Hello to all members,
My name is Jamie and I have a small business that I have been running for the last 3 years now. I have started of with one van that we use for removal work and I have been finding it difficult to get a google presence and know nothing about building websites etc.
I had used a self build site from one.com which was a disaster and have now given the hosting up. I am hoping that somebody could point me in the right direction here to find someone that could build me a personal web site for the business that would be compatible with all the google search requirements and help me get my business listed on google maps etc. I also require some advice on the most cost effective way to have my business advertised to only local customers in Dundee using google as I'm currently relying on a very expensive fortnightly rolling advert through gumtree which does deliver the work but only just enough to run the business.
The biggest problem I'm facing in this line of work is that it is mostly one time only customers so the need for advertising is paramount to the continual running of the business. I have setup a Facebook page for the business which does have around 520 likes solar over the last year with a good amount of honest un coerced feedback on the page. On Facebook I have joined various local groups selling and buying where people may have a need for my transport services which also works although not much turn over here.
knowing myself that whenever I need something that I'm not sure about then the first place I turn to is google as I have in finding this forum but typing in "Forum for web page design" . I assume that a lot of my gumtree custom does in fact come from people doing exactly that on google and finding one of the first generic links being gumtree where I am listed at the top of the page.
What I am hoping to achieve is being placed in the small map link box where you see the first 3 companies if you type in "removals" into google search for example. This then brings up the usual page with the 3 paid adverts at the top followed by this map link result box below which only lists the local businesses by A-Z which in my area has around 15 companies although there are really only about 5 of them that are direct competitors but my business is not listed here at all.
I know the generic listings is the place everyone wants but I am also aware this is something that I am never likely to be able to achieve at least not in the short term.
My contact number and email address are shown on my adverts which I have placed links to below as I am not sure yet if it is allowed to put them in the forum messages.
This is a link to my Facebook page below and also my current gumtree advert.
https://www.facebook.com/jamiespropertyservices
https://www.gumtree.com/p/removal-services/-removals-man-van-from-£10-van-hire-with-driver.-07446848467/1134766102