'Mobi' Websites and EMS Media

[CDS]

Anyone come across EMS Media / EMS Internet? Had them on the phone today offering a .mobi website and various other benifits for £99 plus VAT annually. Not actually sure that I need a .mobi website....so would appreciate your thoughts on this and also if anyone has come across EMS?

My initial reaction is that the offer sounds too good to be true - so it probably is .....but done a very quick search and feedback isn't horrific!

Will probably tell them to bog off when they call back tom but thought it worth seeking some advise/ feedback first!

Many Thanks

[Dan]

I have. A customer of mine moved from them. Cheapish the first year (although his website wasn't ranking) and he faced a large bill the second year (might have been third). They wouldn't dish out FTP details to him. And they charged the same fee to leave them as to renew with them. I said cut your losses as the domain name was advertised elsewhere. He paid the fee and has been with me since, about 3 years now. It's cost him a lot less too.

I haven't taken on new web design work since back then so I wouldn't be able to help you. But look for an optimised website and expect to pay around 500 quid for the first year, and about 50 quid every year thereafter. In some area's it can pay for itself in months.

If you do go with EMS. Make sure you look at the contract fully before agreeing anything, and make sure you're happy with the fees if you stay or leave them in a couple of years time. Ideally though it needs to be an optimised website and the one I took over wasn't, and it didn't get the guy any business in.

[CDS]

Thanks for the info Dan, much appreciated. I already have a website (very out of date but it is still current and ranking) the offer from EMS was for a new .mobi site linked to run in conjunction with the existing site. Is there actually any benefit to having a mobi site?
Don't think I will be taking EMS up on their kind offer! But wondering if I am missing a trick that I should be following up with another company?

[John Benton]

I have a general rule, and that is not to entertain unsolicited sales calls or door knockers. If I want something I will go out and look for it and then make a decision based on what is right for me.

About a year ago I had TalkTalk trying to convince me to switch to them, because of the great Broadband deal. Didn't even use the net then, only via phone, so pointless having it. They were adamant it was the deal for me. I can't repeat what I said to them.

[Dan]

Thanks for the info Dan, much appreciated. I already have a website (very out of date but it is still current and ranking) the offer from EMS was for a new .mobi site linked to run in conjunction with the existing site. Is there actually any benefit to having a mobi site?
Don't think I will be taking EMS up on their kind offer! But wondering if I am missing a trick that I should be following up with another company?

No benefit at all in having a .mobi site mate. You can get your own website to have a custom style for mobile browsers if you look into it. Nothing needs to change. And it's always best to just have one website with one lot of content on it. It is actually a bad thing to duplicate content on another website. Both end up losing importance and neither are unique.

[Dan]

I have a general rule, and that is not to entertain unsolicited sales calls or door knockers. If I want something I will go out and look for it and then make a decision based on what is right for me.

About a year ago I had TalkTalk trying to convince me to switch to them, because of the great Broadband deal. Didn't even use the net then, only via phone, so pointless having it. They were adamant it was the deal for me. I can't repeat what I said to them.

Same as me mate. I must be one some database with no name attached to our landline number. When they ring they always say 'Im looking for mr jones' or some made up name. When I say you've got the wrong number they ask who is speaking. They want me to tell them so they have my name now. I don't, and they start waffling on about some deal that would benefit the homeowner anyway so I should listen.

I'm registered with TPS so shouldn't get sales calls but still do. Often from India.

[jonnyc]

is there anyone who designs websites for alot of the members of this forum who can be recommended
I need something really stylish .
I havent really found anything i really liked when loking on internet tiling websites.
the top garden designers really seem to have cracked it for looks adn tiling ios very visual as well.
I have tried doing my own and have started running in to problems with wanting a carousel .

[Dan]

Do you like this sort of thing? - David Howe Tiling | Tiler in Durham | Tiler in Darlington

[jonnyc]

Yes this looks clean and contemporary.
Did dave do this himself .

[Dan]

No mate, but you could do. It's using wordpress which is free. The hosting for the account you'd expect anything between 30 - 60 quid a year. And then the template design for that site was about 50 quid.

Orrrrrrr, you could get somebody to do it all for you if you send them all the content and photo's, and you'd expect to pay about 300 quid. And if you want it well optimised (which you do), about £500.

We'll be recommending a design firm soon which will be able to do any of the above for / with you if you're not in a rush.

[jonnyc]

thanks for this.
i have laso been using wordpress and bluehost and bought template so think am on right track.
its just getting it all together .
ive got photos on but not much more.
johnclarkenaturalstonework.co.uk
will wait to see who you are recommending.

[Dan]

That's not a bad websites you know. Well done mate.

What gallery is that you're using?