Thinking about doing an 'odd' side project

Az · 25-09-2011, 03:32 PM

I've been thinking about this on/off for a while, and had previously run it by Patch (who does a lot of rescue work) and she thought it was great idea.

It's odd because it's exactly the sort of site I dislike: free-ad type 'kittens for sale' sites.

Why?

Because currently we have no voice on them - or to the millions of visitors they get every year. Unfortunately they are the first port of call for a huge number of people looking to buy a dog or cat - the first thing most people do when looking for a cat is google 'kittens for sale'!

At least if we had a controlling interest in the 'sector' we could get our message on there - hopefully making people aware of good/bad breeders (and over time intensify that message - because to begin with we'd have to be a bit stealth). We could also use the stats, perhaps for campaigning or legislation. And at the same time there would be a big fat advert for Catsey... so people are more likely to join here where we have a large majority of ethical and responsible owners.

If we manage to kill those amoral sites who do next to nothing to help educate their site visitors, that will be worth it in itself - for all the good, sites like Catsey does, they undo - so I think it's a bit of a war and I'm beginning to learn that you need to beat them at their own game

Additionally - rescues will be able to upload their cats that need rehoming, so will be able to get good exposure for their cats.

Just considering it

I'm only just considering it at the mo, I need to find a side project to practise on before starting that big pet site I keep going on about (the one where we try to raise £1M for pet charities) which of course this free-ads type site will also help give exposure to (due to the massive traffic they get). I am on my last programming book (which is taken a while as Rocky doesn't let me leave his side bless him).

Anyway - what do you think? Have a I gone mad or is this a good idea? The fact is soo many people are using those sites, and they go to them way before they come to us (which is usually after they've got a cat) so I can't think of any better way to reach out to them, or to have more of an impact on things.

Az · 25-09-2011, 03:33 PM

Hey Guys, I posted this over on Dogsey too (as there will be both a cat and dog version of the site) where I've already answered some questions, please take a quick look in case any of the questions you have in mind may have also been posted there

http://www.dogsey.com/showthread.php?t=154945

dandysmom · 25-09-2011, 04:17 PM

I like the idea tremendously, Az.

Az · 25-09-2011, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dandysmom

I like the idea tremendously, Az.

Thanks Eileen! It will be an international site so we will need your help in getting word out for us over the pond

Squirrel · 25-09-2011, 04:31 PM

Mmmmm... Sounds at once like it will take a lot of work - but it's one of those things which will never be done unless people are committed to it, and it's important, so...

All looks good to me.

dandysmom · 25-09-2011, 04:34 PM

Az, it's my understanding that a site's position on Google depends on the number of hits it gets, right? So when ours is up, we all should click on it several times a day .... ???

Velvet · 25-09-2011, 05:33 PM

Im all for it, anything to make people think before they buy or take on a "free" pet.

Az · 25-09-2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squirrel

Mmmmm... Sounds at once like it will take a lot of work - but it's one of those things which will never be done unless people are committed to it, and it's important, so...

All looks good to me.

Yes it will be pretty tough, but I think with all of your help we can do it

Quote:

Originally Posted by dandysmom

Az, it's my understanding that a site's position on Google depends on the number of hits it gets, right? So when ours is up, we all should click on it several times a day .... ???

I'm sure hits help Eileen, but I'm not sure how much (it's one of Google's secrets I imagine

) but I do know that links help a lot - so posting the link to the site on other sites will be of huge benefit. (We'll of course have a link to it here on Catsey, and one one Dogsey for the dog version)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Velvet

Im all for it, anything to make people think before they buy or take on a "free" pet.

Great - thanks!

I'm glad so many of you are for the idea - I was kinda worried you might think I'd gone mad lol

dandysmom · 25-09-2011, 06:01 PM

And a link on OFF too....... most of the members know better, but you do have guests and lookers.

Az · 25-09-2011, 06:39 PM

Yeah definitely - the more links and exposure we get the better

I actually feel a bit like James Bond - as we're sort of going undercover on this one

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