My Tractor Business Website

kevin37b · Dec 9, 2013

Or plumber .

engine29 · Dec 9, 2013

To me the name implies you work on tractors.

kevin37b · Dec 9, 2013

Rocket surgery ? Go to work , and be prepared to deal with the human race . Be ready to explain extras , cost of and payment deadlines . Your best website is the product you produce .

Lloyd_E · Dec 9, 2013

azkubotaguy said:
As some of you know I just started a tractor business and am just about done with the website, etc. Would like your feedback on the website.

Dan's Tractor Service, LLC.

Good site... your logo type solution works - especially running the words together with the colour breaks. You may want to look at the dome ratio - width to height. Did you try a truer half circle form and the message it sends? Also rework your mark in grey/halftone scale plus black and white and convert to as many files formats as possible. One thing you may want to look at is the consistency of line in your illustration re: the step, loader lever, shift lever specifically. When designing a mark it has to work on many levels, contexts and mediums: ie: print, web(computer monitor), signage and perhaps clothing. It is the clothing context that concerns me. Depending on the quality and size of embroidery and or silkscreening, if you ever go that route, the step, loader lever, shift lever may never hold up in reproduction. Visually you don't need them. A well design mark utilizes the essence of the idea in its most simplest form. I would also look at the kerning of the letters as well. It is a good design solution, clean, simple, to the point etc.

With regards to your site... why the calendar? If it is to fill space, use or do something that is meaningful to your success. I applaud you for being honest about being insured and not licensed - this bring credibility via a short message. Like others have mentioned - get the testimonials up fast. Also, change you info whether it is photos, jobs completed etc. monthly. This keeps the site fresh and keeps people coming back. Traffic = potential referrals and customers. Actually creating a great working website that gets hits and traffic, stays current and active on many search engines, persuades people to contact you as well as provide insight and knowledge - to name a few key components - is rocket science. The effort in = the success of your business, whether it is your corporate branding, web-site, business strategy, quality of work and employees and satisfaction of clients and positive referrals and relationships. And, believe it or not it is measurable. Also referral back to the designer/creative agency gives credibility to your business, business planning and strategy. Plus it echoes what you are trying to accomplish via communications - referrals, referrals, referrals. It is small stuff that is all part of a bigger strategy.

Please take this as a positive critique. My background is visual communications and Corporate design and branding. I have 28+ years creating branding for small and major corporations. You are on the correct direction. When I design a mark(there are actually three types of identity marks - logo, logo-type and word mark) I give the client three main solutions, colour, greyscale, black and white, in three different sizes, small -(lapel pin, business card, stationary context) medium - (larger print solutions sizes) and large - vehicle signage, building signage, billboard etc.) in all file formats. By doing this you save time(=money) and headaches down the road when suppliers, request a file from you to fit their needs. A lot of time if they don't receive the correct format they will create one and bill you for it - which is unnecessary.

I hope this helps you to get your message out, save time and money. Good luck.

azkubotaguy · Dec 9, 2013

RDrancher said:
Gravel driveway prep $999.99
Gravel delivery $999.99
Gravel install $999.99

Separate contracts of course...

I was a licensed concrete and general contractor in SoCal for over 20 years before moving here. There were still more guys out there flying under the radar than not. That's why I went commercial. Here in Texas there are no licensing requirements for most trades. Except for those of us with liability insurance and those without, it does make for a more level playing field.

That's how most people have to do it unfortunately, again I wish they would have an actual proficiency test, I have a friend who is a registered contractor with a backhoe business, he along with others are willing to write letters stating my experience and ability, however like I said before they want W-2 proof. So as much as I would like to have my license, I have to wait and submit three years of tax returns and follow the rules.

azkubotaguy · Dec 9, 2013

engine29 said:
To me the name implies you work on tractors.

Well if someone wants me to do an oil change on their tractor I guess I would be glad to do the work.

azkubotaguy · Dec 9, 2013

Lloyd_E said:
Good site... your logo type solution works - especially running the words together with the colour breaks. You may want to look at the dome ratio - width to height. Did you try a truer half circle form and the message it sends? Also rework your mark in grey/halftone scale plus black and white and convert to as many files formats as possible. One thing you may want to look at is the consistency of line in your illustration re: the step, loader lever, shift lever specifically. When designing a mark it has to work on many levels, contexts and mediums: ie: print, web(computer monitor), signage and perhaps clothing. It is the clothing context that concerns me. Depending on the quality and size of embroidery and or silkscreening, if you ever go that route, the step, loader lever, shift lever may never hold up in reproduction. Visually you don't need them. A well design mark utilizes the essence of the idea in its most simplest form. I would also look at the kerning of the letters as well. It is a good design solution, clean, simple, to the point etc.

With regards to your site... why the calendar? If it is to fill space, use or do something that is meaningful to your success. I applaud you for being honest about being insured and not licensed - this bring credibility via a short message. Like others have mentioned - get the testimonials up fast. Also, change you info whether it is photos, jobs completed etc. monthly. This keeps the site fresh and keeps people coming back. Traffic = potential referrals and customers. Actually creating a great working website that gets hits and traffic, stays current and active on many search engines, persuades people to contact you as well as provide insight and knowledge - to name a few key components - is rocket science. The effort in = the success of your business, whether it is your corporate branding, web-site, business strategy, quality of work and employees and satisfaction of clients and positive referrals and relationships. And, believe it or not it is measurable. Also referral back to the designer/creative agency gives credibility to your business, business planning and strategy. Plus it echoes what you are trying to accomplish via communications - referrals, referrals, referrals. It is small stuff that is all part of a bigger strategy.

Please take this as a positive critique. My background is visual communications and Corporate design and branding. I have 28+ years creating branding for small and major corporations. You are on the correct direction. When I design a mark(there are actually three types of identity marks - logo, logo-type and word mark) I give the client three main solutions, colour, greyscale, black and white, in three different sizes, small -(lapel pin, business card, stationary context) medium - (larger print solutions sizes) and large - vehicle signage, building signage, billboard etc.) in all file formats. By doing this you save time(=money) and headaches down the road when suppliers, request a file from you to fit their needs. A lot of time if they don't receive the correct format they will create one and bill you for it - which is unnecessary.

I hope this helps you to get your message out, save time and money. Good luck.

I hired a logo design firm to do the logo, this was the final product that I was happy with, they did supply me with numerous files in both color and greyscale as well as different sizes. The website is still a work in progress as I may have failed to mention, the web designer that I hired put the calendar in the site, I don't really care either way if it is there or not, I will probably remove it and replace it with a photo or just have the blank space. I finally drove around to a bunch of job sites I have done and took a bunch of pictures and will get them uploaded as well as the testimonials when I receive them back.

Thanks for the tips and information.

For all the other folks, the bottom line is the majority of my competition around here do not have websites, a brand, a logo, etc. Most of them post poorly written ads on Craigslist, I have called most of them on the phone as a potential customer and it's sad to say the majority (not all) are not very good at dealing with customers, some downright rude, others do not return phone calls or emails, etc. My goal is to differentiate myself from the competition in many ways, I have been self employed for many years and have owned two other businesses in the past, so this is not my first rodeo owning and building a business, just a different type of business. I care about doing things the right way, treating customers well, and earning their business for a lifetime.

Lloyd_E · Dec 9, 2013

Sweet... wish a lot of the start-ups I have dealt with over the years followed your tune! "Branding" is much more than the mark...it's also about costumer communications - answering the phone in a particular way and having a clear, well thought out ad campaign too.

If everything succeeds, which I think and hope it will, you may find you are out of the tel-com business sooner than you think! And you will probably blow the competition out of the water...

I followed a young guy here who (I call him young... slightly younger than me...lol) grew his business from cutting lawns in high-school to doing more to pay for a business degree at University, to now running a multi-million dollar operation with hundreds of employees at peak times. A friend used him and had a negative experience and called him - although he is the CEO - he is approachable. He took the employees back to the client's place, explained what they failed to do, how much it cost him(both in lost time/revenue and referrals) and made them do the job over on their own time to the client's satisfaction. He didn't bill the client but got more work over the years just by taking responsibility. It all comes around to those that care.

Onward...

Poopdeck Pappy · Dec 9, 2013

Do they have the same kind of dust ordinances in your area that they have in the Phoenix area? If so, you should check into their applicability to the type of work you will be doing.

The cities in the Phoenix area are zealous about enforcing their dust ordinances and issuing fines. I see water trucks on site at all land development sites when I'm out there.

I know that agriculture is exempt, so some of your work would likely be exempt.