DogWalker.com

[EJS]

I just launched a dog walker directory on http://www.dogwalker.com. Feedback would be appreciated.

[Onward]

That is a great name and a really good looking site. You can also sell background checks to the dog owners who want to do their due diligence on their potential walker...maybe even a certification seal for any dogwalker with a background check on file...just a suggestion as the walkers may be in the home quite a bit.

I think you have a real winner here though. Good luck.

[draggar]

Nice concept - what software / CMS did you use?

[KING dot NET]

I like the the logo, nice work.

[EJS]

Nice concept - what software / CMS did you use?

Wordpress

[tonyfloyd]

Wordpress

Gotta love Wordpress!!...

Great Job Elliott!

[Jernet]

yes, very nice. i sent you a pm.

[fuelcells]

Very professional.

ahh.. nice strolls through central park every day... I think your adorable pooch is living the good life...
I've known many owners to neglect and strap down their dogs to a small confined area all day long never giving them the exercise they need... good dog owners are hard to find..

GL with your new site!

[Warren2]

Great website. Simple, clean and a brilliant concept. However, I wonder if maybe you should void all fees for the first 6-12 months to get loads of people to sign-up as dogwalkers so that you get some momentum?

I would probably spend some money on advertising in something like americanclassifieds.com for people to sign-up as dogwalkers for free in many different geographic locations. You need the dogwalkers before you can get the clients...

[David G]

One more excellent site Elliot. One of the best.

You sure know how to make nice content sites. Congrats.

The advertising option is really cool. Reminds me of what Frank Schilling is doing re ads.

David

[Gerry]

Visually very appealing.

Good job.

[EJS]

Great website. Simple, clean and a brilliant concept. However, I wonder if maybe you should void all fees for the first 6-12 months to get loads of people to sign-up as dogwalkers so that you get some momentum?

I would probably spend some money on advertising in something like americanclassifieds.com for people to sign-up as dogwalkers for free in many different geographic locations. You need the dogwalkers before you can get the clients...

Thanks everyone for comments. I agree about getting dog walkers. I am going to call many on Monday and offer free listings, so i can pick and choose areas across the country. There are a couple of search bugs my developer is working on, so I am glad to not have advertisers right now, but will give away some freebies in the upcoming week.

[Tia Wood]

I think you have a winner here, Elliot. This is the best one I have seen you produce, yet.

Just one thing: I entered a Tampa zip code and didn't get any results. Where is the link for general browsing? You don't want to make it too difficult for visitors to find what they are looking for. I would suggest upselling on the "no results" searches by either offering the next proximity of results and a banner that solicits dog walkers to sign up.

Good luck.

[chillking]

Very nice site theirs also a tv series in the uk thats very popular called the dog walker good luck with it.

[EJS]

I think you have a winner here, Elliot. This is the best one I have seen you produce, yet.

Just one thing: I entered a Tampa zip code and didn't get any results. Where is the link for general browsing? You don't want to make it too difficult for visitors to find what they are looking for. I would suggest upselling on the "no results" searches by either offering the next proximity of results and a banner that solicits dog walkers to sign up.

Good luck.

Thanks.... I don't have advertisers yet... once a couple of bugs are worked out in the search functionality, I will be looking for advertisers. I am not doing a free model, so the only listings will be paid listings. The idea is that a Tampa dog walker will check the site, see no listings, and decide to be the first/only advertiser, and that will lead to others.

I am giving a few selected freebies out.

I think my primary target market will be NYC due to the # of potential advertisers and my ability to advertise the site.

[friday]

NYC dog walking is very much word of mouth. The lucrative work is in the hands of a select bunch who will never agree to advertise on any website. Also, a lot of the work is for cash only, no need to get the attention of the IRS by printing your details on a website. The domain is more suitable for a single bonded domain walker service provider in a given location. At $20+/hour/dog it may make more sense to go the full hog and develop a dog walking service around the domain.

The alternative is to create and sell an ebook on how to have a career as a dog walker.

Selling listings will most likely prove futile no matter how low the entry point.

[EJS]

NYC dog walking is very much word of mouth. The lucrative work is in the hands of a select bunch who will never agree to advertise on any website. Also, a lot of the work is for cash only, no need to get the attention of the IRS by printing your details on a website. The domain is more suitable for a single bonded domain walker service provider in a given location. At $20+/hour/dog it may make more sense to go the full hog and develop a dog walking service around the domain.

The alternative is to create and sell an ebook on how to have a career as a dog walker.

Selling listings will most likely prove futile no matter how low the entry point.

I live in Manhattan (72nd & CPW) and walk my dog in Central Park every morning (except Thursdays). I am pretty familiar with the business and know quite a few dog walkers. I am quite sure the IRS has better things to do than scour dog walking websites to see who is paying $49/year in advertising to go after them for possible under-reporting of income.

If you are quoting $20/hour per dog in NYC, you don't have enough of a clue to criticize the business model. We pay $15 for 15 minute walks.

I know of 3 competitors who charge about $30/year but have bad G/Y rankings, aren't intuitive, and aren't specifically targeting dog walkers, yet they have a large number of advertisers.

I am doing quite okay in this domain business, so no plans to become a dog walker.

BTW... salty reaction from me is because I am looking for design/development feedback rather than business plan feedback.

[Gerry]

Elliot, it looks nice.

If you are doing the dog walking thing (your site), keep your eyes open for complimentary services such as dog sitting, doggy day care, dog spas. Adding them to the ad mix on your site would have most of the pooch related businesses covered.

[EJS]

Elliot, it looks nice.

If you are doing the dog walking thing, keep your eyes open for complimentary services such as dog sitting, doggy day care, dog spas. Adding them to the ad mix on your site would have most of the pooch related businesses covered.

Good idea.. I also own DogTrainer.com, so if I don't sell it, I will build a similar site..... sorry typo'd... DogTrainer.com - not DogTraining.com

[Gerry]

Good idea.. I also own DogTraining.com, so if I don't sell it, I will build a similar site.

Geez!!! That's a gem! Might be able to talk my wife into writing original content for you.