hey

nice work! I found myself instantly attracted to you and felt I could trust you.

but a photo of you would be a really really great idea. very important in fact.

I also took a look at your alternative designs and I actually found them a bit too corporate. They look slick and in a way I found your original site much more humble and straightforward. Its not that I dont like or understand graphic design (my girlfriend is a web designer www.stylofoam.com plug plug!) but everyone is right - you DONT need a fancy site. in the line of work you are in, people want someone reliable, honest, trustworthy, to the point, etc etc. not sugar coated slick.

I think you should concentrate on the message, layout of info (number etc) and offers rather than the design. just add images that back up your friendly chat.

I think something like this was mentioned in a previous brick (about the online specs site that was too corporate).
I imagine that with a few pictures of yourself, pictures of your work and a few satisfied customers standing infront of their newly plastered wall with their thumbs up with their arm round your shoulder or a cup of tea in hand - this would inspire people to feel that you are an approachable, honest guy. even the small spelling mistakes someone spotted dont bother me. I dont care if the guy who comes to fit my boiler spells a bit like me. I just want him to do a quality job and be honest... :)

so even if the photos you put up are badly taken, out of focus - it would simply reinforce the point that you are a serious, down to earth kinda guy. it wouldnt look staged. Your site is simple, humble but actually I liked it a lot (and I look at and critique a lot of sites as a second opinion for my g/f).

I liked all your offers and discounts. it shows you stand behind your work and want to make long term relationships with your customers, not just take their money and run. builders often have a rep for ripping people off, rightly or wrongly, and recomended handimen (which is I guess where you have started out) are worth a lot. in a funny kinda way, Im not sure that having a slicker site will necesarily help with this!

in my opinion (while im at it) the fact that you did your own site and offer to help people with theirs is not a bad thing. you are selling yourself as a 'can do' multitasker, 'Ill turn my hand to anything' and so someone who knows how to handle a computer as well as plumbing is showing off your flexiblity as a handiman. I agree you might not get a lot of web work out of it, but thats not my point.

so make the testimonials much more detailed, and show off your work in honest photos. it will say everything you want to say.

good luck!

simon
www.bcnsound.com