Last Friday I asked why review websites? Today I shall show you how to review websites. It depends what you are looking for. My question is does the site do its job? This implies it is possible to work out what its job is supposed to be!
If the site is not doing its job, it is useless, however brilliant its graphics may be. Spectacular graphics and splendid design can mask a failure to deliver the site’s purpose.
There are two things to look for.
- Sometimes the site is broken. It does not function properly. The remedy is a redesign because it is not capable of delivering anything in its current state. A redesign may be a few simple adjustments or a major change to the site.
- A more common problem is inappropriate content. The site is OK but something is wrong with its management.
So, here are the things I shall be looking for, starting with functional problems.
- Appearance – does the site work; does it have integrity? Is it immediately clear what the site is about, who has produced it and how the visitor is expected to respond? The visitor has a purpose and wants to know whether they have landed on a page that meets that purpose and if so, what to do next.
- Navigation – is it easy to move around the site, work out where things are, find stuff?
- Clutter – the rule is each page should be about one thing only – does the site have clarity of purpose?
And here are the content related issues:
- Market – is it easy to see who the site is for? If it meets the needs of a variety of people in different ways, can a visitor tell whether they are on the right page?
- Purpose – is it possible for the visitor to tell what the current page is about?
- Call to Action – is it clear what the visitor can do next?
- Neglect – is the site up-to-date?
There you are. Nice and simple. Next week I’ll take a look at a site using these seven criteria. Would you add anything else? Or take any away?
