Name of your website?WHA Stables
Your name?
Diana Manzi
Your Location (city, etc)
Nedrow, NY - 1 mile south of Syracuse
Please give us a short summary of your website?
The website was designed as an informational tool so that people could learn more about the ranch and the services we offer. There are great photo's of the ranch and information on the boarding services and rates. We are currently working on an information and resource section that people will be able to use to help better care for their horses.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
Trying to keep up with the times. It seems everything these days is online and people use the Internet to search for about everything. I assume the horse business is no different.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
The site was first launched in late 2005 but has only been recently completed. It originally consisted of the layout and some basic information. The most important thing back then was to have our hours and contact information up.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
That was actually the easiest part of alll of this. Since the name of the farm in Windy Hill Acres, shortening that into whsatables.com seemed to be a natural fit.
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
We like to think that our site has a more unique and professional look than ther similar sites out there. We take great pride in both the look and content of our site. If the site is professional and full of good information, it should relay the message that we take the same pride in our facilities and the care of our animals.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
The long-term goal of the site is to continually drive business and become a great resource for people with equine related questions. At some point there may be a merchandise and gift shop added to the site so that people can get a momento of their experience with us.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
There is always a delicate balance. This business can be very labor intensive - especially in the witner. Between twice a day feedings and daily stall cleanings, there is plenty to keep you business. Needless to say that farming equipment and supplies can be quite expensive, but we believe it will all pay off in the end.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
Adding some interactive content would be the next item up if there weren't budget and time restrictions. Maybe adding digital horses and farms so that people can can take care of an online companion. There are honestly so many possibilities, I am not sure where I would even begin.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Our site is capable of keeping up with any level of demand. The site is hosted by madrooster.com and they have a world-class datacenter. We have been fortunate to have a wonderful group of web designers and hosting providers. To be honest, I am not sure how we would have done this without him.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Foturnately, we have not had any unforseen costs with the website. There are constant unexpected costs with the farm such as flooding, frozen pipes, and things of that nature; however, we have been blessed with our website to date.
What has been your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge has had to be trying to provide the content people want in a still easy to read format. Content seems to always be the great challenge whether it is online or offline. People know what they want, the trick is figuring out what that is.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
We have first page ranking in Google on almost all of our keywords. That is a huge help and saves the need for having to use campaigns like adwords. Outside of that, we have found occassional ads in the local paper to be largely successful. This business is all about timing, so having the site accessable when someone is ready to buy is critical.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
Like everyone else, I think we had hoped for a lot more traffic and resulting sales than has been produced. But like everything else, through time the traffic has steadily increased. It is just one of those things where you think you are going to start off as if you are Google and you end up really being just another site until you are established.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
The site hs been up two and a half years now. We plan on keeping it up as long as we have the farm. While the people looking for our services are still rather low-tech and don't use the Internet much, we plan on being there, being ready, and being on top when they do finally get there. It is never to early to position yourself in the right spot.
How would you describe your business?
We specialize in the boarding and care of horses. We have a 28+ acre horse ranch with hundreds of miles of riding trails. We offer full-care, partial-care, and self-care options for boarding and also a three stall private barn for those who want their own space. We take great pride in what we do and offer great service at a very affordable price. Plus, being only one mile south of Syracuse, we are conveniently located for thos who live in the city and want a piece of the country life.
What is your website address?
WHA Stables
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