Name of your website?Floridoptera.com
Your name?
Chris
Your Location (city, etc)
New Port Richey FL
When did you start your website and why?
Considering that Florida has a problem with plants that are exotic and invasive, I thought I'd plant native plants in my yard. Since childhood I've had an interest in butterflies and moths. I thought in planning my garden this was a perfect opportunity to combine two interests and get a very enjoyable garden in the process. My results, while not spectacular, have up to this point been very gratifying. I can look out and see as many as a dozen butterflies flittering about.
Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc
I was very frustrated in my research for info on Florida native plants and the butterflies and moths they support. Bits and pieces of data appeared on many disparate web sites. I thought to myself that there's got to be a better way. I compiled a database that cross references Florida native plants to the lepidoptera they support. When one looks up a plant it's lepidoptera are listed and when looking at a record for a butterfly or moth it's plants are listed.
What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?
It took over a year to compile the data for the database. Not being a programmer I hired a database expert and worked with him. It's a relational database and therefore somewhat sophisticated.
What has been the easiest part of operating your website?
Checking to ensure it's still up and operating correctly.
What was your biggest mistake?
Actually I can't say I've made any notable mistakes. Due to the nature of the database, it needs a very specific hosting provider. I thoroughly researched my available options and was fortunate enough to find a hosting provider who provides very personalized service.
Who maintains your website and why?
I am the one who primarily maintains my site. My hosting provider also provides some input.
Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?
What business? This is such a niche market. One it's restricted to a given geographical area. And even though there are over four million people living in Florida, of those I suppose a very small number are interested in gardening with native plants that attract lepidoptera. Realistically I doubt if it will do much more than pay for itself. At this point it hasn't. Perhaps as public awareness increases I might get more traffic.
What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?
The internet already plays an important role in today's economy. I see that as only increasing in the future. I use the web for many of my transactions. I can see the day when fuel prices will prompt people to shop from home.
What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
Search engines are developing some very sophisticated algorithms that , for the most part, seem to weed out "junk" sites. I see this trend as only improving in the future. This is to everyone's benefit as the primary use of the internet is to seek information. A good site that offers informational value for the visitor benefits everyone.
What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?
Search engines are invaluable. How else is someone going to find your site? What little traffic has been generated is due to search engines and reciprocal links. These two notions are interlinked. If a real live person thinks one's site it valuable enough to include a link to it on their site represents a testimony to the value of the site. If each search engine required incoming links to a site, a lot of junk would be weeded out. Of course, there are ways around this too.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
I haven't found one yet. Given my niche status I suspect it will be the accumulation of many small factors such as word of mouth, mentions in blogs and reciprocal links. I haven't been aggressive in promotion as that can backfire too. I think that in the long run the quality of the information will speak for itself and attract interested visitors provided they can find it in the results of their searching.
What method has been least successful for promoting your website?
I haven't done this, but the "build it and they will come" approach is very unrealistic.
What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?
It would be nice if the United States caught up with the rest of the developed world. From a recent article I read we're ranked fifth in capabilities, speed, throughput and other technical indicators. Interestingly enough, South Korea is ranked number one. Of course it is much smaller geographically and therefore a top notch internet is not as daunting a task as it is here. I think Americans would be surprised at the potential capabilities of a top notch, technically sophisticated internet.
Are there any other concerns your site addresses?
The seed for my site came about as my environmental awareness increased. Cultivated plants, living in habitats that are not native to them frequently require more water and chemicals to maintain. Turf grass is the most notorious culprit. Chemical runoff is a major environmental concern. Only 2% of the world's water is potable. If you think the oil wars are a big deal, you ain't seen nothing yet. The water wars will make them seem like minor conflicts. Native plants use less water and no chemicals. They've been doing fine without human intervention for up to millions of years. If every gardener planted native plants and eliminated turf grass, the impact would be substantial.
What is your website address?
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