Rating A Site
Score each web site on each of the following categories, using a scale of 1 to 5 .
The total score of a balance web site will be 60. The method is to get a site that
achieve respectable scores in all areas, rather than over-emphasizing a single area
or two and omitting other areas completely
A "perfect" web site's score would be 60.
Here are the performance categories that should be looked for to evaluate
the various web sites
Click on the category you want to read in detail
1.
Speed
A fast-loading home page speed is critical to the success of any web site. If visitors
have to wait for large graphics to download, they are likely to leave and visit another
site.
2.
Site purpose
The firm or organization's products, services or goals should be immediately obvious.
What type of activities does the firm or organization engage in? Who do they serve?
3.
Engagement
You should be able to immediately understand the benefits or information the firm
or organization offers you. Prospective clients or supporters should be able to immediately
see how a relationship with the web site offers both short term and long term benefits
4.
Navigation
How easy is it to locate desired information. Your ability to locate "information,"
regardless whether it refers to editorial content, product information, shipping costs
or a desired e-mail address, is of paramount importance. Information is useless if
it cannot be quickly and easily located.
5.
Registration
Web site success depends on providing incentives to encourage visitor e-mail registration.
E-mail registration permits the web site to follow-up with visitors at a later date,
using alerts or newsletters. If a web site does not attempt to capture the visitor's
e-mail address, visitors may never revisit.
6.
Usability
Usability refers to ease of reading and chunking. Ease of reading is based on relatively
short lines of text and freedom from distractions--like bright colored backgrounds
or distracting textures. Chunking refers to breaking information into bite-sized units
using short paragraphs introduced by frequent subheads. Bulleted or numbered lists
also permit visitors to grasp an article's contents at a glance.
7.
Timely
How up to date is the information on the web site? Web site credibility plummets if
the home page promotes an event that occurred two months ago. Web sites should be
considered "works in progress" that are constantly updated if only so that they don't
bore repeat visitors.
8.
Design
Is the design appropriate for the firm or organization the web site serves? Layout,
colors and typefaces determine the site's personality and image.
9.
Customization
Is the site capable of delivering personalized information? Upon repeat visits, can
visitors resume where they left off?
10.
Technology
Is technology used appropriately, to increase the site's information value, or is
it used decoratively, in a show-off fashion? Sound, video clips and animation can
either enhance or hinder communication.
11.
Call to action
Does the web site encourage you to take the next step, such as request more information
or make a purchase?
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