I’m planning to review some of the community development websites I posted about 2 weeks ago and last week. Before I do that I shall explain why it’s helpful to review websites and next Friday I’ll post about how to do it.
There is always a possibility in reviewing a site in public, the site owners will feel their site is being ridiculed. This may be difficult to avoid. The truth is many sites can be easily improved without any technical knowledge. If a review helps a website become more functional, then it is worth doing. If a little humour acts as a spur to change, that is all to the good!
So, why review websites? Let’s start with the benefits for the owners of the website.
- Once a problem is highlighted, it can be remedied easily. It costs nothing but a little time to address most issues, especially where they are content related. Sometimes sites need bigger changes which may cost but so long as the benefits outweigh the costs change is worth considering.
- An unattended website is still a public face for the organisation behind it. I was looking at a website today which has had no news on it since July 2011! It looks as if the organisation has ceased to exist, except I’m fairly sure it’s still going. How can it be anything other than a liability for its owners? Chances are they get very few visitors. If so, take it down!
- Many organisations understand websites evolve; the days of the static site are long gone. A review can be a welcome insight for the people responsible for developing a site.
- Poorly designed sites are a missed opportunity for engaging the public with your organisation. Sometimes small changes make a big difference. For bigger changes, perhaps there is a need to review the organisation’s marketing strategy.
I can appreciate organisations might not wish to have their websites reviewed publicly. I can understand that but the website itself is a public statement, inviting attention. Also the public can benefit from reading site reviews (which should highlight good as well as poor points).
- We all need to understand what works and what does not work.
- By providing a screenshot of the site as it is when the review takes place with a link to the current site, the reader can over time see how the website has developed.
- We need to understand that a lot can be done without the need for expensive (time and money) re-designs. Very often content is the problem and not design.
- If criticism is constructive, readers can learn a great deal about what works and how to put things right.
So, let’s not be precious about our sites. Changes can be made very quickly. We all struggle to keep our sites topical and engaging and we need to learn from each others experience. My hope is we all welcome comments, public or private because that way everything we do shall improve.
What is the most helpful feedback you’ve received about your site?
If you would like me to review your site (in private or public) please complete the form on my website. Follow the link and croll to the foot of the page.
