Websmiths / Iris websites

Websmiths / Iris websites

Didn't find your answer?

I am looking at using Websmiths, now owned by Iris, for a website and wondered if anyone has used them and what the service has been like?

Replies (3)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By pauld
06th Jun 2014 10:41

I have a websmiths website

Very good service - produce excellent monthly newsletter which you can email to clients with your firms name on it.

Problems, which have been very few, resolved quickly. For instance I was away in South Africa for a month and wanted to send the monthly newsletter to my clients whilst away. The site initially blocked me when logging in from SA as it probably thought I was an internet crook. I emailed websmiths and they responded within the hour to give me access from SA. I was then able to send the newsletter. Some clients were very impressed that I was working hard to produce this newsletter whilst I was on holiday!

So overall excellent service.

Downside is of course the monthly cost forever which adds up over a period of time, But if you get just a couple of clients a year from having it, then that should recoup the cost.

Another small criticism is that I never hear from Websmiths, apart from advising the monthly newsletter is ready. It would be good to hear from them for example to let me know they are doing everything possible to the website to ensure SEO.

You can check the search criteria that people have used to find the website. For me there has been very little activity recently probably because I do not advertise anymore and so I may need to consider whether the £1,000 a year (including vat) is still worth it.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By chatman
07th Jun 2014 07:18

Accountant Websmiths / IRIS Open something or other

I understand Accountant Websmiths used to do a really good product. We only started using them after they were taken over by IRIS and have found the service to be awful and the claims they make to be unfounded. They have typos where you would expect them to have just cut and pasted and they cut and paste where it is not appropriate. Their responses are slow and it is hard to get past a salesman and talk to a technical person. Their on-page SEO is negligible.  I never really liked the look of their sites but it was sold to me on the basis of the functionality, which has not really fulfilled its promise.

It looks like when IRIS took it over they invested in marketing it but not in being able to service the demand they created (despite obviously taking the money for it). It's a shame because it looks like IRIS have killed a great product.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By User deleted
07th Jun 2014 09:26

SEO

I'd agree with Chatman about the SEO. I signed up because I wanted a website done without much fuss (and that was fine) and because I didn't know much about SEO and they implied (or said, I can't remember which) that the website would be up there in the rankings (which it isn't and hasn't been ever). Once I decide what direction I want to continue in I'm going to try and cobble something together myself and save the money. I don't need all the pages that I've got. Yes it looks good but to be honest clients don't care and nor do potential clients (if they find me) past the basic who are you and what do you do.

The newsletters are handy but tend to have a high spam score so there's no guarantee they'll always be received anyway. I'd expect Websmiths to have that covered but apparently not.

If you can get someone else to set you up I'd probably recommend it. You'll hopefully end up with a website that looks different to the rest of us! 

Thanks (0)