Who’s afraid of the World Wide Web? Actually, many people older than 30 who don’t use a computer in their
daily job may be reluctant to use the Internet, let alone advertise their business on a website. If you’re one of these
portable restroom operators, you’ll probably change your mind once you learn how easy it is, and how much you
can save by moving some of your advertising dollars to the web.
Actually, you don’t need computer experience and it can cost very little money to put up a basic website.
Sometimes called “brochure sites,” the basic website provides information about your portable sanitation company,
your portable restroom services, your portable restroom equipment, and your contact information.These sites can
be a thrifty way to make a big impact. In some cases, they can save money by taking the place of a printed color
brochure and they can add an extra layer to yellow pages ads, billboards, or any “freebie” your salesperson leaves
behind. If a potential portable restroom rental customer can go from your yellow pages ad to your web site, they
can learn a whole lot more about your business. The more a customer knows about you, the more you stand out
from the competition in their minds.
daily job may be reluctant to use the Internet, let alone advertise their business on a website. If you’re one of these
portable restroom operators, you’ll probably change your mind once you learn how easy it is, and how much you
can save by moving some of your advertising dollars to the web.
Actually, you don’t need computer experience and it can cost very little money to put up a basic website.
Sometimes called “brochure sites,” the basic website provides information about your portable sanitation company,
your portable restroom services, your portable restroom equipment, and your contact information.These sites can
be a thrifty way to make a big impact. In some cases, they can save money by taking the place of a printed color
brochure and they can add an extra layer to yellow pages ads, billboards, or any “freebie” your salesperson leaves
behind. If a potential portable restroom rental customer can go from your yellow pages ad to your web site, they
can learn a whole lot more about your business. The more a customer knows about you, the more you stand out
from the competition in their minds.
On a two or three page website you can quickly show customers
that you are a reputable business with an array of portable
sanitation services and portable restroom equipment and people
to do the job right. You can provide a brief history of your
company and you can show pictures of your employees and
portable sanitation equipment.
that you are a reputable business with an array of portable
sanitation services and portable restroom equipment and people
to do the job right. You can provide a brief history of your
company and you can show pictures of your employees and
portable sanitation equipment.
A basic site may have a home page that provides contact information, background information and perhaps a photo
of you and your employees. The second page could focus on construction services showing pictures of portable
restrooms and listing service options, and the third could be for special events and parties. If your business
provides additional services, such as dewatering, septic, or grease trap pumping, consider adding a page for each
service.
Once you have a website, you can put the Internet address on everything you use to promote your business,
including the side of your trucks, on portable restroom stickers, on business cards, on hats, t-shirts, pens,
magnets, or anything else you use for marketing that doesn’t tell the complete story alone.
Building a Website
There are two ways to build a website. If you have basic computer skills and feel comfortable maneuvering on the
web, you can go to a build-it-yourself site like those you can find at yahoo.com or networksolutions.com. At
Yahoo, look on the landing page for Y! Small Business, follow the links to “Build a website” and simply follow the
instructions. You can download their custom SiteBuildertm software to get the job done. At Network Solutions,
for a price of just $1.50 a month per page, you can create your site by simply pointing and clicking on one of the
hundreds of site templates they have available.
There are several ways to get pictures for your website. You can use a regular camera and have your pictures
developed onto a picture CD when you have them developed. You can use a digital camera and upload the pictures
onto your computer. Or, if you are a PolyJohn customer, you can get a free Product Image CD from your area
manager. This helpful disc can be used to upload product images to a web site. Having portable restroom images
like these that are well lit and shot by a professional will give your site a more professional image.
For any website you launch, you will also need to reserve a domain name. This should be something easy for your
clients to remember. Start with the name of your business with a ‘.com’ extension. For example, if your company
name is Sam’s Superior Sanitation, go with samssuperiorsanitation.com. When you go to register, you’ll find out
right away if your name is taken. If it is already reserved by someone else, try extensions other than ‘.com’ such
as .net, .biz, . bz, .us, or one of the other two dozen or so options. Site registration also has a fee, usually less than
$50 a year.
Large companies normally build custom websites using professional website designers. There are many good
examples in the portable sanitation industry. To see what your largest competitor is doing, try typing their
company name into a web browser to see what comes up. If you don’t find their website, try other big names in
the portable sanitation industry. You”ll find sites for Andy Gump, Honey Bucket, United Site Services, Service
Sanitation, Allied/BFI, and many others.
To create a custom site, you’ll need a web designer. Perhaps the best way to find one in your area is to ask friends
in the Chamber of Commerce who have websites if they would recommend the person who built theirs. Finding a
web designer who is respected by associates in your town is much better than trying to find one in the Yellow
Pages.
You can also look for web designers online. With website work all being done in cyberspace anyway, you can just
as easily work with a designer in Nome, AL or Key West, FL as you can with someone in your neighborhood.
Websites like Elance (www.elance.com) or Guru (www.guru.com) let you get bids from hundreds of designers.
However, like finding them in the Yellow Pages, you won’t know the people you are working with, so you are
taking a bigger risk. If you do work with a stranger, get references (and check them), get a signed contract, and
never pay more than an initial deposit up front. Make sure the contract specifies completion dates with assigned
payment schedules for work completed, a detailed description of the work to be done, and specific terms about
who owns the site design.
You’ll also want to have control of your website once it is done. Small changes will be needed periodically as your
products, services, or personnel changes. If your website designer doesn’t show you or someone on your staff
how to make minor changes, then you will be at his or her mercy whenever a change is needed.
While you can’t expect the phone to start ringing off the hook just because you have launched your website, being
on the Internet is becoming an increasingly important part of any marketing program no matter how large or small
your portable restroom business is.
It’s a matter of convenience, sales potential, and personal pride to have a nice looking website. And, the first time a
new customer calls saying they learned about your business on the Web, you’ll know it was worth it.
of you and your employees. The second page could focus on construction services showing pictures of portable
restrooms and listing service options, and the third could be for special events and parties. If your business
provides additional services, such as dewatering, septic, or grease trap pumping, consider adding a page for each
service.
Once you have a website, you can put the Internet address on everything you use to promote your business,
including the side of your trucks, on portable restroom stickers, on business cards, on hats, t-shirts, pens,
magnets, or anything else you use for marketing that doesn’t tell the complete story alone.
Building a Website
There are two ways to build a website. If you have basic computer skills and feel comfortable maneuvering on the
web, you can go to a build-it-yourself site like those you can find at yahoo.com or networksolutions.com. At
Yahoo, look on the landing page for Y! Small Business, follow the links to “Build a website” and simply follow the
instructions. You can download their custom SiteBuildertm software to get the job done. At Network Solutions,
for a price of just $1.50 a month per page, you can create your site by simply pointing and clicking on one of the
hundreds of site templates they have available.
There are several ways to get pictures for your website. You can use a regular camera and have your pictures
developed onto a picture CD when you have them developed. You can use a digital camera and upload the pictures
onto your computer. Or, if you are a PolyJohn customer, you can get a free Product Image CD from your area
manager. This helpful disc can be used to upload product images to a web site. Having portable restroom images
like these that are well lit and shot by a professional will give your site a more professional image.
For any website you launch, you will also need to reserve a domain name. This should be something easy for your
clients to remember. Start with the name of your business with a ‘.com’ extension. For example, if your company
name is Sam’s Superior Sanitation, go with samssuperiorsanitation.com. When you go to register, you’ll find out
right away if your name is taken. If it is already reserved by someone else, try extensions other than ‘.com’ such
as .net, .biz, . bz, .us, or one of the other two dozen or so options. Site registration also has a fee, usually less than
$50 a year.
Large companies normally build custom websites using professional website designers. There are many good
examples in the portable sanitation industry. To see what your largest competitor is doing, try typing their
company name into a web browser to see what comes up. If you don’t find their website, try other big names in
the portable sanitation industry. You”ll find sites for Andy Gump, Honey Bucket, United Site Services, Service
Sanitation, Allied/BFI, and many others.
To create a custom site, you’ll need a web designer. Perhaps the best way to find one in your area is to ask friends
in the Chamber of Commerce who have websites if they would recommend the person who built theirs. Finding a
web designer who is respected by associates in your town is much better than trying to find one in the Yellow
Pages.
You can also look for web designers online. With website work all being done in cyberspace anyway, you can just
as easily work with a designer in Nome, AL or Key West, FL as you can with someone in your neighborhood.
Websites like Elance (www.elance.com) or Guru (www.guru.com) let you get bids from hundreds of designers.
However, like finding them in the Yellow Pages, you won’t know the people you are working with, so you are
taking a bigger risk. If you do work with a stranger, get references (and check them), get a signed contract, and
never pay more than an initial deposit up front. Make sure the contract specifies completion dates with assigned
payment schedules for work completed, a detailed description of the work to be done, and specific terms about
who owns the site design.
You’ll also want to have control of your website once it is done. Small changes will be needed periodically as your
products, services, or personnel changes. If your website designer doesn’t show you or someone on your staff
how to make minor changes, then you will be at his or her mercy whenever a change is needed.
While you can’t expect the phone to start ringing off the hook just because you have launched your website, being
on the Internet is becoming an increasingly important part of any marketing program no matter how large or small
your portable restroom business is.
It’s a matter of convenience, sales potential, and personal pride to have a nice looking website. And, the first time a
new customer calls saying they learned about your business on the Web, you’ll know it was worth it.
The Sanitation Journal is a monthly trade publication that caters to the portable restroom industry. Each month
thousands of portable restroom operators utilize information from the Journal to aid in business decisions.
Subscribe today and make sure you never miss an issue.
thousands of portable restroom operators utilize information from the Journal to aid in business decisions.
Subscribe today and make sure you never miss an issue.
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April 2005
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Serving the American Liquid Waste Industry Since 2002