Name of your website?Parker Concrete & Coatings
Your name?
Shane Hancock
Your Location (city, etc)
Denver and surrounding areas
Please give us a short summary of your website?
Parker Concrete & Coatings website is an online promotional and reference website targeted at anyone interested in the concepts and ideas behind decorative concrete. Decorative concrete includes stamped designs, colored variations, and intricate stenciled and etched designer patterns.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
The need to allow a greater range of people to see how much more cost effective and beautiful stamped and stained concrete really can be.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
March 2007 was the "grand opening" of parkercrete.com.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
Wanted to keep the name short and memorable while still exerting the company name throughout.
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
We are the only Colorado site which can provide an accurate estimate, full reference for the decorative concrete industry, and a true online presence which reflects our ethical business practice.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
To keep the website up-to-date with the latest industry updates and provide services for those who wish to increase the general value of their real estate investment.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
Our webmaster works off of a commission. His hard work pays off for everyone!
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
Market to genres outside of the construction industry to include categories such as arts.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Yes
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
The internet is only a small amount, per se, of the amount of media attention to accomplish a small business profit goal. Actually getting out there and "hoofing it" with the "old fashioned" marketing techniques like word-of-mouth and trade shows is still a major necessary headache in the "self-promotion" race.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Running a small business and a family at the same time.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Construction directory listings have proven to have the highest margin for visitors.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
The webmaster takes care of most of the logistics. The content and actual "teaching" of terminology, pricing, and content gave me a new understanding of how clients should be versed.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
The site has been up for a year and is doing as well as, or better than, many of the listing services have done. The site has a very low maintenance budget so it it will stay until the business is sold or we enter retirement.
Can you suggest anything that would help others improve their success with website development?
You don't have to spend a lot of money to get a great website. There are a lot of amateur school and hobby based people out there who would be more than willing to do your website for a nominal fee. The key to a great website is complete communication between the developer and the client. Try to go with someone who is local rather than half a world away... The personal contact with presence is a great way to have each learn from the other without the boundaries.
What is your website address?
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