Would like helpful criticism on my website.

[MikeLierman]

So I have been doing some major remodeling of my website over the past few months, as well as seo optimization. I've come to pretty much a final look, though it's constantly always being worked on ever since I bought the domain. Anyways, I would you guys, if you could, to take a look at it and give me some good ideas on further improvement. Especially SEO improvement (this is a big concern to me).

Is my site user friendly? Does it spark a "wow, this guy looks professional", or is it a turn off?

Link: www.MikesSupport.com


Thanks guys!

-Mike Lierman

 

[ComputerClinic]

Looks like a very nice site. Very professional and informative. Your prices seem very low to me.

 

[ClickRight]

Looks like a nice site Mike, but your prices seem too low. Think about your knowledge, business & travel expenses, etc. when you're considering how much to charge.

Also, the link to you Advanced Connection Repair Tool (ACRT) doesn't work.

 

[expresstech]

Yes I have to agree with the others about the low prices.

You site looks nice and it seems to be very content driven as well. I am not sure I care for Adsense ads by google, but I understand a lot of people are using it. Do you find the it helps your sites visibility?

 

[Larry Sabo]

Nice and clean. Ditto on the ridiculously low prices! Not sure of the value of having the Blog, Opinions and Reviews pages.

 

[greggh]

Again, another person agreeing with everyone else. Your pricing is about half what it should be. Dont underestimate your worth. Just because pc and laptop prices are falling every year doesnt mean your rates need to go down that fast.

The site itself is very clean and the fact that you fill it with articles via the blog is nice.

 

[Platte Computer Repair]

Agree on raising the prices.

 

[MikeLierman]

I can raise my prices and I have been thinking about it, because I'm just not making enough money, but I have a few questions.

1. Will doing so decrease or increase the amount of customers I have?

2. I don't have any certifications. I'm getting those this fall in a college course. But I have had loads of experience including lots of intern jobs. Can I raise my prices without any certification to back it up?

3. I'm currently just doing residential areas and really small businesses, so what exactly am I looking at for rates? Can you guys give me some examples?

 

[expresstech]

I can raise my prices and I have been thinking about it, because I'm just not making enough money, but I have a few questions.

1. Will doing so decrease or increase the amount of customers I have?

2. I don't have any certifications. I'm getting those this fall in a college course. But I have had loads of experience including lots of intern jobs. Can I raise my prices without any certification to back it up?

3. I'm currently just doing residential areas and really small businesses, so what exactly am I looking at for rates? Can you guys give me some examples?

1) It should increase since extremely low rates seem to devalue your abilities.

2) I have never heard of any customers asking about certifications. I imagine most of them wouldn't know what to ask anyways.

3) You should have 2 rates imo. A higher rate for businesses because it is a bigger risk if something goes wrong, and another for home users/residential customers. Have you tried calling your competitors to check their prices?

 

[greggh]

1) It should increase since extremely low rates seem to devalue your abilities.

2) I have never heard of any customers asking about certifications. I imagine most of them wouldn't know what to ask anyways.

3) You should have 2 rates imo. A higher rate for businesses because it is a bigger risk if something goes wrong, and another for home users/residential customers. Have you tried calling your competitors to check their prices?

He has it pretty right here. In the area I am in residential customers are normally charges between 80-100/hr and businesses between 100-125/hr. Typical rates when you look at the 3 or 4 biggest competitors in the area.

 

[expresstech]

He has it pretty right here. In the area I am in residential customers are normally charges between 80-100/hr and businesses between 100-125/hr. Typical rates when you look at the 3 or 4 biggest competitors in the area.

"She" actually. Those are common rates in my area too for other small computer businesses. I don't even bother to compare to *coughs* teen-err-geek squad

 

[ComputerClinic]

From your Testimonials page:

“It was worth more!”

-Richard D.

It seems your customers agree that your services are worth more than you're charging. Call the top 3 or 4 competitors in your area with a phony problem to see how much they charge (My competitors wouldn't give me their prices when I asked them directly). Say your computer won't power on at all to get their minimum fee (PSU replacement takes like 10 minutes). Then have someone else call and say their computer is BSODing and constantly restarting in order to get their hourly rate (This type of problem needs further inspection to repair).

After you've figured out what your competitors are charging, then you can make an informed decision about what you should be charging.

 

[thebeardedone]

+1 on the higher rates. The site looks pretty nice

 

[greggh]

"She" actually. Those are common rates in my area too for other small computer businesses. I don't even bother to compare to *coughs* teen-err-geek squad

Sorry about that, didnt even look at the avatar.

 

[MikeLierman]

To cheap. I would probably not hire you because its a personal name not a business name, and the rates are to low, making me think you didn't know what you were doing.

Is the business name a big deal? Because if it is a big deal, I could change it, but it would be a lot of work. And I don't know what I would change it to.

From your Testimonials page:
It seems your customers agree that your services are worth more than you're charging. Call the top 3 or 4 competitors in your area with a phony problem to see how much they charge (My competitors wouldn't give me their prices when I asked them directly). Say your computer won't power on at all to get their minimum fee (PSU replacement takes like 10 minutes). Then have someone else call and say their computer is BSODing and constantly restarting in order to get their hourly rate (This type of problem needs further inspection to repair).

After you've figured out what your competitors are charging, then you can make an informed decision about what you should be charging.

Thanks dude! That was some good information.

 

[ComputerClinic]

Thanks dude! That was some good information.

No problem! Good luck with your business. Btw, I don't think that having our name in your business name is such a bad thing. People are going to find out that you're a one man show anyways. My customers usually ask me if I'm the only employee and I just tell the truth. I go on to explain that I'm a new business as well and they usually share my excitement about the whole thing. So long as they are satisfied with your work it shouldn't matter much.

 

[MikeLierman]

MCR: I noticed that you have some good computer tips and stuff. Mind if I steal the idea of doing an article like that? I probably wouldn't put it on the front page, and I won't steal your content, I just thought it would be a great idea and would give that polished, professional business feel to my site. Kind give that, this guy knows what he is talking about, kind of feel, ya know?

People are going to find out that you're a one man show anyways. My customers usually ask me if I'm the only employee and I just tell the truth. I go on to explain that I'm a new business as well and they usually share my excitement about the whole thing. So long as they are satisfied with your work it shouldn't matter much.

 

[Mr I]

I though that my prices were super high when I looked at yours but later the other posts cleared the situation. The website looks very attractive, simple and organized.

 

[noah]

I can raise my prices and I have been thinking about it, because I'm just not making enough money, but I have a few questions.

1. Will doing so decrease or increase the amount of customers I have?

The amount will change. Someone has said, if you double your prices and only lose half your customers you've actually increased your profitability. You will get more customers over time.

2. I don't have any certifications. I'm getting those this fall in a college course. But I have had loads of experience including lots of intern jobs. Can I raise my prices without any certification to back it up?

It's your business, you can charge whatever the market will handle

3. I'm currently just doing residential areas and really small businesses, so what exactly am I looking at for rates? Can you guys give me some examples?

http://www.technibble.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2882&highlight=rates

 

[CnP Systems]

Using FF 3.0 there on a 17" screen there is a comma above "My promise" on the first page. I would also put "Areas We Service" (capital W) to keep it consistent with your other headings. I like it overall though.