• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Web Sites - Make or Break?

Dachiu

Dachiu

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I considered making this into a poll but thought better of it... therefore there are no boundaries/choices to be made; just a discussion of constructive ideas and thoughtful opinions.
*Please leave any nasty, personal comments aside.*

On to the topic :
What IYO makes or breaks a web site from the surfer's point of view? Why do you choose to bookmark and return to a web site rather than close the window and forget you ever came across it... or vice versa? If you have your own web site, what prompts you to contact another site owner for a possible link exchange?
 
The top of my lists are ::

Makes :
1. Honesty. Drop the advertising jargon and promises crap and get to the nitty-gritty. A web site should be the reflection of the person/company it represents. An impersonal web site, to me, implies an impersonal experience. I want to feel comfortable, welcome and appreciated - especially if I am considering handing over hard-earned $.
2. Easy navigation. I don't want to feel like a mouse in a maze. I don't mind clicking 5-deep for things (the more, the merrier) - but if you want a complex web site, design the complications out of it.
3. Information. About the person/company, product and/or topic in general. In my experience, this is a display of sincerity. Those willing to share experiences and information are most likely those not trying to hide something.

Breaks :
1. Outdated web sites. If the site says it was last updated in 2001 - the owner obviously doesn't have any interest in it, so why should I?
2. Pop-ups and affiliates galore. Need I say more about this?
3. Broken links and images. If it's not important enough to fix it - please delete it.
4. Stolen information and pictures without credit properly given. If they are too lazy (or just plain sneaky) to offer original content - how lazy (or sneaky) will they be through a transaction? Lord help you if there is a complication.


As for link exchanges - if I bookmark it, Ill consider it. The site has to have something to offer the people that are visiting my site... information, supplies, other species or even other dragon breeders with good reputations and ethics.

V.
 
Top in my list:

1. It doesn't matter how fancy it is, if the upload is slow I'm off to another site.

2. Maintain it updated. Having pictures of animals long gone is a waste of time for the prospective buyer. Probably will not return to that one.

3. Of course I'm not going to elaborate on the stolen pictures; that triggers a reflex on my right finger and redirects me immediately to another site.

Regards.
 
Most of mine are listed in those previous posts. Another thing that makes me leave a site is poor grammatical structure and spelling. One or a couple of errors is dismissable, but when you have a pageful it's not worth my time to decipher what words you meant to use.

I've also noticed a few pages that have people touting themselves as the best in that particular field. I don't exactly like to feed into egos.

Otherwise, I look for people who are personable, genuine and honest. Even if their animals may not be as smoking hot as other breeders their attitude and communication skills go a long way in making me a return visitor to their site.
 
In no certain order here

Load times if the page takes forever to load I will move on.

Usefull knowledge about the items you are selling.

Usefull pictures of the item you are selling, but in a click on to enlarge format.

Multiple pages I don't want to have to scroll forever to look at everthing.

Absolutely no pop ups.

Links to usefull sites that you believe in. Not just some pay to advertise banner.
 
I don't care for websites with music on them. I usually have the speakers turned up to loud and it's usually not a song I like. Not to mention that it sometimes takes ages to load the page.
 
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