Before & After photos

[L8model]

I've been busy getting everything ready to go with my new windshield repair business and I had plans of posting "before-and-after" pictures of chip repairs on my new website. I designed a page that I can print out and place behind the glass to make the damage easier to see in a picture (which also makes it easier to focus the camera). I thought that I was so smart, because I printed a 6" scaled ruler on the page along with a 1.25" section marked to show the repairable range of stone damage (most of you have probably already figured that out).

Well, as it turns out, I was skimming through posts in this forum and happened to come upon a post made by "ARG"; I decided to check out his Web Page (which is very well designed and loaded with great information) and I seen what I thought had been my GREAT idea in his "before-and-after" pictures. Well, obviously I am not the only genious out there....

Anyhow, I saved my design as a PDF file (which should print in the correct dimensions on most printers), so if anyone would like a copy of it, I would be more than happy to email it to you. I might even make it available for download off my website, but I'm not ready to post the link until I've been able to get it completed.

If anyone has some great website content that they would like to share (pictures, .jpg's, .gif's, anything....), I am looking for stuff that is not copywrited or trademarked (freeware, so to speak....). Let me know....

[CPR]

If you can take a picture of an " after repair " you didn't fix it right. Just kidding, I tried to take pictures of repairs and it did not work out well.......

[ARG]

L8Model:

Great minds think alike. If you do post pictures on your website I think you'll find it very useful. Before and after pictures work well when your competition's idea of a good repair is to do what looks like putting a drop of pit filler over a chip and calling it repaired. I have one company that only charges $10 for a chip repair with free mobile service. Of course if you're not, happy he'll install a new windshield.

ARG

[L8model]

ARG,

I really do commend you on your website, very well done!

None of my soon-to-be competitors currently have a website (at least none that show up when I do a search). I'm not sure if a quality website will bring me business or not, but I am certain that it will add to my credability and give me a presence where my competitors currently have none. I LOVE the Internet.... I can't think of a better place to post before-and-after photos for potential customers to see (I can't wait until I actually have some to post). And that was a great idea, posting pictures of bad repairs.... I wish that I could claim I was thinking of that too (well, I am now, thanks to your site)....

I hope you don't mind, but I plan to design my site "loosely" using yours as a guide.

Did you design the site yourself or did you hire it done? I will be attempting mine on my own. It's been 9 years since I actually built a website, so I get to learn it all over again. I will be using FrontPage 2003 and Adobe PhotoShop CS (if I can ever learn how to work it properly).

See ya!

L8model

[L8model]

Okay.... I've posted the PDF on the following website: www.MotiveMagic.com

Just click on the PDF link at the bottom of the page (it won't be on that page forever, it is just a temporary page until I get around to building my site).

You can also see a pic of my work truck (pre lettering)....

[ARG]

L8model:

An advantage of posting pictures on a website is it eliminates wasted time. I'm sure many of us have gotten a call "I got a chip come fix it", then when you get out there all you find is a pit. I usually will try to sort out pits and damage that can't be repaired before I travel. If there is any question I will ask if they have access to the internet and recommend they visit our website. This has helped to both eliminate unrepairable damage and when they call back determine what kind of damage they have.

ARG

[L8model]

ARG,

Thanks! More great info.... This will probably be my last post for a few days as I am flying out on the RedEye in the morning (Orlando Training with Delta Kits). I hope to come back FULL of knowledge.... Well, I'll be full of something, anyway....

Joe