[Gladhatter]

Originally Posted by KTBleeding

Sorry, I didn't mean to mislead you with my links. I am not saying that your site should be like the ones I listed. I was merely adding onto GFXHelps suggestion. You asked him for examples, and I answered it for him.

My links were merely pointing to the more popular sites for pets / pet enthusiasts to give ideas for your site style.

I don't want to sound rude, but the current state of your site is something that anyone with ~$200 can do. Purchase and install vB, install vBa, mess around slightly with the theme, and you're good to go.

Your site also assumes that most of the visitors are familiar with (the extremely non-friendly user interface of) vBadvanced, and vBulletin. It really narrows down your audience quite a bit. A ton of people don't understand confusing forums that are loaded with all the bells and whistles, and they get intimidated and scared off at first glance. User friendly design almost eliminates any worry in that field, in my opinion.

KT has nailed it! In a nut shell a mature audience are as a rule the lease qualified navigators and the most prideful and will just leave and never say why. They need spoon fed and baby sit with DIGNITY if you are to capture and keep them. You also have to have something they want and to find it where you offer needs to give them " Bragging Rights" so to speak. KT is also spot on that 200-300 bux and anyone can have what you have and also for about the same coin or a bit more and the right designer, you can have what you really need. That is understated elegance and pizazz and class and first class and first in class as well. You are dealing with pets and for many people that is the same as their kids and for others the same as the grandkids are to a spoiling grand mother.

Your site needs a lot of work and in fact a full rework but it would be worth it due to the fact that it is the kind of site with some value.

I do not know what your intentions for it is or your goals or if you have any but as it is is just a collage of randomness with no fluidity and yet it could be grand. Maybe KT is the person that could take you there I am not sure.