Content Ideas for a Broker's Website - Ideas Wanted!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Hi David - Interesting thread.

You mentioned that you thought the Yachtworld service was too expensive, so let me ask, then - for a basic listing system with roughly the same data, with an easy-to-use form page for entering boat details and uploading images, what do you and your 'client' think would be a fair annual price?

Free would work and tested to destruction by some other poor b#stards first .

In this case the Broker already has something. Exactly what I don't know yet. Could be someone has already done a version of what you are suggesting or just that someone has simply written on a blank webpage off own back (from brief discussions it sounds like Broker has had someone in the distant past doing computer "stuff" on a paid basis - but long since stopped, hence the state of the website I suspect!).

Once I know what he has (and especially what he has already signed up for / is paying for - and for how long) then decisions for the future can be made (if I am involved past this initial phase - see my previous comments). FWIW, if he was starting with zero then Yachtworld would likely be my first and last stop - and living with any shortcomings because it is a tried and tested solution and has a good reach on the internet. It's been a few years since I looked at their actual numbers (and have now forgotten!) - but given at least one other local broker is using them I am guessing that within the ballpark for Jersey / the number of likely listings.

Apart from Yachtworld (where it is their reach as much if not more than the layout and ease(?) of input that is the attraction - they are pretty much most(?) of the online advertising by being the place that most punters will look - albeit with other more regional options) - I think the other main competitor for a small Brokerage is a DIY website. Mainly because it is Free in cash terms (or as good as). Obviously lots of downsides to that approach - but no cash going out (and also no vague sense that are being b#tt f#cked (again?!) by IT wallahs on the cost ) is a big attraction when you are small and time rich / cash poor .

Reason I ask is that I'm a web-application developer and I do this and similar work almost daily. For a related personal project I spent some time analyzing YW and other listing systems. Your feedback would help me determine whether there's enough demand to market something simple that any broker might want.

Thanks.

My take is that YW have pretty much cornered that market - not to say that can't outcompete them (it's not exactly a difficult concept to replicate). But would have been easier 5 or 10 years ago. Oh the benefit of hindsight!

But nonetheless I think a slightly different angle could have merit - perhaps melding (is that a word?!) the Franchise Model, with a Search Engine and a Marketing Collective? At the risk of de-railing my own thread ........

......am thinking that "you" create the basic boat brokerage website / listing (with boat details being added and updated in a 110% idiot proof manner!).....and offer it to folks for..........free . That outcompetes YW on price .

Stage 1

To get kick started you need Brokers - so you start with a Search Engine that only has (non YW) Boat Brokers in it (and using their existing and often varied websites) - I have tried the idea using Google custom search (for my own benefit) - results are mixed at best (no doubt related to the fact that DIY Broker websites vary a lot), I am thinking some technical tweaks could make a boat specific search engine better - IMO doesn't have to be perfect (only a stage 1 thing), just worthwhile using by Punters. To build the critical mass needed you don't sign up any Brokers - you just include them (as per Google). Being able to search by boat location (in miles from Punter, or failing that Broker would be useful).

Stage 2

Once you have some stats to play with, then you go knocking on doors to the Broker and offer them the Free basic boat brokerage website (for them to own themselves forever and with a guarantee that it will be free forever!). The sell is that you are creating a MKII version of the Search Engine (with an advanced search option - like the YW version) but to include a broker they need the new (your) standard layout. As time goes forward if more and more Brokers convert to you the Advanced Search Engine becomes ever more useful / popular....and desirable to be included with.

- Of course at this point you are still not making any money - but also once you have done the initial hard work you won't be doing much work either ......just waiting for your Search Engine to develop legs (no doubt aided by some online promotion).

Stage 3

You rebrand the Search Engine as "the Independent Boat Brokerage Collective" (or summit )........

For existing Brokers you can Grandfather them in for free (whether they like it or not?!).

For new Brokers you can start charging them, both for your Website / Listing and as part of the umbrella Marketing Brand "The IBBC".....could wrap it in with you promoting the brand in real world as well as online. Collective marketing for a small business does have a value - especially if "my" product is by location not competing with others.

and then you start to sell Brokerage Franchises (kinda like the UK based Boatshed.com model) for regions where you have gaps / folks don't want to sign up.....or you think you can junk someone in favour of a paying punter .

Stage 3 1/2

Open up the Search Engine to owners selling boats - as long as they use your website / listing package (for a fee of course!).

My guess is that in some regions (worldwide) some of the above will prove more popular than others.

The technical mumbo jumbo is well outside my scope - IMO would take someone who can do that hands on and is willing to take a punt on the project coming to nought (and their own time & effort being wasted).

Anyway, back to the subject in hand.......if you want to continue the discussion send me a PM or start your own bl##dy thread .

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by jannw

having spent two years looking for a boat, and finally closing on one this year ... here's my 2 cents - even if you hadn't mentioned all that I would have guessed similar from the content (and tone? ) of your post!

Brokers should respond to inquiries, and answer the actual questions asked. Even if the answer is "We don't know, We'll find out". When I ask a specific question (sometimes twice), and it is ignored, I get upset and move on - yeah, that is annoying (says he who has ignored you for nearly 2 days - my excuse is that I was thinking through your post. and that is even true!). The odds are of course that the Broker either simply forgot or is in the hands of the Vendor, and "I will back to you ASAP" does tend to grow legs.........

.....but I rather suspect that even a good broker will struggle to find out everything about everything that a Punter may ask - and in truth would not be cost effective to even try, just on the off chance. Probably much like a thread on CF, the more someone learns the more (and better) the questions are.......methinks the trick would be for a Broker to suck out as much info from a Buyer about what they want to know in one (or 2 goes) rather than for the questions to dribble out one by one.......but fortunately that side of things won't be my concern (problem!) - and that ain't by accident.

A plan of the interior ... even if it is only a sketch ... I can't assess a boat for cruising if I don't know the layout. Also the headroom! - Headroom has been noted .....that layout of the interior has cropped up a few times. and I do understand why - it is bl##dy useful! and I have seen them done well. Will be on my list to investigate how to generate those DIY....might not be on for the MK1 version but my intention would be to build the capacity in to add later. Of course won't be exactly too scale - but no one will be building a boat from them. Well, hopefully not!

A copy of the most recent survey ... even if it is a few years old. Otherwise how can I know what I am about to go to the massive inconvenience to view? - Yup, if available. Probably won't be online - but hopefully in a PDF format so can be e-mailed out.

Photo's ... lots. for sure

Inventory, Complete inventory. Include notation of things not working and/or requiring maintenance (or bought but not installed). I was pissed off when I asked if everything was working, and the first few things I touched didn't (but I didn't complain about the ones I was forewarned about). Yup, as I said before - will likely be needing an inventory for the sale agreement so to my mind actually easier to put together from day 1. The fact that it helps with the marketing being the bonus.......things working? Mmmm......I understand the point, but only so much a Broker can test and say so the Buyer is very much in the hands of a Vendor - but certainly would be my intention that along with the Inventory would be owner comments on working / not working and ideally also etc........but at the end of the day, Broker and Buyer still in the hands of a Vendor and if he be a liar or an idiot then that is simply life........but the upside is that if easy to spot simple lies it says a lot about the boat / Vendor - IMO mostly "run Forrest run" .

A list of the things I won't be happy to see. Tell me at the beginning and I won't complain later ... wait for me or my surveyor to find them and I will be seriously pissed off. Like ... I can't tell you how seriously pissed off I will be. This is a very good point (in fact it is one of the questions I always ask). As you say, no problem with no problems - but I want to either price them into my offer now or walk away from the boat before spending money on a Surveyor etc. The plus for a Vendor is that far more likely that the sale price agreed is the final sale price. I would like to include this in the listing somehow - not my final call to make though (I can see plusses and minuses to the approach for the Brokerage). It might end up as one of those things disclosed only by e-mail after first contact.....but certainly would be a question I would want the Vendor to disclose.....as a Broker I would have no interest in wasting my own time in showing a boat that would have known problems later scuppering a deal.

Scan of the engine maintenance log ... I want to see this before I come to view it. An engine maintenance log? wot dat . In an ideal world a box full of receipts and an engine you could eat dinner off would be nice . But back on Planet Boat. the reality likely to be a lot of DIY servicing (real or imagined ) of varying quality / ineptness - even if Vendor genuinely thinks otherwise .

Am thinking that likely the best that would be obtainable is a summary of the last 3 years maintanence / work - and whether any bills available to back them up. and engine hours if known and / or boat and engine usage in the last few years. Plus details of any prior major work (and ideally some specifics on what any "rebuild" actually involved). But I think have to accept that often the answer (from a Vendor) would likely be "yes, serviced DIY annually - but no bills available".....and the Buyer makes of that what they will..........

.........but would be interesting to hear thoughts from others on what (in practice) could be given to a Buyer to help them.

Short history of the yacht, especially the last few years - am already thinking of including an "Owner Comments" section, likely only a paragraph or 2 and obviously written to sell the boat! (IMO fair enough) - but Broker has the final edit (to smooth more doubtful claims!) and likely would give an Owner a proforma on what to include - and usage over the last few years would be useful for them to provide. and easy as well.

Age of the rigging, and miles it has sailed. Useful to know - probably age easier to collect than miles sailed. But at the end of the day no bills = no evidence. and the best (and most honest) answer is likely to often be "unknown".....or..."believed 2001".........even if a buyer would prefer "Last week - and here is the bill".

Condition of sails ... an honest one ... again, if you tell me first it's ok ... If I find out they are crap at viewing I am pissed off. Another judgement call thing - age a good indicator (and usage), but to my mind "Serviceable" means sails go up and no holes in 'em ....which depending on intended usage could be could enough for one Buyer - but rubbish for another. In an ideal new last week would be nice (except in the asking price!).....maybe could wrap when last "serviced"....or failing that, when last used......I suspect this could be one of those things like the engine, where it is down to the Buyer (and his people?) to make the final judgement call.

What I want to do with the listing is to have a standard that covers pretty much every boat, whether built last year or in the middle of last century - and at all prices / conditions. Market in Jersey not big enough to get too specialised and besides, plenty of folks actually happy with less than perfect boats - if price matches condition.


Lastly be helpful ... if I am coming to view the boat don't tell me 2 days before that you need two weeks to organise a sea-trial (because it's on the hard and the crane guys are on holidays)! no kidding! Lol (because it wasn't me!).....actually that not so much of a problem, more a case that the boats might not float for 2 weeks every month (or only for 10 minutes!). Good communication is key......but I am on the website listing side, so any website can't cure that.......

Selling a boat isn't hard ... if someone is coming to view it they are probably ready to part with some cash ... make it easy for them. Be honest and forthright. +1. but nonetheless I suspect that those who are seriously looking to buy (even if it turns out for fair enough reasons not "this boat") do have their welcome queered by (many?) others. Whereever you go in the world and whatever you do - someone else has already been there and b#ggered up the welcome from some.........

Lastly ... make sure the boat is reasonable priced, and the vendor is seriously ready to sell. FSCKING me around isn't cool! - of course that is largely down to the Vendor. What I would like to see happen (not my call) is that at the outset the Broker gives a potential buyer a clear heads up on the (un)willingness of a Vendor to play ball. Could well be that a Broker has to accept that the Boat will not be selling for a while (until time educates the Vendor. or Broker tells him to f#ck off ) - but that no reason for Broker himself to waste own time and that of others.

J

If CF eats this response I will be very upset .

Oh goody - it didnt!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Khagan1227

First, let me say, the example of the walkthough video is much superior to the videos of boats I've seen in YW......I must confess that although aware of a fair few now being done I have not actually seen many (am not buying). That one I saw (and kept the link) because it is of a sister ship. I will be doing my own boat in due course.....but I also thought it was good - mainly for the simplicity. and being short. IIRC no shot of the engine compartment though.

Since we are again looking at another boat, let me throw in a couple of items in addition to what has already been mentioned. While these questions might not be applicable to all, but since we live about 1000 miles from the nearest large body of water, we have to travel everywhere to look at suitable cruising boats. Since the boat buying process is rarely short; viewing, test sail, survey, etc., it can be cost prohibitive to some to travel all over the country, find a boat, only to find out the cost to keep it there while looking at other boats, completing the purchase and/or repairs.....the primary market (for both Vendor and Buyer) is Jersey - so boat will never be more than 5 miles away ......but sometimes folks do come from England (or even France) to buy....so in practice am thinking of folks with your sort of travels concerns / aggro, and IMO making things easier for folks to decide worthing hopping on a plane (or a ferry) is worth doing as opens up the market massively. FWIW, I did the same thing in reverse when buying in England so have a decent handle on the challenges.

1.) If there are repairs that need to be made to the vessel, is there a local yard nearby with the capibility (ability) to perform the repairs. Fortunately with this Brokerage the main part of the business is as a Boatyard .

2.) Can the vessel remain in the current location, and if so, the approximate cost. If it can't, a remark to the location of a nearby mooring or marina. That makes sense, and spelling things out (for both locals and folks flying in) is a good idea, and painless enough.

3.) DON'T use the term "sail-away ready" or "liveaboard-ready" unless the boat really is. While both are subjective to the individual, a vessel that requires new standing rigging, is NOT sail-away ready, etc. I have been pondering this a bit. The main problem with being "honest" in a sea of liars is that the boats could end up sounding like a pile of poo in comparison . I am thinking along the lines of saying what a boat would need (work or equipment)

a) to deliver to England (a few hundred miles)
b) to France (closer / easier)
c) or around the bay (in daylight? )
d) to consider within the next year or so - depending on usage.

.....the boat yard also offers deliveries, so would be looking at the boat from that angle as well (would it be wise?!).

Obviously a line between trying to sell the boat (and putting her in best light) and not trying to con someone into buying the unexpected (or simply wasting their and the Brokers time).

I think I am in the majority, don't let me waste my time and money to travel a long distance to a boat that doesn't meet my requirements. for sure - in my UK buying trip I saw some mis-described cr#p! and I was only dealing with owners. All useful learning though - I was only looking at the same model and I did a buying trip looking at a number (3 or 4?), plus got myself invited aboard several (not for sale) sisterships for a chinwag. and in one case even a free night of accomadation onboard.

Good luck with this project David, it looks to be "fun"!

Well, the "fun" starts sometime next week - I think perfectly doable (if nothing else distracts me). But however it ends I will be able to include in my CF posts "When I was in the Brokerage game".....and then make things up .

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

What I want to see in a boat listing...

1. Specs - All the usual, of course (LOA, LWL, beam, disp, ballast). Some specs that are occasionally left out, but that I WANT TO SEE: draft, mast height above water line, sail area, headroom, horsepower, capacities (water, fuel, holding). Freeboard is something I had not thought about - in practice likely will be using the power of cut & paste rather than a tape measure, not sure how common that is in the specs same with mast height (but no low bridge over here ).

2. Layout - I much prefer a listing that includes a diagram of the interior layout. Profile drawings of the underbody and rig are also nice to have.

Priority on the drawings will be on the interior - but I know what you are saying on the underwater profile / rig. Nice to have, likely to stay exactly that for while .

3. Pictures - Make sure they are actually useful! I absolutely HATE listings that include a bunch of fuzzy pictures, many of which are too close up to be able to even tell what it is that you're looking at.

The plan is to include a standard set (maybe 7? - side profile / on deck / cockpit / forecabin / saloon / Galley / Nav Station / Engine / Head....ooops that's 9 - plus an "in action" shot if available)......but to include other (non fuzzy!) photos in a seperate Album (could be simply a seperate website page or even photobucket) - my thinking is that a casual viewer is really only interested in an overview and I don't want to drown them in info at the getgo (with a squillion photos, most of which are simply variations of the basic 9 - even though useful) - those more interested can click the link.

4. In general, the more details, the better. Brief listings that say "call for more details" are a turn-off. I suppose they do that because they think that if they get you on the phone, then they can give you the sales pitch. In reality, I rarely bother to call if the details I am looking for are not listed, so the strategy is counter-productive.

I think "call for more details" also comes from laziness . I certainly agree with you that a counterproductive approach.

IMO the best salesman is.......the buyer themselves so the more I can give him to self convince (and dream about ) the better. Hopefully by the time he gets in contact the hard selling work has been done by self - even if he doesn't know it yet .

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

But however it ends I will be able to include in my CF posts "When I was in the Brokerage game".....and then make things up .

OH YEA!

Like me when I say "When I was out cruising...." with so little time compared to some.

[Lake-Effect]

Thanks David for the feedback.

Actually I've spun up something similar to your stage 3, the difference being it's consumer-oriented: a search engine that searches many different sites, including YW-clients and other systems. Benefit to user is a fast way to gauge availability and price range for a given boat; potential benefit to me would be just the consumer's eyeballs on my site's marine-related ads, and longer-term having enough data to compare prices, find average per model, etc.

But it's all moot; I have the thing up but not public yet.

Good luck with your project.

[Weyalan]

For me:
Pictures are important - the more the better
The year of build (and the year of launch if significantly different)
The builder
The designer
Dimensions

It is so important to try not to hide "issues" with the boat. If the boat appears to fit my needs and budget, I will come look at it, and I will find the deficiencies. I will be really pissed-off if I spend my hard-earned on flights and accommodation to come and look at a boat that the broker tells me is bristol-finish perfect and the opposite is true. It soesn't matter if you tell me that the boat is in deed of lots of cosmetic TLC and needs a new motor - if the price is right and it is a boat I like, this can be factored in... but I need to know.

It is also, in my opinion, important to have a true and frank description of the sails and thir conditions. Chances are that if I buy the boat I'm gonna sail it home... so Ineed to factor in sail repairs if these are needed prior to departure. The same is true of the engine. Cosmetic is cosmetic and can be fixed at leisure. I don't care if the fridge works, or if the lights are dodgy. I need to be able to sail and motor.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

As said already - a short walkthough video is on the Agenda. won't be rivalling Spielberg - but 2 or 3 mins does show a lot, and helps Buyers imagine themselves onboard . Will likely use a Standard Script.

The 360 degree thing is not on the agenda - a) because I have NFI how to!, b) it sounds expensive for kit and in time / aggro and c) I think of main use is to show space, so more useful in a property than in a boat.

3D on the other hand...........

I saw the video you showed earlier...Please please please use a foamy cover over the mic. It muffles out the wind. Otherwise it's real annoying!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Thanks David for the feedback.

Actually I've spun up something similar to your stage 3, the difference being it's consumer-oriented: a search engine that searches many different sites, including YW-clients and other systems. Benefit to user is a fast way to gauge availability and price range for a given boat;

What about offering Punters a free (YW style) FSBO listing page for them to input themselves? and / or a short (boat specific) "add me to your seach engine" form so folks can instead use own FSBO webpage (so your search engine can more easily pick up good details).

Say the listings will be active for 3 months, unless confirmed as still live - then the listing gets shunted off into an Archive (which is in itself of interest to folk - Boat Porn!) - just want to keep it seperate from the listings as nothing more annoying than finding out a boat has been sold when getting interested in a listing.

potential benefit to me would be just the consumer's eyeballs on my site's marine-related ads, and longer-term having enough data to compare prices, find average per model, etc.

It kinda sounds like where I think the future of online Publishing is (including the established magazines - not just the boaty ones). I think there is good money to be made not simply from hosting other people's marine-related ads (online not so lucrative as in print), but some of the adverts for "own" products - even if not actually getting into a full marine business for self (IMO if the advertising space is actually worth money - then also worth money to self). 10 cents (?) for a 1000 clicks (with 1 person? buying something) - or 10% on a plastic widget?.......me would go after the latter, but mixed up with the former (every little helps!).

But it's all moot; I have the thing up but not public yet.

Good luck with your project.

Don't be shy about pinging me a link , whether on launch or for a preview (I am very nosey!)

[hellosailor]

Dave, there is at least one P&S (not POS) camera out there, I think a $100 Sony, that stitches together panoramas all by itself. So you can pretty much push the btton, spin in a circle, or spin on a tripod, and get something close to a 360 view without a lot of fuss.

For that matter, juts putting the camera on a tripod or even monopod (radical idea!) and shooting "one forward, one aft" wouldn't be hard. But that still requires photos, and photos require cleaning up the boat, and then you actually have to visit the boat. Can't make any profit wasting time that way. <VBG>

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Weyalan

It is so important to try not to hide "issues" with the boat. If the boat appears to fit my needs and budget, I will come look at it, and I will find the deficiencies. I will be really pissed-off if I spend my hard-earned on flights and accommodation to come and look at a boat that the broker tells me is bristol-finish perfect and the opposite is true. It soesn't matter if you tell me that the boat is in deed of lots of cosmetic TLC and needs a new motor - if the price is right and it is a boat I like, this can be factored in... but I need to know.

I understand that - the trick is going to be to incorporate that into the Website (and the Broker's working practices - well outside my remit!).

Fundamentally the fella concerned is a straight forward down to earth bloke , so won't be wanting to sell anyone a pig in a poke - plus of course Jersey is a small place (despite the 100,000 people!). and of course he does have better things to do than waste own time. (the primary business is the boatyard - and he has other interests, won't exactly starve to death if he don't sell any boats!).

I am at present puzzling this one through (not surprisingly a common theme in this thread - and zero surprise to me) - obviously want to avoid putting folks off unneccesarily (some people can't handle the truth ) by making fundamentally sound boat sound like a pile of poo (in comparsion to boats in exactly the same overall condition) or upsetting any Vendors (unneccesarily ).

Plus of course anything done has to meet the "time = money" requirement for the Brokerage (not running a charity!).

It is also, in my opinion, important to have a true and frank description of the sails and thir conditions. Chances are that if I buy the boat I'm gonna sail it home... so Ineed to factor in sail repairs if these are needed prior to departure. The same is true of the engine. Cosmetic is cosmetic and can be fixed at leisure. I don't care if the fridge works, or if the lights are dodgy. I need to be able to sail and motor.

As above, am mulling this over.

I rather suspect that the line will be drawn at less than ideal (for everyone - especially for those who demand / need(?) to be spoonfed) - and certainly won't be any guarantees involved.........but nonetheless knowing that the boat can be sailed and motored is a useful starting point as a guide to overall condition (if the boat can't do either of these then that does say a lot about what the rest of the boat is likely to be like!)........but at the end of the day, both prospective Buyer and Broker will be in the hands of the Vendor.

But certainly I have no doubts whatsoever that if this Broker was aware that the Vendor had been less than truthful (even if only discovered the hard way ) then that would be disclosed to a prospective buyer.

Probably be a case of the most a Broker can do is ask the right questions (when listing), most of the answers will appear on the website, some by e-mail and some over the phone.

If only all the Vendors could be persuaded to put hand in pocket for a pre-sale survey!........wouldn't remove all uncertainty of course (some of that only becomes clear 6 months after buying) - but a good head start .

But as I said before, 90% plus of the target market is local - but expanding that a tad would be useful.

Mmmmmm.....thinking about this a bit more - as the Broker used to be a Surveyor (gave it up a good few years back as no time to do much Surveying work - and the PII cost to maintain) - could maybe offer a boat condition report from the Boatyard (not a survey - so can't be relied upon, but nonetheless a good going over intended to say at least whether boat is worth flying over to see) for a fee to a Vendor when an overseas buyer is looking to come over / for future marketing purposes if that deal does not come to pass. The main problem being that the Broker not exactly perceived as independent! Another thing to ponder over .

Will try and draft up some bones in the next week........

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Dave, there is at least one P&S (not POS) camera out there, I think a $100 Sony, that stitches together panoramas all by itself. So you can pretty much push the btton, spin in a circle, or spin on a tripod, and get something close to a 360 view without a lot of fuss.

For that matter, juts putting the camera on a tripod or even monopod (radical idea!) and shooting "one forward, one aft" wouldn't be hard. But that still requires photos, and photos require cleaning up the boat, and then you actually have to visit the boat. Can't make any profit wasting time that way. <VBG>

Cleaning up the boat!

What I envisage is that the Vendor being given an idiots guide to selling his boat at the getgo......and that will include on presentation (clean yer sh#t up ). Including for the Photos.

Having said that, moving a few things around (so always out of shot!) won't be impossible - but an (unpaid) spring clean will be out........my attitude is that it would be dishonest of the broker to do that which the Vendor cannot be bothered to do for himself (or pay someone to do) - as would mislead the Buyer into thinking that the boat was owned by someone who was knowledgable / gave a sh#t.........at the end of the day that always tends to get reflected in the price.

Of course that approach also fits into the "time = money" thing for the brokerage , but it's always nice to wrap some morals around stuff .

[David_Old_Jersey]

Amazing how "sometime next week" seems to arrive earlier than planned .

Anyway, had another chat yesterday with the Broker concerned (admittedly mostly about boats and stuff ).....but am now good to go , at least with a first draft (which won't make it online to the Broker's actual website).....I will stuff something into Google Sites in the next day or so, so folks can give feedback (aka criticism ).

At the risk of incurring the wrath of the Mods (with a commercial link ) here is the starting point:-

Jackson Yacht Services Jersey Channel Islands

And yes, he does have more than 3 boats on his books . Admittedly I am a little unclear how many ....but that a minor detail at the moment.

Now time to re-read this thread........

[denverd0n]

One more thing I just thought of, as I was looking at some listings online...

Rotate your pictures so that up is up! I glanced at a listing yesterday where about 1/4th of the pictures were on their side. How incredibly annoying. Once I realized that that is what I was looking at, I shook my head in amazement, and moved on. Not going to waste anymore time on THAT listing!

[nautical62]

I think many people who are doing boat searches will gravitate towards the larger, established multi-listing sites already in existence. If yachtworld is too expensive, I'd consider interfacing a simple homepage with a site like boattrader or iboats. Your homepage could just have a photo with an overview and then when someone clicks on it, it takes them to the boattrader (or what ever) site. You could also link from that back to your homepage. Since your homepage would actually only have summaries on it, it would be easier to get an easy to update and possibly free page.

In addition to having boats in a more popular listing, you would also be advantaged by their priority in searches.

In terms of what will quickly loose me when I look at listings:

No photo
No price
No location
Bad contact information.

Quality photos really help. I've had a couple boats that I almost passed ever looking at just because the photos were underexposed, making the boat look much worse than it really was. Photos of everything too. When I see 10 exterior photos and only one interior, it makes me think they are hiding something.

An inventory is nice to see as well, but that's not something I get as hung up on.