Because your Website Service incorporates all of the features of the Pet Adoption Portal and the Data Management Service, you'll be reading those Getting Started guides as well, so we won't repeat ourselves...too much.  Check the What should I expect? section of the Pet Adoption Portal guide for some answers to common questions about animal adoptions.

To view a video about the Website Service, check our Website Service video on our YouTube channel.

Setting up your website

If you haven't already, read the section titled, Getting familiar with your account interface.  This section explains what you see when you log into your account, and how to find what you need there.  It's also helpful to read the How information is organized in your account section in the guide.

Now you're ready to jump in.

You'll choose a hostname, a special URL, for your website, and then you'll start adding and importing your animals!

We have two sections in the Website Guide to help you get your website ready for prime time:

• Basic Website setup
• Advanced Website customization

Start with the basics, and then head on over to the more advanced items so that you can get your website exactly as you want it.

Editing your web pages

We've prepared a video about the WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) editor used in your web pages:

Don't know anything about web design or technology?

No worries. We're here to help you.

You don't need to know a thing about web design or about technology.  If you can operate a computer, you're going to do just fine.  Of course, a knowledge of web design or software development or familiarity with spreadsheets will make the experience easier, but you're going to do just fine.  We've designed our technology so that anybody can jump right in and create a website.  But if you're nervous, or you just don't get it, we can even set up your website for you, for a small fee.  The fee will depend on how much you have to import and how much customization you need. 

Remember, you can always create a support ticket for assistance at any time.  If you get stuck or confused, just open a ticket and ask for help! We’ve got you!

Website Service feature tour

The Website Service feature tour is a section in this guide.  We highly recommend you take a look at all the features of your website before you begin to get in there and customize.  There is so much you can do.  And once you've started, you might want to cruise on over to our RescueGroups.org Facebook page to take a look at the Inspiration Gallery, which features screenshots of what other organizations have done with their websites. 

Setting up your contact information

Your organization has a new presence on the web.  Visitors may want to submit applications, ask questions, call, or visit an adoption event.  You'll be setting up all the information about these things on your new website.  The good thing is, we make it easy for you by giving you prompts.  You fill out the fields; your new website puts it all together for you.

Importing and adding animals

You'll be importing animals from your own spreadsheet or from other adoption sites such as Petfinder.  You will be adding animals too.  We will talk you through this process by the information in our Website Service guide.  We know - it's tough to read the documentation, but we're making it as easy as we can for you.  In addition, we are always available to help you.  

Setting up online forms

With your website, you have the capability to provide online forms of any kind to website visitors.  Adoption applications are the most common forms, but you can create forms for fosters, volunteers, and for equipment and supply loans.  In fact, with the Data Management Service tools that are included with your website, you can track information of all kinds.