We wrote recently about updates of the business mitigation efforts of Sound Transit to help Capitol Hill businesses weather the eight years of construction to build light rail. In addition to a splashy marketing effort that will give the Hill a flashy brand and logo and classes for business owners, there is a pretty cool effort to get the Hill’s student population connected to the business effort behind the stores, restaurants and entrepreneurs of Capitol Hill. Seattle University’s business students got big play at the last Sound Transit meeting but the program extends to Seattle Central, too. These students will be available to put their academic brainpower to work to keep real-world local businesses on the Hill growing.
Part of any growing business, says this Web-only Capitol Hill concern, is a good Web site. We received a note from SCCC student Josef asking about suggestions for Hill shops, restaurants, bars or ??? that aren’t yet on the Web but would benefit from a student putting together a site for their business. We’ll turn the question over to you:
Do you have a favorite Capitol Hill businesses that needs a Web site? Anybody in dire need of an upgrade? There are young Capitol Hill geniuses ready to dig and help.
I know that Annapurna Cafe was worried about loss of foot traffic and their site is kind of ‘dated’ in its appearance. I think they could use some help and also REALLY need some search engine optimization – right now Yelp comes up when you search for their name before their own site.
I think it’s Quickie sandwiches. It’s amazing, hidden, tragically has a forgettable name, and is now in the shadow of that Starbucks monstrosity that advertises as a “neighborhood hangout”. If there is any justice (not to mention *taste* in this world) that place will get more business!
It’s Hillside Quickies – they have a full restaurant in the U District as well. I agree – really awesome sandwiches.
Hello. I am the student who is interested in finding a client. I am going to immediately look into the cafe. I am in class now and got the word out and I think a second student is going to look into the sandwich shop. It looks like there are other students who are still looking for a client as well so keep em coming if you can.
I appreciate the help!
Home Alive! And I am sure there are other non-profits that need the help.
Saley Crepes? Capitol Hill Animal Clinic? KimChi Bistro?
I am a struggling small business and in desperate need of some website help. As a former student of SCCC I’d sure love to tap into some student help. Does anyone know if they are open to helping business’s outside of Seattle? Across the water a little maybe?
Sarah, what is your business? There are a lot of good suggestions here but you appear to be the first business owner I might be able to start a dialogue with. I am still looking into Annapurna but they already have a web presence. It is very basic, but this is a pretty basic course and I don’t think anybody in this class would be able to offer much more than a basic site at this point (maybe next quarter).
This is great! We just had a meeting last week, and we were talking about finding a means of giving one of our project websites a desperate facelift. I volunteer at the local GLSEN chapter, and we have our Washington State GSA Network website, that was put together by a TA using FrontPage. We really, really need a more professional-looking site, and make it easy for updates.
The purpose of the GSA Network is to help build communication between students all over the state, and develop strong leadership skills. I have had a vision for the site, but I lack the knowledge and expertise to make it happen. The current site is http://www.wagsa.org
I think other Twice Sold Tales locations have websites, but I’m pretty sure all the Cap Hill TST has is a Yelp page. They definitely need help with foot traffic – Jamie said a recent CHS article helped pick things up a bit (thanks Doug!) but they still have less business than before their (Sound Transit caused) move to Harvard and Denny. I think they’re getting trouble from the city about their A-board too, poor guys.