Websites

I poked around your website and the only thing I would suggest is maybe adding a breeding line-up if you take reservations for unborn kids. I know I always like to see who's bred to who. Otherwise, it's a very nice site--very professional looking

 

I've been terrible at getting our site up to date this fall but I know I've had several people email me to say they wish I had more photos on my site.

Trisha

 

Without being biased or anything :biggrin I don't know what you could add. I look at your website 3-4 times a month to see what you're winning now and gawk at your hawt does.

I can tell you my breeder site pet peeves.

1) No updating. A website that hasn't been updated in 8 months or even 3 years (I'm looking at you, C.G. and R's) gives the impression that the farm is no longer in business. Name recognition, even forthe big guys, does not go that far enough to counteract that. I'd bet that 50% of ADGA members and 99% of goat owners could not name a National Champion or a Breed Leader.

2) Incomplete or total B.S. info. I recently saw a breeder list an in progress 3000+ lactation. DHIA-AIPL has the doe down for 1600. I have a related rant I'll save for another thread.

3) Popups. WHYYYYYYYY?? There is at least one Togg breeder site that has popups. I tagged it porn so I don't go to it by accident. I hate the popups.

 

Okay, I found one thing. If you had the word "goats" on a page, the site would Google a lot higher.

 

I would like to add 2 pet-peeves...

1. Music that plays! If I want music, I'll play the raidio!

2. Words that flag from the curser as you move through the site... WHY??? it's annoying!

 

Ditto. Now my DH website has tunes but he is a DJ and his site is a music site. But I really don't like music on other sites...or those annoying things following cursers.

Also, folks need to keep in mind that many of us have slow dial up and can't access pages that have tons of pics on them. My husband's theory is that if someone clicks on your home page and it does not download in just a few seconds, they will go on to someone elses site (for instance if they find you on google). I myself, when googling, will hit the "back" button if I land on a page that takes too long to download.

 

I loved it when someone told me....Just because you can do it (fancy codes for your site) it doesn't mean you have to do them all! Less is more Vicki

 

when we set up our website I told my designer no trailing cursors, no music, no acrtoons, no cutesy graphics. Simple, elegant, and classic.
Becky

 

With so many of us hating the same things about peoples websites why do you suppose those people don't realize that those things are annoying? You would think it would be common sense. Oh I forgot, common sense is rare these days. Shannon

 

I always try to make things just as simple and easy to navigate as possible, I hate those websites where it's like you are stuck in pharoahs tomb or something, every turn ends up in a place that just doesn't make any sense, you click something and it takes you to the same page you were just on. I hate when I can't FIND something! Or when I've finally found the link I'm looking for and it's dead.

Regarding the music and stuff, I think people just get to having a little too much fun putting accessories on their website. Like people that wear tons of gaudy jewelry.

I personally love lots of pictures, they truly are worth a thousand words. What you can do is have a page with just one picture, and if they click a link, or that picture, it can take them to a page with more pictures, so if they have dial up they don't have to wait on the pictures, but can if they want to see them.

 

The absolute worst for me is when you go to a website and it has all the music, the things following the cursors plus EVERYTHING blinks or constantly moves across the screen, I will just leave, I don't care what it is, I don't want it that much!

As far as your website, I think it looks very good. Everything is updated and easy to find with clear descriptions.
The only suggestions that I would have are:
1)This may just be here, but the particular color blue of the wording on the "For Sale" page dosen't really show up, the blue used in "Show Results 2006" is much clearer to me.
2)I've also found that placing ads on some of the free advertising sites, according to how you word your ad, will pull up much faster than your website. Just keep in mind when placing ads that most people will type in the most simple of terms and word your ad accordingly. This is something I learned the hard way when placing dog ads.
Hope that helps some.

 

Here's my suggestion...

When typing descriptions of goats (or anything), be clear, use years and ages. I have read several (not from any of your websites) that will say "last year he did this..." or "This year she earned this..." It would be much better to know the age of the animal when they accomplished whatever and the specific time (season, year) that it was accomplished. "In 2004 at age 5 Clover did this..." I guess when typing a description or any information, be sure that a stranger could clearly and easily understand what you are talking about.

I was just at a site that I know hasn't been updated in a while and I'm sure her friends all get what she is saying but I felt kind of lost. Some animals aren't even around anymore!

And YES! Be thoughtful of those of us who are on dial-up!

 

Tim -- What's the url to your site?

 

One thing that I forgot to add, is one thing that I really like to see on a website is a photo of the breeder. I really can't say why, but it's nice to be able to put a face to a name. I was looking at Tim's site, and I remember seeing him in Gillette (we didn't speak, but I recall seeing him ringside.)

It makes it easier to walk up and introduce yourself, especially since you feel like you know so many people through the forum.

Ken

 

:lol most of the websites do have a pic of the breeder....just their midsection :laughcry so I guess if you walked around ringside looking at everyone's midsection you'd find them. :rofl