DIDU Website CPD Course

[fab red]

Hi. 
I've just completed the DIDU website cpd course, and I now have a fully functioning website! It's at www.fabred.co.uk  Please take a look and let me know what you think.

Because of the very easy to follow instructions, I just did what it said, paid up my 30 quid, and bingo! I'm very happy with the end result, although in hindsight perhaps the domain name I chose could be better. 

I'm already planning a website mark 2, which will have more colours, pages and stuff to appeal to the younger audience.

Many thanks to Foshy for an excellent course.
 
Andy

[barrykenward]

I can see why you chose the name - however, in this current climate I can also understand why you may wish to adjust the name in the future.

I think your site does what it says on the cover - provided perfect information to those that read from its pages.

Nice to see you on the boards Fab -

All the best

[jimmydee]

You have forgotten to add DIDU to your links.

[fab red]

OMG!  sorry about that. should be ok now.

[BrianH]

That's better 

Nice site.

[johno]

Well done I like it ummmm got me thinking.

[fab red]

I'd like to update people on my website as it develops.

I've added 2 new pages and updated the content on my "news" page. 
I found adding new pages is fairly straightforward, but does involve delving into the source. I seems best to work methodically and without rushing. I tried to keep it simple by copying an existing page and renaming and changing it. As Foshy demonstrates in the course, you can see what it looks like before going "live", so it doesn't matter if it's a bit messy to begin with.  Keep a backup of everything before you change it, so you can't lose your precious work!

But the best news of all is I've had an enquiry that's ended up as a booking for a new pupil, because my website was "found" on the internet. I'll try to get more details from him when we meet up, but it sounds like I've been googled! The enquiry came into the fab red enquiries inbox enquiries@fabred.co.uk, which is one of the first things to set up when creating the website.

I'm keen to add pictures and other eye-grabbing stuff. Does anyone know if I would be infringing copyright etc if I use a photo found on the web or scanned from a magazine?

[Richard F]

It's looking good!
Regarding copyright, by the letter of the law you should ask permission from the owner if you use anything from the web, or especially a magazine. But in reality, it is ok if the image is on a website and not someone's personal work - like that of an artist. I use photos on the DIDU website from other sites, especially news sites, eg:
Lembit
and haven't fallen foul of anyone yet.
One point about your website - I think you should include the keywords "lesson" "lessons" and "school" - you have to think what the potential customer will use in a Google search.
Great job on the site! Let's hope it gets you more work.

Foshy.

[fab red]

Optimizing the website.
I had a cold call from one of those companies that wants to sell me its website services, and I'm wondering if it's possible to do the sort of optimizing they offer, but without their hefty price tag.

They say for the heavily discounted (?) price of £349 per year, they will guarantee my website will appear on page 1 of a google search, using their "special key phrases". How, I wonder, do they do this? Surely everone wants to be on the first page of a google search, so the competition must be fierce. I think you can appear on the sponsored link areas which is always page 1, but Google charge £big for this.

There is, of course, no way of knowing whether handing over dosh to these people will actually result in extra business being generated. But as it amounts to fairly visible advertising, it should have some effect?

[Richard F]

Andy,
Don't give them any money!
Make sure your keywords appear in your meta tags, your H1 tags, your body text, and in as many places on your site without overdoing it, and you too will be on page one of Google.
Your keywords should be:
The names of all towns and villages where you work;
driving;
school;
instructor;
lessons;
adi;
learn;
and any others you think important to your business. Don't over do it, though.
Good luck!
Foshy.

[fab red]

No intention of giving them any of my hard earned!

If it's just a case of pumping in those keywords, then I'll do that and see what difference it makes.

Andy