vipiggies.co.uk now up and running......honest opinions sought!

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Teejay

Teejay

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hi all

Well, my guinea pig and rabbit boarding service seems to be going from strength to strength.....although we've been half-heartedly advertising for a few weeks now, we only really started to ramp up the marketing about two weeks ago (after we'd come back from our own holiday)....but already the booking are flying in! :))

So far, everyone who's enquired about boarding has actually followed through with a confirmed booking, which is a real vote of confidence! Also, everyone who has visited us has been impressed with the set up we have, which is great and shows we're doing something! right, LOL.

Anyway, I took the plunge this week and set up a basic website.....www.vipiggies.co.uk

I'm no computer whizz, and while I'm really pleased with the overall look of the site, I know it's lacking in some areas....eventually, I want to add some customer testimonials, more pictures (especially pictures of our cages/hutches) and a few links.....it basically needs jazzing up a bit!

So.....I would really like to pick the brains of all you wonderful piggie slaves.....if you were considering boarding your guinea pig / rabbit, would my website tell you everything you would like to know, or do I need to include more information?

Would you be reassured that VIPiggies was a professional, caring and safe place to bring your pets?

All pointers and advice very welcome. :))

Thanks in advance, Tracey
 
It looks good to me, is it very imformative.

It is nice to know there is such a freindly and flexible place we can take our GP's to and feel comfortable and reassured leaving them there.

Its a shame you are so far away but be sure that is you or we were closer we'd probably be making a few bookings.

I wish you all of the luck in the world and hope everything go's well for you xxxxx
 
It's a brill website, I love the colour scheme, there's plenty of info and it's very professionally presented.
It would be super with pictures and testimonials. Glad to hear the business is going well for you, it'd be my dream job to work with animals in some way xox
 
Looks great!

Other things to consider:-

Food section
i.e what you will supply and won't and what people can bring ie do you cater for specialist diets

Medication:
i.e. one of my OAP's is on twice daily metacam. Would you offer this service as well.

Lastly - it would definately be important for me to see where the piggies would be kept so pictures on there (as you mentioned) would be great.

Good luck with it all and the site does look really good and professional but also friendly :))
 
I've been casually looking for somewhere right now in preparation for when I go away next year, so I can give you my opinion :) You'll have to excuse the way I've written this though, my brain isn't functioning properly right now :))

The site design is very nice and its easy to navigate, so that's good. You've been very clear with your pages and their paragraphs. It's reassuring to know that you have insurance cover, and the collection service sounds handy.

I was also very reassured to see vets mentioned a lot - one of my main worries is if they get ill. So to know that they'd be covered, and that you are willing to take them, puts me at ease. I also like that you are willing to keep to their routine.

Some things I would be concerned about are the lack of pictures - I like to see what the hutches and area they would be living in is like, and what the garden and run are like (when set up).

There's also not any information given regarding grooming (unless I missed it) so this would be something I'd need to contact you about if I were to board, because I have a long-haired piggy.

Also, would you offer pre-visits? This is something you could mention on the site, as many owners like to see the place where their pets will be staying.

I've just typed in your location to google maps because I quite like the sound of it :)) Your perhaps a little too far away, though, but I'll see nearer the time!


Sorry if I've mentioned something that you've already got, I might have missed it :)
 
Hi guys! Many thanks for the 'thumbs-up' on the website.......I think it will definitely have more impact with a few more flashy/jazzy/sparkly things on it (can you see I know exactly I'm talking about when it comes to building websites, LOL!)

The business is going really well, thanks - we have back-to-back bookings from now until late August (phew!), and for one of those weeks, we're actually completely fully booked with all cages occupied (no room at the inn, hehe!)

One of my future clients (booking in August) has told me today that she's recommended me to her friend, and she hasn't even boarded with us yet! LOL!

Onwards and upwards!

Thanks again, Tracey
 
Hi Tani, thanks for your input - I'm very grateful for all the pointers I can get, LOL! :))

Food - the website is only 5 pages long (I have to pay more for it if I go over the 5 pages, and I'm a cheapskate!) so I put about what feed was included in the daily rate on the 'daily charges' page.

But I'll definitely put something in about specialist diets.

Medication - yes, I've put somewhere that I'm happy to administer prescribed medication (provided by the owner). Maybe I need to move that to somewhere more obvious and eye-catching.

Thanks again, Tracey
 
Hi Liane, thanks for that! I'm putting together a list of things I need to add to the site, and I'll definitely be adding some of the things you mentioned:

Pre-visits - absolutely, yes! I much prefer for an owner to come visit us before booking, because it shows that they're serious about their enquiry/booking, it shows that the welfare of their pet is a priority, I want to learn as much about their pet and their routine as possible, and I like meeting people! LOL!

Grooming - that's something else I will be putting on......I have a gorgeous furr-ball of a lionhead bunny boarding with me at the moment, and she has to be groomed regularly, so you'd think I would have thought of that, wouldn't you? Hehe!

I'll definitely be taking some pictures of our cages/hutches/runs/garden - this weekend, hopefully, if the weather is nice.

I'd actually love to include a google map, but I'm not sure how to do it.....LOL!

Thanks again, Tracey
 
I'm at work right now but with just a quick glance I have a lot of feedback I would like to give if you don't mind. When I get home I'll have a read of all posts in this thread, each page of the website and then let you know what might be needed. I don't mean to sound snobbish or anything, I'm kind of in work mode and constructiong guides, documents and information pack is what I've been doing all day... D=
 
Hi Tracey,

the website looks great, good luck with your business, if you would like me to put a link to your website onto mine let me know and i'll add it for you:))
 
Hi Beckit and Jedward, many thanks for that offer of feedback - it's all very welcome, i look forward to hearing what you think of it later :))

Hi lily 74, I'm glad you like the website. Yes, please, I'd love for you to put a link on your site....and I'll do the same for you, of course!

I piad extra for 'search engine visbillity' but so far, nothing comes up when I google it......does anyone know how I get it recognised by the search engines? I know I need to put in some key words, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet. Told you I was a doofus when it comes to computers! LOL!

Tracey
 
(I sneakily did a full review in between tasks, teeheehee.)

Hi Tracey

I've had a read through each page and made notes on each one so you can have a go through and see how you feel about anything i've mentioned at your own leisure.

On the Homepage:
I noticed you mention [*]dogs[/*], but not [*]cats[/*]. If you have any other pets at all, I would mention them, just so that people are completely aware of the situation. For example, you might not have dogs but I don't know if you've got cats and how they behave around small animals, so it might be an idea to have a full section on your household (set up in the same way as your other sections, e.g. Insurance).
Your collection service is a brilliant idea, and I'm really proud you remembered to include the cost of this. You'd be surprised how many businesses (no matter the industry) don't bother to do this and leave you ringing them up for hundreds of quotations. (I had a particularly fun call with Hollywood Bowl for my manager yesterday so I know how tedious it can be...).
Under Location I noticed a typo, you say "a very close" instead of "are very close", being grammaticly correct will help you look more professional, so just a little tip. ;)
It might also be an idea to have a map circling your general area, you don't necessarily have to give out your address publicly (if you only want to give it out when someone is particularly interested in making a booking) but a map will clarify your directions and give people a better idea of what's nearby (Google Maps is great for this).

On the Daily Rates page:
Might be an idea to specify exactly which types of other small rodent's you'll accept and possibly a maximum cage size limit so that you can be absolutely certain you'll have the room for them when they're booking.
Very good of you to specify how payment is made, this is something that everyone worries about in this day and age for security reasons, so Paypal especially is fantastic that you've noted down.
Instructions for unexpected costs are also useful, everyone likes to know exactly what to do if something goes wrong, being unprepared is the worst feeling in the world. For me anyway... lol
Love the fact people provide dried food themselves, that way they know if their guinea pig stops eating, it's not just because of the food and you can get them to a vet!
Where you state people should provide their own treats, I would add toys, some pets will have a favourite toy that might act as a comfort to them while their owner is away, although I would give a limit to the number of toys someone could bring with them. (I know this is under accomodation as well but some people - I know this because I do - often associate treats and toys together.)

On the Health and Hygiene page:
Very good that you noted vaccinations required. People can get them done if they haven't already and rest assured they have nothing to worry about when booking.
You note a full clean between borders but some people will go away for longer periods of time, it might be reassuring for people to see how often you would give a full clean on a normal basis, i.e. weekly, twice weekly.

On the Accomodation and Excercise page:
I would give a maximum cage/hutch size under accomodation, just so that you can allocate space and decide how many you are willing to take on as well as your own accomodation that you provide.
It's nice that you specify dimensions of accomodation but pictures really will need to be added, it might put people off not being able to see the condition of the boarding, so it's good you've thought of this, although I hope you're able to upload the pictures quickly and promote more bookings sooner. :)
Brilliant to note you won't mix groups, this is something I would worry about if it wasn't included, you specify they will board seperately but some boarding kennels for pets like dogs, will mix them up for walks, so it's a good factor to make note of.

On the Other Information page:
You might want to note some instructions on how the form is completed - will it be sent by email, post? Does it have to be completed in person? etc.
Very good of you to have an abandoned pets policy, although I would probably include that they are still liable for the payment of boarding up to the 7 day period's end.
Your liability clause is nice and detailed, and a good thing too, otherwise you might have some morons trying to sue you. lol

Overall:
All in all, I really like your site, you have a nice background and colour scheme, the text is clear and easy to read and the pages are nice and easy to navigate, which is great as not everyone is going to be fantastic with computers.
The only thing I would maybe look into is that I noticed one particular picture posted was a tiny bit distorted, it's probably just my OCD and it's really up to you, but when resizing images (if that's how it became distorted) try holding the shift button on your keyboard as you click and drag to change the size. In most programs this will resolve that issue for you and have everything in proportion.

Hope this helps. :)
 
Hi Beckit and Jedward, great points you've raised there, that's all a brilliant help, thank you so much!

I'll definitely get onto all the things you've mentioned (and the things mentioned by the other posters as well).

I've printed off your reply and I'll get cracking on the amendments ASAP.

Thanks again! Tracey x
 
You're very welcome. It's what I do and I love doing it. XD I'm glad you found my input useful.
 
Hi there, all comments and suggestions have now been duly noted (thank you) and I've made some changes/improvements to the site.

If all you very clever and observant people could spare a few minutes to cast your eye over it, I'd really appreciate any more hints/tips/shoves in the right direction xx>>>

Many thanks

Tracey
 
Great website. It looks very professional and the information is clearly worded.

I notice that you have said that animals will receive vet treatment if needed but not how this will be paid for. Would you pay this and then bill the owner on their return? Or expect them to pay the vet directly?
Also (and it may be that you have included this on your booking form instead), do you have arrangements for what to do if an animal dies whilst the owner is away? Do you have options such as arranging cremation, body to be kept at the vets or in your freezer?
:)
 
Hi, your website looks good and I haven't got anything to add to others' feedback, but just wanted to say good luck with the business x
 
Hi Flips, thanks for your comments. All emergency vet treatment for animals in my care is covered by the Petplan Sanctuary insurance (up to £350 with no excess), which is written somewhere, on the home page I think.....maybe I should repeat that on the 'health' page as well........I'll do that ASAP, thanks! :))

About the dying thing.....eek.....:{......doesn't bear thinking about, does it? But, I'm a realist as well as an animal lover, and I suppose that could possibly happen at some point in the future (god forbid). I will cobble together a paragraph about that soon and include it on the website.

Thanks again, Tracey
 
Teejay said:
I'd actually love to include a google map, but I'm not sure how to do it.....LOL!
Click to expand...

Do you have Powerpoint? All you need to do is to take a screenshot (you should have a printscreen button on your PC) of the google map, then paste it into Powerpoint. 8:)
Then save it as a .jpg file, and voila, you then insert it as a normal picture into your website... ;)
 
Something I forgot to mention earlier:

If you need any help with the design or implementation of anything on your site you, you're more than welcome to send me a message as I run my own websites :)
 
Hi Liane, that's a very kind offer, thank you......I'm rushed off my feet at work at the moment and working stupid hours (I manage a team of 4, and 3 of them are off work either having babies, or sick, so it's just me and one other part-timer at the moment :{) so I've had to put the website on the back-burner for a while......

The only thing I urgently need to do is to work out how to get the site visible (not much point having it if people can't find it!)....I paid the website hoster for 'search engine visibility' but, so far through the whole buildign process, I've not been asked to input any key words or anything like that.

So i need to either call their helpline, or work it out myself from the tools on the hoster's website.

It's all a bit above me, I have to admit, so you may well find your inbox full of PMs from me pretty soon....LOL!

Thanks againg

Tracey x
 
Teejay said:
Hi Beckit and Jedward, many thanks for that offer of feedback - it's all very welcome, i look forward to hearing what you think of it later :))

Hi lily 74, I'm glad you like the website. Yes, please, I'd love for you to put a link on your site....and I'll do the same for you, of course!

I piad extra for 'search engine visbillity' but so far, nothing comes up when I google it......does anyone know how I get it recognised by the search engines? I know I need to put in some key words, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet. Told you I was a doofus when it comes to computers! LOL!

Tracey
Click to expand...

Thanks Tracey, i'll add yours now pm me if you need details of my site:)

It might take a while to show up on the search engine, I had to pay for my url address to show up to
 
Hi,

I think the site looks great. Very clear and easy to navigate.

I would like to see photos of the cages/hutches though and maybe outdoor space.

This is probably not possible but I will mention it anyway. I would LOVE if I ever boarded mine anywhere if I could log onto the website from wherever I was and see how they were getting on via a web cam / piggy cam. Even if it was only on a couple of hours (pre arranged) a day.... long shot but it'd give me more peace of mind :)) lol .... but then I am a bit weird....

x
 
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