Last week, I left a comment on Elliots Blog. He was talking about his domain goals and what he has achieved so far. Well a couple of readers where suprised that he did not mention Tropical Birds. I went on to post a comment on how he could start from known to unknown, maybe start from the most popular Tropical Birds which is the Amazon parrots. The Amazons also cost approximately 800 to 1500 USD for a baby and about $2500 for a talking Amazon.
The next day, it occurred to me that while I was quick to make suggestions, I happen to be in the exact same situation with one of my minisites, Hearing Dogs.com
You see with Hearing Dogs, I get frequent request for where and how to purchase a hearing dog but I have not been able to set up the scenerio I was so quick to suggest to Elliot.
Why? Maybe it is because even though I love animals and love helping people, human suffering and stories of human suffering just wears me down. I am not cut out for it. Most of the letters I get from hearing dogs are filled with gut retching stories of adversities. Some are so painful it is hard to read. Frankly I do not think I am cut out for it.
This goes back to a post a made recently, make sure you are mentally and physical disposed for the type of website you plan to develop.
Like Elliot said about TropicalBirds, I just hope someone will come and take this domain/minisite off my hands, someone who will make a better use of it and make it into what it needs to be.
Update: 11:19PM EST
Following one or two comments on this article which focused solely on the donations page on hearing dogs instead of the context of this post. I have come to realize that there are some people who may not check out the content of a website before heading striaght to the donations page. In fairness to all, I have included certain language that makes it explicitly clear that Hearing*Dogs*com is a private venture.The donations page now reads:
“You can help HearingDogs.com with your donations. We appreciate all donations as it helps us gather more resourceful information. Please Note that HearingDogs.com (website) is a private venture. We are NOT a charity organization hence donations are not tax deductible. No part of your donation is promised to any other organization. By Donating here, you understand that your donation simply goes to provide for the upkeep of this website (HearingDogs.com) and to help us with research and development.
Please donte safely below. We use PayPal the premier online payment company to process our donations.
Thank you “
A very good perspective I hadn’t thought about for some of my projects, thank you for sharing.
I was surprised to find that on your page HearingDogs.com you actually ask for donations for the site…
I think people would be much more willing to donate, and you would be much more worthy of donations, if the site was more than just a simple mini-site. Donations for a mini site… seems kind of unethical.
@Anon
Thanks for your comments. While your comment has no bearing on this current post expecially as I was not complaining about donations or the lack off. Well I guess it is really “much easier to be critical than to be correct”
Hi Frankie,
I hope you are forwarding the donations to the proper organizations. Makes me feel sick, if you are pocketing these donations. Which there is no sign of.
Do
Ross
@Ross,
I initially set up the donations so that I can improve the site to be more usefull to everyone. Incase you did not notice, I paid for that site to be built and I have almost always contracted all the jobs on that site to third parties. My initial intention was to recoup some of my funds and build a more viable data base but that has not happened maybe because the only donation I have gotten is 5 bucks and after paypal fees comes to about 4.75 or so. I spend more time answering emails and directing some people to resources I find along the line than all the adsense and donations combined can ever account for. If that makes you sick. Too bad
My intentions are clear. At least I am doing something and have put more initial effort to this site than I plan to enumurate here. The site is a dot com and says
“You can help HearingDogs.com with your donations. We appreciate all the help as it helps us gather more resourceful information”
Note that request for donations clearly says what the donation is used for.