Beautiful site!

Hi Maamaw,

Beautiful site. I browsed around a little and had some ideas to share.
some are the same that you mentioned.

> I'm not sure how valuable sponsoring a single
> animal page would be to anyone, although I expect I'll keep that going).

I noticed that the site lists all the zoos in different states. Maybe you
could write to them or email them and get sponsorship to keep their zoo
listed? After all, you will be sending them traffic that gives them revenue.

I looked at a lot of the websites for the zoos and did not see any affiliate
programs. Some had stores. Which as you mentioned. You can offer products too
if you can find them wholesale. Maybe you could find books or information that
could be purchased also.

> I know I can make money with Google Adsense, but I haven't decided about
> that for sure. I want to keep the site EXTREMELY non-commercial-looking,
> and I have such a negative feeling about Adsense (*MY* PROBLEM, I realize
> that, and I might change my mind).

It dosen't seem like adsense would really "fit" on this website. Even though
I am a firm believer in the revenue. If you ever feel compelled to write
any articles to link to the site that would afford you a good place for
adsense.

> Dave's dream was to create a free educational site for kids (in fact, they
> were trying to find a school to take over the site), and I want to stick
> with that.

You may be able to get schools to donate or sponsor an animal as well. Your
site would be a great learning tool for teachers to share with their students.

> I am planning on opening a "Zoo Giftshop" and selling T-shirts,
> etc., through CafePress, plus realistic stuffed animals and other
> zoo-related educational books and toys (I have no clue where to get any of
> this stuff, but I'm working on it).

The best idea, I think. Try doing a search for wholesale zoo products. I've
found wholesale vendors by doing searches on wholesalenet.com before.

> I am also entertaining a fantasy that if I can build up the traffic enough
> (again) (it used to come up in Google's top three for tons of different
> searches) that I will be able to offer discount coupons for the various
> zoos in the Zoo Directory and get big advertisers in that department
> (hotels, etc.) -- but again, that's just a fantasy at this point.

I don't believe you need too much input from us. You are already on the ban-
wagon for ideas! As far as the traffic. I'm sure you'll get it pretty quick
now that the sites back online. The last time I uploaded a site it only took
a week for me to start getting searches from Google, MSN and yahoo. Even on
pages with not rank. It depends on the keyword or phrase that someone types
in.

> Also, I am toying with the idea of a place where kids can post their
> picture (with just a first name) along with their writing, art work, or
> pet (i.e., at our zoo, they have a huge display where kids show off their
> animal research papers, drawings about their visit to the zoo, etc.) and
> other interactive things for kids, beyond the wonderful kids section
> that's already there.

Yet another great idea you have! With this feature teachers could use it to
give students the incentive to do their best. Whoever in the class does the
best report gets to have it included in your archives! That would be another
way to solicit sponsorship from schools. Or the state. Or even the gov!

Your possibilities are endless.

Good luck to you,
Angela Cardwell
mother of 3 who will be visiting!