As part of BT I am surprised that this website isn't more properly advertised. BtTradeSpace provides a decent page for details to be posted about a business. In some senses it is actually an improvement over the phone book version of the site. It has a few nice features but is sadly lacking reviews and ratings.
It always the proverbial link to the website and detail about the business etc. The map functionality doesn't appear to be working at the time of writing but I am sure that is only temporarily. Only because Bing or Google maps (or whatever the site uses) is so easy to configure its hard to break their widgets. *Laughs.
Overall rather basic and simple, not much more than a base index contact would have (citing example)
Design wise 4/10
Functionality 4/10 - we want ratings and the other widgets including social and non-social.
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Thursday, 22 March 2012
WOWCity
This week I discovered WowCity in a recent web search and therefore was looking to create the page for the business.
In order to register I had submit sufficient detail as I presume they don't want half complete profile pages and I suppose it may be enough to persuade some businesses to pay for automatic approval of their listing.
So anyways I registered and submitted as much detail as I could provide in a single sitting. The webpage was friendly enough and straight forward. I didn't have much problems unlike some of my more recent experiences with various websites etc.
It has the ubiquitous website link, and detail about the business .The ability to rate is also handy.
I'm not convinced by the layout/design which to me seems to be a bit of an afterthought. But this may be the initial design by a relative new comer so I don't want to give low marks just yet.
In terms of functionality I'll give it a 6/10 but for design a 3/10.
I think thats a fair reflection of where things stand at the moment.
In order to register I had submit sufficient detail as I presume they don't want half complete profile pages and I suppose it may be enough to persuade some businesses to pay for automatic approval of their listing.
So anyways I registered and submitted as much detail as I could provide in a single sitting. The webpage was friendly enough and straight forward. I didn't have much problems unlike some of my more recent experiences with various websites etc.
It has the ubiquitous website link, and detail about the business .The ability to rate is also handy.
I'm not convinced by the layout/design which to me seems to be a bit of an afterthought. But this may be the initial design by a relative new comer so I don't want to give low marks just yet.
In terms of functionality I'll give it a 6/10 but for design a 3/10.
I think thats a fair reflection of where things stand at the moment.
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Legal Advisor
In alot of industries there are member organisations or clubs that are specifically relevant to the business and can generate a wealth of customer base. Here is one example where persons seeking legal advice can find and search for the details of solicitors/legal representatives to assist with their issue.
Having found our details on the system I emailed them to get them updated with our website link, the contact email address and to correct the type of business conducted to be criminal matters only.
Once this was completed it has been used by at least one client who told us they had. So we leverage these types of free listings to our benefit.
For a government page it is as basic functionality goes, but it doesn't need to be spectacular. It fulfills its job and points them in the direction. Yes we would often like comments and ratings but government type websites wouldn't always want to allow unmoderated comments about a criminal defence firm to be posted.
So 4/10.
Hopefully it shows you the type of specific related organisation directories that you should be included in. I'm not talking about crappy link directories, but all the business pages that i've reviewed over the last couple of months.
Having found our details on the system I emailed them to get them updated with our website link, the contact email address and to correct the type of business conducted to be criminal matters only.
Once this was completed it has been used by at least one client who told us they had. So we leverage these types of free listings to our benefit.
For a government page it is as basic functionality goes, but it doesn't need to be spectacular. It fulfills its job and points them in the direction. Yes we would often like comments and ratings but government type websites wouldn't always want to allow unmoderated comments about a criminal defence firm to be posted.
So 4/10.
Hopefully it shows you the type of specific related organisation directories that you should be included in. I'm not talking about crappy link directories, but all the business pages that i've reviewed over the last couple of months.
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Bebo
Another social network this time, Bebo.
We have taken the time to register because social networks are the future of obtaining clients. They will create fan pages and allow instant feedback, positive or negative straight to other clients and to the bosses.
Alot of businesses have been embracing social media and the rate is only increasing. Bebo is more commonly associated with a younger audience which may not initially be to our target market, but people of all ages may require the need of a solicitor.
Sadly the design chosen at the minute isn't the best in the world. Unlike Facebook and Google+ the page currently doesn't look professional enough for business. When we get some more time we will go back and update the page with some fresh content and information to keep it real for our clients.
Overall the functionality is there, but we need to sit down and get it how we want it.
For the most in design terms its admittadly shocking, but its got all the details there.
So 5/10 for now. May increase or decrease later. But i'll keep you all updated.
We have taken the time to register because social networks are the future of obtaining clients. They will create fan pages and allow instant feedback, positive or negative straight to other clients and to the bosses.
Alot of businesses have been embracing social media and the rate is only increasing. Bebo is more commonly associated with a younger audience which may not initially be to our target market, but people of all ages may require the need of a solicitor.
Sadly the design chosen at the minute isn't the best in the world. Unlike Facebook and Google+ the page currently doesn't look professional enough for business. When we get some more time we will go back and update the page with some fresh content and information to keep it real for our clients.
Overall the functionality is there, but we need to sit down and get it how we want it.
For the most in design terms its admittadly shocking, but its got all the details there.
So 5/10 for now. May increase or decrease later. But i'll keep you all updated.
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
118.com
Its been a while since my last entry, but I've set aside some time to post more entries this week.
First up is 118.com entry which we did not in fact create. We are in the process of registering on the website in order to correct and add further information to our listing.
Having a map with the listing is as ubiquitous these days as having the telephone number.
We are the lazy generation incapable of finding even the most attractive landmarks without a map to guide us.
118 as everyone knows from the ads are meant to provide great business information. Sadly it is a little bit of a disappointment. Despite having comment features to rate and recommend it lacks some of the social functionality of some of the new comers.
Design wise I would give average marks aswell.
Overall I am rating this one 5/10
First up is 118.com entry which we did not in fact create. We are in the process of registering on the website in order to correct and add further information to our listing.
Having a map with the listing is as ubiquitous these days as having the telephone number.
We are the lazy generation incapable of finding even the most attractive landmarks without a map to guide us.
118 as everyone knows from the ads are meant to provide great business information. Sadly it is a little bit of a disappointment. Despite having comment features to rate and recommend it lacks some of the social functionality of some of the new comers.
Design wise I would give average marks aswell.
Overall I am rating this one 5/10
Friday, 10 February 2012
Linked In (Follow Up)
To follow up to my post regarding LinkedIn.
We have now managed to get it working. The support from LinkedIn was eventually forthcoming and allowed us to create the page for the company.
Nothing much has been added in the meanwhile as other things have taken high priority. LinkedIn has alot of bad press on the net and its hardly surprising. But these day you take all the publicity that is available and sometimes means working with less attractive networks. I suppose that is ultimately upto the client.
In terms of functionality we have managed to get the basic outline completed. Logo, and contact details and there. We need obviously to be adding regular content.
Overall I'm still giving LinkedIn low marks. Its just not as pleasurable experience as the other networks which we have registered on. I won't be using the website personally.
Overall 5/10
We have now managed to get it working. The support from LinkedIn was eventually forthcoming and allowed us to create the page for the company.
Nothing much has been added in the meanwhile as other things have taken high priority. LinkedIn has alot of bad press on the net and its hardly surprising. But these day you take all the publicity that is available and sometimes means working with less attractive networks. I suppose that is ultimately upto the client.
In terms of functionality we have managed to get the basic outline completed. Logo, and contact details and there. We need obviously to be adding regular content.
Overall I'm still giving LinkedIn low marks. Its just not as pleasurable experience as the other networks which we have registered on. I won't be using the website personally.
Overall 5/10
Sunday, 5 February 2012
AppleGate
I had never even heard of Applegate until I was doing some unrelated searching for a business. Apararently they are a business to business company. Whatever that means.
I think it means they find business customers for their business. Now my client doesn't require that type of networking or business. Their customers are the general public, but despite this we have taken to the time to register on the site. Why?
This is because the website may pass on the contact details of the business. To ensure that we are found on other scraping websites aswell as correcting incorrect information down the line we wanted to go to the top. A bit like a mountain, if you take a wee in the river near the top you don't want to be drinking downstream. Same with these sorts of websites.
Its impossible to go back and correct the dozens of websites that may request information from these top level people as they may have got the information off middle level intermediaries.
There fix it at the top immediately and it will ensure that 12months down the line hopefully lots of new sites will have you listed, and the older ones won't have outdated information. Well that was the plan at least. Hopefully it will work.
Its not the typical review in terms of design and usefulness because that wasn't the intention here. I wasn't expecting the customers to find the site.
For what we needed I'll give it 5/10
I think it means they find business customers for their business. Now my client doesn't require that type of networking or business. Their customers are the general public, but despite this we have taken to the time to register on the site. Why?
This is because the website may pass on the contact details of the business. To ensure that we are found on other scraping websites aswell as correcting incorrect information down the line we wanted to go to the top. A bit like a mountain, if you take a wee in the river near the top you don't want to be drinking downstream. Same with these sorts of websites.
Its impossible to go back and correct the dozens of websites that may request information from these top level people as they may have got the information off middle level intermediaries.
There fix it at the top immediately and it will ensure that 12months down the line hopefully lots of new sites will have you listed, and the older ones won't have outdated information. Well that was the plan at least. Hopefully it will work.
Its not the typical review in terms of design and usefulness because that wasn't the intention here. I wasn't expecting the customers to find the site.
For what we needed I'll give it 5/10
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