Favorite Herp Breeder's Website

[Nate]

Just doing some research here to see what tickles your fancy...

Tell me what herp breeder's website you like, and why. Is it the colors? the layout? the amount of information? Whatcha got?

Sure, you can throw your own site out there if ya wanna

[Nate]

Oh, and also helpful info...things you DISLIKE about some websites. Keep it nice. Constructive criticism.

[jfreels]

I don't currently have a favorite, so I'll go through a few and give you my criticism. Also note that I'm a web developer, not a designer.

http://www.proexotics.com/
Pros

• Great example of a good landing page, basic and gives you contact information.
• Not a fan of 3-column layouts when they are not required (as in this case).
• Easy to navigate, very basic layout.

Cons

• It's 2010, make some good use of CSS.
• Also a football site? C'mon, be professional. Have a seperate site for your other hobbies.
• Webstore template doesn't match main website. Gives users the appearance they are not at the same site.

http://www.a1pythons.com/
Pros

• Lots of pics on the homepage, and it loads quickly.
• It's nice to see a page about the "facility".
• Contact information on the homepage.
• IMO, I don't like shopping carts to buy live animals. I'd rather just have the price and availability and we can do everything through email. I'm not buying a widget, I'm buying a living thing. So I like how they give you a picture of the animal and a price. The availability page is a little overwhelming but that's only because they have a lot to look at.

Cons

• Page has a nice homepage layout, but the same layout isn't applied to the sub-pages.
• Seperate availability page by Boa/Python->Genetics->Sex, that would make it easier to navigate and find exactly what you're looking for.

http://www.cornsnakeshop.com/
Pros

• n/a - sorry

Cons

• Their landing page has too much information on it. I feel like I'm at the homepage. And then I click the "Go corn shopping" and get taken to the real home page with links to about, projects and other info.
• Available page only has pictures of a few animals. I wouldn't buy an animal sight unseen and is it worth your time to email me a pic if I'm not even really interested?
• BROKEN LINKS....OMG I HAET BROKEN LINKS!!!

http://www.rcreptiles.com/
Pros

• Decent layout
• I'm a sucker for custom favicons.
• Looks like an incredibly useful website. Links for vet searches, forums, books on snakes, reptile news and computer wallpapers.

Cons

• No contact information on the home page that I could see.
• Lots of text on the home page including lots of links and text that looks like links, but it's just underlined. Some kind of mind game they are playing?
• OMG, it's 2010...DON'T USE POPUPS! (looking at available snakes).
• Clicking on "more info" when looking at a snake I want is frustrating. I guess I need to email them if I want it, but they don't give me the email address on the popup. If you click on the picture of the snake, then it tells you how to order it.....should be in both places.

Is that the kind of info you're looking for , Nate? I guess read the pro's and you'll know what I'd like to see on a breeders page.

Also, I don't mean to offend anyone with my observations. They should be taken lightly, but if it is your website, please consider anything I put into the "Cons" section

[ed4281]

I like Heather Wong’s website mostly because of her blog. I find it entertaining; however the format could use a little updating.

I really don't like Ralph Davis's website, it is outdated and I can't stand when breeders do a big list. I know he produces great animals but if I can't view a recent picture while I am browsing then I am not interested. I bought from him at shows in the past and got nothing but great animal's. I am too visual and need to see a picture to peak my interest I guess.

[m00kfu]

Biggest pet peeve of mine? Websites that are built with flash! The first thing I usually do when coming across a site that's nothing but flash is close it.