pay just $899. If that wasn’t enough, we are even including a free .au domain name and fast Australian hosting for the first year! That’s a saving of an extra $250!

So if you have been considering getting your organisation or business online, now is the best opportunity to go ahead. Just call 04670 47692, ask for Bill and quote this blog post for the discount to apply.

Enjoy!

Just so that we are clear, SEO stands for search engine optimisation and is something web developers (should) consider during the process of creating your website in order to assist in positioning your website favourably in search results. I won’t bore you will the technical details of SEO other than to say it helps you get found in search engines.

I could have got the URL from his email address but I wanted to see his skills in action by searching for his business, after all, this is supposed to be his bread and butter.

Do you think I could find this guys website after using some very obvious search strings; ‘SEO services sydney’ being one example. I even scoured the first dozen pages of each search.

Take it from me, if you cannot find a particular Sydney-based SEO service provider’s website by using ‘SEO sydney’, don’t bother asking them to help you get your site ranked in any search engines.

The business had no doubt been developed over years and marketed using the domain name in question. Signage, business cards, advertisements, brochures and a other marketing materials all bare the business’ domain name. Furthermore, in addition to the huge quantity of happy customers who return religiously, a plethora of related industry websites list it. To change it would be time consuming, costly and ultimately confusing.

However, it was discovered that the domain name and website were not specifically mentioned in the business transaction, although one might reasonably assume that it would be.

It further transpired that the previous business owners did not, in fact, own their business domain name. Apparently, a ‘friend’ had registered it on their behalf and along with the website, maintained it for them.

Can you see where this is going? No? You wouldn’t be the only one but it still happens with alarming regularity.

The official ‘owner’ of the domain name and website is the aforementioned ‘friend’, as it was he who registered it in his own name. The business simply paid this character for the services he offered.

And so we learn that this unscrupulous web design/domain/hosting provider/cowboy has spotted a way to make a few more bucks by holding the domain name to ransom and demanding an outrageous sum for it’s release.

The dodgy practice of cowboy web developers using their own name when registering domain names for their clients, stinks, plain and simple. It should be illegal. If there is ever a fall out or dispute, your online presence could disappear overnight and with it your business.

Domain names are so cheap these days and very simple to register that there is no reason not to register it yourself. Even if offered a free domain name, ensure that you will be the registered, legal owner. Here at Bendigo Web Design, free domain names are offered to new website clients but are always registered in the client’s name. For those of you who need a domain name and would like assistance, we are always willing to assist in the process.

To give you an idea, the recent Raytronics landing page is a typical example of a one-page Webvert but there are several professional designs to choose from.

Each page acts as a clean and concise promotion for your product or service and serves to encourage the visitor to contact you. You can add your logo, images and a list of products and services, including all your contact details and a contact form.

Already have a website? Why not take advantage of this special Christmas offer to promote a new product or service and direct visitors to your existing site?

Don’t need a website? Why not treat a friend, family member or colleague?

All you need to do is contact Bendigo Web Design and quote this post. Any questions regarding this offer should be made by telephoning Bill on 04670 47692 or via our contact form.

Offer remains open until close of business Christmas Eve (24/12/11). Payment must be received by close of business on Christmas Eve.

Remember, this special Christmas Offer is reserved for the first 20 customers to contact Bendigo Web Design and quote this post!

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

This content management system based website takes the humble blogging platform, WordPress, to another level in the shape of a full-blown website and incorporates anti-spam, social media and search engine optimisation features as standard.

Obviously being based on a stable and competent CMS, it is perfect for an expanding small business like Raytronics, with scope for additional pages and features without the need for reliance on the often costly services of a web developer (particularly in the case of our competitors).

So with a fresh contemporary design, we proudly present the new Raytronics website…

Based on the ever-popular WordPress content management system, the new site features a clean, uncluttered design, an image gallery and news section.

Whatever you’re looking for in an external steel building, Outdoor Steel Solutions has you covered. As an accredited Ranbuild dealer we understand the level of professional service and quality construction required to support a leading brand and work very hard to provide it at all times.

In it’s current form, the new Raytronics website is really a micro-site, not much more that a landing page to publish Gary’s essential service information, while we develop the full Raytronics website proper.

Starting life as a simple landing page, we decided to add an additional page with integrated real-time bookings. It’s not very big but as small as it is, it packs a punch and so we think it’s cool enough to mention here.

Located in Bendigo and servicing the whole Central Victorian region, Raytronics specialises in the sales and installation of new digital TV antennas, upgrades to digital reception, extra TV outlets, setups and instructions and home theatre systems.

Why not contact Gary to book an appointment now!

Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, September 1st 2011 - Bendigo Web Design launches a fresh new look to its website. In addition to several new upgraded hosting plans and additional customer and technical support options, even the most basic website package now features a highly extensible content management system (CMS).

Affordable and customisable to the extreme, CMS-based websites allow the client and/or their staff members, secure access to the administration area of their website. From here, new users can be created, unlimited new pages added, edited and deleted, images and other media uploaded, comments moderated and visitor statistics monitored. In fact, using the powerful content management features is no more taxing than using Facebook or MS Word.

Bill Hearne, Creative Director and driving force behind Bendigo Web Design, said:

Of course, we are always more than happy to assist any client who maybe doesn’t have sufficient confidence or simply doesn’t have the time, but more and more, clients are requesting increased control over their websites rather than relying on and paying for a web developer.

Bendigo Web Design continues to offer competitively priced, super fast, Australian-based web hosting but now includes more bandwidth and more disk space across more packages, making hosting more affordable to even more local businesses and organisations.

Along with a new Frequently Asked Questions page, Bendigo Web Design has introduced a new Q & A service which allows visitors to ask questions as well as answer some, right on the page they are browsing. If that wasn’t enough, there is also a new live chat system to compliment Bendigo Web Design’s already legendary ‘good old-fashioned’ support.

Our new design reflects our own style and what we can offer clients for their own online presence but most importantly, it was the perfect opportunity to introduce our new support features.

Bendigo Web Design has not only proven that high quality, professional websites do not have to cost a fortune but has constantly shown that a little customer service goes a long way and with prices starting from as little as $395 including free hosting, domain name and search engine optimisation, isn’t it about time you considered Bendigo Web Design for your business or organisation’s website?

Check out the Bendigo Web Design Portfolio for a look at some recent clients.

Fresh new look. Same unbeatable commitment to customer service. Same unbeatable commitment to value for money.

With bags of bandwidth and sack-loads of storage, our Australian-based hosting come with a comprehensive list of features. From simple email accounts, personal and fansites to e-commerce driven web shops and multimedia sites, we have something for everyone.

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.

Article first posted Monday, September 14th, 2009.