Info & Rules

This is your main point of reference for all topics pertaining to the operations of Petshopgirls Reviews. Use this page to discover the reviewing practices I follow, to find out what to expect in your review, and to read some small guidelines you are asked to observe should you wish to submit your web site.

Welcome | History Criteria | Technical | Processes | Main objective(s) |
Rules | Conclusion |

Additional Links:

Extras ( awards, web directories, WPR affies etc.)
Past Layouts
Site FAQ (frequently asked questions pertaining to PSGR)


WELCOME TO PETSHOPGIRLS REVIEWS

Firstly, I'd like to welcome you to my website - Petshopgirl's Reviews. I appreciate your visit!

Okay...I'll begin with a short statement as to how this WPR operates, just in case you can't be bothered reading the rest of this boring page. I know how it is. Basically, Petshopgirl's Reviews is what I like to call a 'working class WPR'. I don't take this game too seriously, I won't be covering your coding because I'm shit at it and know nothing, and I'll probably digress into some chatty banter several times during your review. But...I guarantee you that even so, you'll still get a more in-depth review than most other WPRS can give you. Check out the recent reviews in the sidebar if you'd like to see some review examples. If you take your site seriously and put some work into it, i'll take you seriously. But if your site has many problems, and shitty content, you may be in for a rough ride!

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HISTORY

Petshopgirl's Reviews was started up in November 2004, and boy was it different to what it is now! I began reviewing with little confidence - my 2004 reviews were short and loaded with ridiculous compliments and statements that contained no backing evidence. I ended up closing the site in March of 2005, knowing that my reviewing wasn't up to standard and did not match the quality of some other review sites. In July of the same year I re-opened with added confidence. Since then I have grown as a reviewer, providing lengthy, detailed reviews to submitters - keeping pertinence and honesty in mind at all times. After this metamorphosis of sorts, the quality of my reviews improved, so did site traffic and the amount of people requesting their site to be reviewed. In the earlier months of 2006 I decided to include some non-review related content also, as a means of pandering to the wide range of audiences this site seems to attract. On May 29th 2006 I fulfilled a long term goal of obtaining my own domain for Petshopgirl's Reviews, as previously it had been hosted on Geocities with a .TK redirect URL.

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CRITERIA

Petshopgirl's Reviews operates in the same way as most other review sites, with a few distinctive features that other review sites - particularly the more amateur ones - do not contain. Coding is barely, if at all, mentioned in reviews. I began making websites in 2002 when I was seventeen, and almost from the outset I chose to focus solely on graphic design and layouts, over the actual HTML coding of the page. Why mention something I know virtually nothing about? All reviews give praise and compliments when due, and constructive criticism, tips and pointers when necessary. It should be known that I not only write reviews to help you and to aid in the optimisation of your site, but I write to entertain also. Who wants to read a boring review? Be aware that a considerable volume of people will be reading your review, and not only does this help you in terms of site exposure, it helps me in terms of attracting and retaining visitors' interest. I do not aim to be a harsh or bitchy reviewer at all, but it is up to you how you choose to receive your review and how well you can handle criticism. Things I look for when reviewing a website include but are not limited to:

  • Layout structure: - how is your layout positioned? Is it all squashed up to the left of the page, leaving a ridiculously massive void of nothing to the right? Or is it centrally aligned, thus creating an impression of orderliness? Centrally aligned layouts are a biggie for me, and I'm all too aware of the fact that I sound like a broken record when I mention this in every other review, it seems.

  • Layout design: - I don't have any expectations for your layout to be a Da Vinci-esque masterpiece, nor should it have to be. It's all about effort as far as I'm concerned. I'm not wanting to see blatant five minute slap-up jobs care of Getty / Google images and a few tacky brushes splattered every which way. What I'm looking to see is some effort, and it's usually easy to tell whether a webmaster has put some actual time and care into the look of their site. If I can see this from you, you'll be rewarded.

  • Content: - Does your content appeal to a wide range of audiences, drawing in visitors who are keen to devour what you have displayed? Is your content original, and unique to you and your site? This does not mean massive text bodies pertaining to the origins of your name, star sign, or your googlisms. Wake up - no one cares, no one is going to read such utter shit. Such content is referred to by myself as generic fillers. Boring, banal drivel that every other site contains also, as a means of 'making up the numbers'. Interactivity is also essential for a personal site. Interesting topics = increased traffic = visitors liking what they see = visitors returning. The higher the quality of your content - and the more original - the higher the regard your site will be held in. You want an awesome site, don't you? Think of your own interactive topics - try to avoid the stereotypical opinion pages that cover topics such as "President Bush", "Abortion", "Gay Marriage" etc. Granted, these topics may be pivotal but practically every personal site contains these topics - why stoop so low as to want to be like everyone else? I think the only reason so many people have these topics is because they know that in due time some fundamental Christian or Alabama-bound hick will see and start a flame war on the page, thus generating more visitors. Like I said - don't stoop so low.

  • Spelling and grammar: - Ho-hum, no one cares, right? Pretty much. However, most people that submit their site to me have also submitted to other WPR's at the same time. Since I will be going through every page of your site with a fine tooth comb, I might as well point out any grammatical errors to save other review sites from the hassle. That way, you can make the necessary ammendments so that the next review site will have nothing to say about them! Result = potentially higher review score, depending on how good the review site is.

  • Copyright violation / unauthorised redistribution: - Another biggie for me. "Fonts" displayed in your "Visitor" section - more often than not fonts I have seen at actual font sites. Did you gain permission from the respective outlet to be able to redistribute them at your own site? Non-profit or not, you still DON'T redistribute items obtained from another site without permission. Graphics and lyrics also apply to this. Reproducing lyrics for display on a personal site is probably the biggest no no in my book. You know how music companies are - tight ass money hungry conglomerates who get their knickers in a twist over almost anything. If you're wanting to avoid a case of the 'sue me, sue you blues', then for goodness' sake get rid of the lyrics. You can SERIOUSLY get into hot water by reproducing things covered by copyright without permission.

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    TECHNICAL

    My computer is a 2006 Apple iBook G4, running Mac OS X 10.4.10 (Tiger). I use Safari as a default browser, and occasionally Opera. I am currently on a dial-up internet connection, so a reasonable loading time allowance is given if necessary. The average site takes less than ten seconds to load on my dialup, so if yours takes significantly longer I will mention it in your review.

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    PROCESSES

    Once you have filled in the form, your details will automatically be sent to my e-mail address. I will endeavour to add your site to the queue as soon as possible. If you do not see your site in the queue TWO WEEKS after you've submitted, then re-submit please. PSGR is not an elite WPR and everyone is accepted, so if you're not there and you want to be, let me know. The queue here has an average of over 20 sites waiting at any given time. For this reason, please be aware that your site will not be completed straight away - there is a considerable waiting period of at least three weeks to a month plus. Each review takes up a large amount of time and effort and I aim to give you the best review possible in terms of quality, quality that cannot be achieved in five minutes. I cannot guarantee that you will be happy with your review in terms of overall scores, but I assure you that your review would have had the highest amount of effort possible applied to it, and I only publish a review once I'm 100% happy about it.

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    MAIN OBJECTIVE (S)

    To provide webmasters with an honest, straightforward opinion of their website/s. No bullshit, no . I'm no computer nerd, I'm no coding queen, and I'm not an elitist who thinks they're better than everyone else. I'm just someone with an opinion who prefers to tell things straight up, without any sugarcoating bullshit.

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    RULES

    Don't worry, there are no secret code words here, or any wooden horses you'll have to tow into ancient cities. These are just a few guidelines that you need to read if you're interested in getting your site reviewed here.

    A link back to Petshopgirls Reviews would be much appreciated. You can find some codes on the Submit page, or you can create your own text link if you wish.

    Any site will be accepted, with the natural exception of sites containing pornography, commercial organisations, phishing sites, etc etc.

    Piczo sites have conditional acceptance - I will not judge your site in terms of allowing it to be in the queue; you will. Read some of my reviews, and if you are comfortable with your site and you think it's of a medium + standard, then by all means apply. Please be aware that due to the presentation of Piczo sites (banners etc), Piczo sites cannot achieve a QIS rating higher than 3 butterflies.

    Please only submit your site if you're mature enough to handle criticism. You are willingly subjecting yourself to criticism and opinions you may not agree with, and if you cannot handle this it'd be better for you to submit at a rookie review site that churns out sugarcoated reviews.

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    Conclusion

    If the wonderful world of reviewing isn't really your cup of tea, then no worries! Treat PSGR as a personal site - there are lengthy blogs from time to time, there are images to view, articles to read, information about myself - there really is a lot to explore here.

    If you enjoy my site then I'd love to be friends! My contact details are on the sidebar. Thanks for reading, y'all come back now, hear?

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