We rank very highly on all the search engines. Chartered Consultant portal has been specifically designed to be search engine friendly. Try the live search links below. On Google we are currently on page 1. The same is true for Altavista. On Lycos and Ask Jeeves we are currently the top result for uk pages. On MSN we are also the top result.
Consultant FAQ
How do you rank on Google, etc.?
What about other advertising?
Currently Chartered Consultant portal takes out paid advertising on Google which include AOL, Jeeves, etc. Also, there are individually tailored adverts for each member's page which will take clients direct to your entry. And we have taken out other advertising in trade papers, at shows and mailshots.
What clients use this portal?
Many, for example the BBC used this site to find an RF expert for the BBC's Bang Goes the Theory popular TV science show. Here is the relevant 5 minute clip from the programme. The RF expert comes on at 3:30.
The site looks like simple html, is it?
Not at all. It is a CMS (Content Management System) using PHP with a MySQL database backend. It uses the Apache module mod_rewrite to give clean URLs (i.e. not ?q=.... at the end of the URL). But, importantly to search engines, it also looks like simple html so the site is very search engine friendly. In addition there are behind the scenes modules that further help search engines index this site.
How reliable is this portal?
No host is 100% but this host has a good record. In addition to the host's backup, the whole site is automatically remotely backed up each week for security against extreme failures.
What is chartered?
Chartered is a term controlled by law. Only members of certain institutions can call themselves chartered. For chartered membership, consultants must have satisfied their peers that they have reached the required standard. Thus, being chartered is the hallmark of quality, ability and experience.
How do I become chartered?
You need check with the institution for your speciality on the route for registration with the Engineering Council. You should find the information on the institution's web page. For example, for the The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET, IEE, Institution of Electrical Engineers as was) see the details here.
Also, for IET (IEE) members who achieved MIET (MIEE) or FIET (FIEE) before 6 June 2002, see the IEE membership FAQ mid way down, or click here which confirms you still have the right to use the title Chartered Electric Engineer, without registration with the Engineering Council. Other institutions may have similar rules.
How do I join?
Just click apply on the menu to create a new account. Give us a try. Standard terms are 30 days and new members get 6 months grace so that is 213 days before payment is due. If you don't like the result, don't pay. Your page will remain on the site and can be activated (made visible) any time by making a payment. And don't worry about remembering when 6 months is up as you will automatically get email reminders at 60, 30 and 15 days before the account expires and an email when it does expire.
How can I pay?
We accept all the usual so you can pay by cheque, BACS, credit card or debit card.
What does it cost to be listed?
The fee is £55.00 + VAT per year.
The first year's payment is due at 6 months + 30 days to allow you to try us at no initial cost and no commitment.
How can you be so cheap; are you any good?
Chartered Consultant does not have the overheads of large companies, plus we use a lot of open source code so we do not reinvent the wheel for each job. All of which results in a large cost savings that we pass on to you. Also, the team at Chartered Consultant is led by a chartered consultant so our drive is not primarily financial but also to promote chartered as the mark of the A list consultant. Hence the price is set at level that anyone can afford.
What are the Terms and Conditions?
The Consultant Terms and Conditions can be found here
Can I join now but fill in my details later?
Yes. Just leave the published box unticked and your entry will not be displayed. Payment buttons still work.
Why do you ask for an institution email alias?
Clearly, we need to validate the account is opened by a trustworthy person. The use of an institution email alias allows the validation process to be automatic. For those without an institution email alias we have to manually process the account so it is not instant.
How do I get an institution email alias?
An email alias is one of the services institutions usually provide. See the links page for the appropriate link for your institution. Please test this alias works, by sending an email to yourself, before using it on this portal to email the password since sometimes it takes awhile before the alias works.
I have an institution alias, how do I change where it goes?
Check out the FAQ pages of your institution. This is a question they should have the answer for. And see the links page for the appropriate url for your institution.
I have forgotten my institution alias, how do I find out what it is?
Contact your institution. They should be able to tell you when you supply them your membership number and some personal details for confirmation of identity.
What about spam if I enter an email address?
You have 3 email address boxes for your entry. The first is the address we will use to contact you and is initially the institution email alias, if you used the automatic route. You can change this after you join if you wish. The second is the email address for the send message button at the bottom of your entry. The third is a public email address displayed on your entry. Naturally this last one may attract spam although we take measures to obscure it and you can add more, e.g. name_remove_this_ [at] domain [dot] co [dot] uk, if you wish. However, nothing is 100% spam proof, unfortunately. The first 2 email addresses are not displayed so even if you choose not to list a public email address clients can still email you with the send message button.
