Our new charter business website.

Hi Henry

Newcomer here but not to web design. Viewed on laptop using Ie9 & Mozilla Firefox. Looks great!

Most things have been said, but regarding the pic rotation/scrolling down to see titles - the pic didn't change for me, so I didn't think I was on the new page until I scrolled down. (The info is displayed on the browser tabs, but I never look at those). I'm sure you'll consider using specific pics of food etc as suggested above.

Also view it on iPad/iPhone to see how it looks. We have recently been looking at barns to sleep 12-14 and I was amazed how many wouldn't load/scroll/work on portable devices. Needless to say, we just moved onto the the next one.

Best of luck

Alan
 
Just my penny's worth. First as you well know, you can have the best website in the world but it's useless if it doesn't get to the top of Google when somebody is searching for charters. Have you had the website checked by a search engine optimisation specialist? I do know from my own experience with my own company websites that search engines like videos and links to social network sites and news pages. Second, and please take this as constructive criticism, but I find the pictures and the site in general to be a bit cold. People want to visualise themselves having fun on your boat so IMHO you need to have photos of people doing exactly that, eating, drinking, sunbathing, jetskiing and general socialising. Also you need more pics of the sights and attractions in the area in which you are offering the charter and for most people, a mud bank in Newtown Creek doesn't qualify:)
This is a general question to you and maybe others who offer their boats for overnight charters. How do you manage your personal effects on your boat? We have done some day chartering in the Med with our boats but never overnighting. Even that involved loading all our personal effects into one cabin and locking the door. But if you are going to offer all of your cabins to charterers, what do you do with all your stuff?
 
henryf said:
You haven't got an iPad have you? I wonder if those old gennys aren't quite man enough to charge one up ;)

On that site I am being invited to download some programme or other in order to view the photos.

Scatter cushion count eh... I have held a few back in the photos, we have a dozen on the dining table seats and they get right on my....... But Mrs HenryF is in her element :)


Re: the food most meals will be taken ashore. We are bucking the trend in not charging for provisioning the boat. I want a simple one off fee. In many cases you almost double the initial day rate once you take into account the provisioning charge, the fuel, mooring fees and 10% gratuity for the crew.

If someone wants to slosh around in Crystal and have caviar sandwiches they can but they will have to pay for the privilege! We can even put a professional chef on board but there is no point in doing that if someone doesn't want it. The nature of our cruising ground means that there is lots to explore ashore and many places to eat. From what I gather the Med charters involve going places and anchoring up so you are more self contained. We go places and then explore or take in the sights. Even Newtown Creek our most remote spot has the ability to dinghy for supper at the New Inn.

One of the things common to all you guys is your knowledge of boats. You already know masses about living ona boat. I am trying to gear the site to someone who has never stepped foot aboard a boat of this type and so am trying to both excite and also manage expectations in the same breath.

Image sizes are something we thought long and hard about. I wanted the site to be very visual. We tried having images which changed but it became a distraction. There is also a danger you slow the site down for people on marginal connections. You also increase bandwidth for people accessing via a mobile / pay by Mb service. The guests on Match allowed just 10Mb per day would end up going over their limit if they perused our site for too long ;)

Keep them coming. We will be implementing some changes today. Some others will require new photos to be taken. We are hoping to get some action shots of the boat soon.

Henry :)
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Hmm yep. When I first looked at your site, and having followed your whole p50 story with interest, I didn't see what it was that you were doing so differently from other charters. Having read your reply above and reflected I think I now see it. It is sort of about visiting places and not about fine dining aboard, and that results in keen pricing. Fair enough. I think that will appeal to a decent chunk of the market who get to fine dine often and so don't need it on this charter and don't want to pose with their fine food on the quay at St Trop. Yup, fair enough, nice strategy.

I have an iPad but didn't check those sites on it before posting the links - I was looking at them on a PC/Win7. The Sq58 site isn't mine btw but the boats are the same so they used a few of my photos. I am a clot when it comes to IT and I have never noticed a program download to view the pictures. And "old" gensets plus 10Mb/day wifi on Match? You talking to me? :D Louis Rodder's fine champagne is "Cristal" not "Crystal", btw :)

(edit: come to think of it the 10mb might have been on my old website 3yrs ago before mifi and higher bandwidth, and I think that website is still up, but those T+Cs dont refer to Match. Anyway, to be clear, I do not hold up my own website as at all good. It is total pants I fully admit :D and I don't do any business through it nor do I want to!)
 
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Cristal you say. Are you suggesting fast Eddy my supplier might be slipping me snide bubbles!

As you well know the Princess / LVMH relationship ensures anything other than Moët is tipped down the sink or used for cooking :)

There was a comment somewhere about photos of the places we visit. Have a look at the individual place links on the bottom of the page.

Working through a few changes at the moment.

Henry :)
 
timgriffin said:
How about some moving pics like this http://youtu.be/WJ5HrjGiyks
Can often sell the dream .
Tim
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Concept was vvery nice but that's a great example of awful execution. Shorepower lead dangling everywhere, craap on the dashboard, cushions chucked on floor, motley collection of rag bag fenders, tracy emin beds, close up of a manky fairlead that is pulling out of the GRP (0:56) ffs, firebucket on display jeeze, grubby st.steel anchor holder which made me think "dirty boat"....
 
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Henry, leave the rainbow friendly. People who don't understand it will not register it and for those of us who do it's appreciated! In small B&Bs etc these things are noted otherwise it can just be awkward...

Also agree to change cost to charter rates or something else, plus mug shots of the crew.
 
Henry - Viking was dropped in the USA last year - its Princess now

Ask Roger

Your skipper will have a commercially endorsed Yachtmaster offshore qualification

Who does not comply with the Col Regs by not displaying the correct day time anchor signal when at anchor ;-)
M
 
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Sulley said:
Henry, leave the rainbow friendly. People who don't understand it will not register it and for those of us who do it's appreciated! In small B&Bs etc these things are noted otherwise it can just be awkward...

Also agree to change cost to charter rates or something else, plus mug shots of the crew.
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Thanks for that. As you say it just saves any awkwardness and we really aren't bothered.

Working on the mug shots. Have found a model locally who is not too expensive, good looking guy as well, finely toned not unlike my good self But less off putting :)


Rates is an easy change. Surprised it bothered people.

A few comments on the number of words / detail.

I am working to prune where possible an correct copy which doesn't run properly but I have a belief that the people who are actually going to book will keep coming back to the site and reading in more detail before getting in touch. I don't think someone will scan through bullet points and then make a booking. They may get in touch and ask for more info, but then why not just give them everything from the outset.

Once again thanks for the feedback everyone.

Henry
 
henryf said:
Have a look at the individual place links on the bottom of the page.
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I realize you have put this together with winter photos but I think you should try to find 'happier' ones as soon as the weather allows.
http://www.chartersolent.com/charter-in-lymington.php#
charter-in-lymington.php


Lyminington is a great place full of charm and your photo captures it well but high tide without the winter survival clothing would make it more appealing.

Crowd of trippers sat on a bench with nothing to do and whats the one on the right doing, counting cracks in the pavement.

Get your crew to get dressed for the occasion (even if they take their wet weather gear off just for the snap) and have them mingle among the crowds looking ecstatic :)
 
Henry,

May I suggest where you have quoted speed (in excess 30 knotts) may be worth putting an M.P.H figure in brackets after for the non nautical types who think a knott is found in wood or string (other forms of knotts are commonly available) ....
 
henryf said:
Working on the mug shots. Have found a model locally who is not too expensive, good looking guy as well, finely toned not unlike my good self But less off putting :)
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Oi sweetheart, I'm blimmin expensive, I'll have you know. I'm just doing it at mates rates because you promised me a go on the big bed in the master cabin. :D
 
Looking and reading a lot better now Henry. Agree with what a few people have said about pictures. They can be a bit random when you're moving about the site. e.g. when I first land I get a great picture of the boat. Then click on the boat and get a pic of a sofa and coffee table or maybe a bed. Is there a way to randomize pics specifically for each page topic?

The gallery pics are nice in a jigsaw sort of way. Thought about getting some life in the pics. And more blue sky.

Agree with Sulley ref the rainbow friendly and think you've got it spot on on the landing page.

I prefer The Cost to Rates or whatever. To me comes across as friendlier but i know nowt about marketing. Have you thought about running the text past a good copywriter.

Just read you've lined up a couple of models so get em sitting in the cockpit, glass of bubbly in their hand and a great wake shot with blue skies (though could take a while to get that shot with the current weather :D)
 
"When you consider the cost of buying such a substantial boat, maintaining it and covering all the expenses even when not actually being used then chartering makes a lot of sense."

You need to re-word this as it makes sense for you to charter it to others and visa versa

When I first read it I thought it was you justifying the biz plan not you applauding potential clients huge wisdom
 
Sorry to say this, but IMVHO, all the writing needs tightening up a lot. Sentences like this: "Should you wish to it may be possible to dispense with the crew member subject to ability making it like having your own private boat which you don’t have to worry about for the rest of the year." need, (as I say, IMVHO) a the attentions of a good sub editor.
 
My comments for what they are worth, on the whole I like the site but:


At over 12k for a week, I would be expecting something close to 5 star
I would want real milk I don't care how good you think your lactose free is, this statement makes me worry that you will start preaching health stuff to me. The last thing I would be expecting are instant noodles, nor burgers for lunch even though i like them, and certainly not pie and mash for dinner.

You do not include champagne as standard due to people's differing tastes does this mean you don't stock whiskey because some people don't like that? This seems like a poor excuse and makes me think what other exclusions might be being applied. I appreciate you are trying to make it plain what is included and what isn't, may be a a list of what is available and a comment that other drinks can be added by prior arrangement.

At these prices I am not at all interested in what the kitchen features and nor would my wife be, that is some else is problem.

The grey background and the many shady photos actually paint a fairly drab picture. get some sunshine in there - sell the sizzle !

As other have said pictures with cushions that are not perfect, says to me If you cannot be bothered to get the place ship shape for the most important marketing pictures you are ever going to take, whats it going to be like in real life?

I certainly think that a welcome glass of champagne would be a pre-requesiite, certainly would be for SWMBO even though I hate the stuff.

The drab and dark itinerary page is uninspiring get some sunshine in and livelier brighter pictures. If the best thing about lymington a rusty old fishing vessell, I dont want to go there.

I have been looking at the site for probably 1 hour and I have only just seen a picture of the boat! And now its on every screen - I do not think the revolving pictures is a good idea.


Sorry I am just trying to give some cosntructive critiscism.
 
nickd said:
At over 12k for a week, I would be expecting something close to 5 star
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Yuo can alsways look at an absolute number like £12k/week and think "Cor blimey that's a lot" but so is the new price of a 2012 50er mobo. I think that being fair to Henry it is actually offering very good value. Either on absolute economics or in comparison with other things.

For example, if you assume £1900/day charter fee, the margins left to the operator after allowance for VAT leakage and variable costs (incl allowance for labour even if Henry drives) are perhaps £1050/day and measuring that against a £800k asset whose usefulness is maybe 100 days/year tells you that Henry is not overcharging. Lots of boats charter well at similarish prices. And lots of people think nothing of a £12k cheque as one element of a holiday's cost. Try to get any change from €3k a night for a 5 star hotel on the slopes in Courchevel1850 in season, just to make a random example
 
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