Please
see below copies of two letters written to the aquariums featured on this
site concerning the future of the site. They are self-explanatory. Also
see the final outcome at the bottom of the page, followed by a small representative
sample of emails that have been received since the site ceased to operate:-
Letter 1)
‘Charlton’,
Abbots Leigh Road, Leigh Woods, Bristol BS8 3PX, 25th February 2004
Dear Aquarium Operator
Re. website ‘A Directory of Public Aquariums of the UK’ –
www.aquariauk.com
I am writing to you about the website ‘A Directory of Public
Aquariums of the United Kingdom’, www.aquariauk.com. Your
aquarium is included on this site.
I set up this website a few years ago to meet what many saw as a need
for a site that provided information on, and represented the collective
interests of, British public aquariums – a sort of one-stop website.
I did this on a ‘give something back’ basis, having worked
with a number of the aquariums involved, and have never asked the aquariums
featured on the site for a contribution toward costs.
The setting up of the site and its annual operating costs, the regular
addition of news and other items, and the updating of information on each
aquarium has taken quite a lot of time and has cost a considerable sum
of money over the period involved.
I have now reached a point where I need to re-examine the status and future
of this site. Quite a lot of work arises around this time each year
from the need to approach each aquarium and ask if it wishes to update
its text and/or images for the coming year. As always, many respond
immediately, but a few don’t respond or have to be badgered.
What’s new?
The site would also benefit from a technical and design upgrade, but there
are financial implications here that I am not sure I can meet.
The site comes up in a very high position in the search engine and
directory listings. For example, if keywords such as ‘UK’,
‘public’ and ‘aquarium’ are entered in a search
on Google, the site appears in the top three or four sites and certainly
on the first page. Because of the cost involved, I have not set
up a site statistics facility so do not know how many visits the site
receives. However, I receive many emails and phone calls with a
wide range of enquiries about public aquariums, suggesting that there
is indeed a need for a site representing the collective interests of UK
public aquariums.
I am thus writing to you now to request your comments and guidance on
the future development or otherwise of this website, bearing in mind the
points touched on above. Should it continue on some basis, can it
be made more useful to the public aquarium community, or should I close
it down?
I look forward to hearing from you – and thanks in advance for your
time.
Yours
Bob Golding
email: bob.golding@natural-habitats.co.uk
Letter 2)
‘Charlton’,
Abbots Leigh Road, Leigh Woods, Bristol BS8 3PX, 8th March 2004
Dear Aquarium Operator
Re. website ‘A Directory of Public Aquariums of the UK’ –
www.aquariauk.com
I have had some replies to my recent letter/email on the above.
Extracts from two are as follows:-
1) “I am writing in response to your email and letter
regarding your AquariaUK website. We at….. feel your site
is well worth being both featured on and linked to. We appreciate
it greatly that you were kind enough to include ourselves and think that
the layout works well. We understand fully the time consuming nature
of producing and updating a website….. We would not like to see
your site disappear and if a small contribution from ourselves and others
would secure its future existence/upgrading then I am sure I could get
authorisation to do so.”
2) “Thank you for your letter regarding the UK aquaria website.
You asked for some feedback.... so here's mine. I like the site
- it's a straightforward directory and 'does exactly what it says on the
tin'! It increases the web presence of all the aquaria – and
I like that it treats each one the same, regardless of size. The only
thing that I can see that would be possibly more user-friendly is to add
the aquarium links to each aquarium's page? Whatever, it's been
very good of you to put it together and maintain it for these last few
years. I would expect that most of the aquaria featured will see
the benefit of continuing with the site - and probably be prepared to
pay a contribution towards its upkeep. I would certainly be willing
to contribute, if required. I look forward to hearing the outcome.”
There have been other responses and more may yet be received.
However, in the light of the responses and discussions so far, I have
decided that the way forward is to ask for a donation of £75.00
from each of the 26 aquariums currently featured on the site. This
would cover my costs and enable the site to continue for at least
one year. I am prepared to continue to donate much of the time involved
in managing the site but am no longer prepared to fund the out of pocket
expenses incurred.
A significant advantage of the various aquariums making a donation is
that they would be much more directly involved in the general presentation
of the site and I would be happy to respond to specific requests regarding
site layout and content.
I am afraid that I have to set a deadline and say that if I haven’t
heard from you by the end of this month (March 2004), I shall assume that
you do not wish your aquarium to remain featured on the site. This
approach does not, of course, guarantee that enough aquariums will respond
positively and that the site can be kept going.
I am sorry to have taken up a little of your time with this matter, but
I thought I should see things through to a conclusion. I continue
to feel that the site has the potential to promote the collective interests
of UK aquariums and also to provide a one-stop focus for aquarium-related
public information on aspects of aquatic habitat conservation.
Yours
Bob Golding
email: bob.golding@natural-habitats.co.uk
Outcome) Insufficient
support was received in response to the above, and a decision was made
to cease maintaining this site as from April 2004. However, I wish to
thank most sincerely those aquariums that did offer support for their
kind and helpful letters and emails.
Bob
Golding, April 2004.
Some emails since received:-
Email 1)
Bob - Have just entered “Aquariums”
into Google and up came your website – listed 3rd – a top
billing.
Fantastic
– just what I needed – we’re planning a trip in the
school half term break for a group of around 16 people - family &
school friends.
Progress
halted – site isn’t being maintained.
Clicked to find out why and read your explanations which make total sense
to me.
It’s
hugely frustrating on two counts; firstly, you clearly set it up really
well, cracked a terrific Google priority listing, and then fell foul of
complacency from some of the aquariums listed. And secondly, as a business
owner myself, I find it incredible that any business looking to attract
‘customers’ would throw away this service for the sake of
such a tiny investment – both time and money. Quite bizarre and
clearly commercially inept, particularly in view of the fact that the
vast majority of us have PCs at home and the internet has become the no.1.
tool for researching precisely these kinds of venues.
I
share your concerns whilst applauding your efforts to get everyone on
board.
All
the best
Charlotte
..............., from Highclere, Berkshire.
Email
2)
Dear Bob -
I've
been to your site. It is a pity that it is still not maintained.
We
are two families travelling to Wales for the first time & we really
are interested to visit Aquariums and Ocean Labs.
We
know that there are at least 5 of them scattered around.
Can
you please tell us which once you really recommend for us to visit?
Thank
you in advance,
Adrian.
Email
3)
Hello
Bob-
I found aquariauk.com while doing some research regarding a book I'm translating.
I'm sorry (only partly for selfish reasons) to see that you didn't get
enough response from the various aquaria over there to continue your project.
From my brief quest, it is apparent to me that your proposal to index
all those aquaria's info in one place would benefit everyone, as there
is a great range of layout formats and quality levels across the individual
websites.....
Eric .....................,
Wellfleet, Massachusetts, USA.
email:
bob.golding@natural-habitats.co.uk
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