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1. Compatibility in Browsers / Operating systems Websites should be viewable and fully accessible in all major browsers. Most of your visitors will use standard and the most available browsers, such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer 6.xx and Mozilla's Firefox. Both supports a vast majority of technological advantages, such as java script, CSS-scripting, i-framing and more. Another important issue to keep in mind is that your website should also work in different operating system environments. The standard mostly used by your visitors will be either Apple Macintosh OS 10.x or higher or Personal Computers running Windows 2000/XP/2003 or higher. Make sure your site support all. 2. Global appeal If you have a website meant to attract business and/or visitors from all parts of the world, you should maintain an English version of your site - especially if your site is located on a .com or .net public domain. Offering a translated version, and/or service from your website not only attracts additional visitors, but it will enhance your website's global appeal in additional regions. Remember, when using external translation services make sure that you use it correctly as graphical, Java and Flash buttons / pages can not be translated. 3. Measured download time This is one of the keys that will keep your visitors - or chase them away! If your site takes too long to load, people will leave. People are impatient when it comes to browsing the Internet - especially those with broadband connections. Remember, the majority around the world are still using analogue modems to connect to the Internet. Most of them will wait between 30 ~ 60 seconds for a page to load. 4. Measured interactivity times In addition to the aforementioned load times, the time it takes to maneuver around is also important. If it takes too long to go from one page to the other, your visitors will also loose patience and interest to continue. Keep ALL your pages within an acceptable size ratio to restrict the wait times between page clicks. If some pages exceed the limit, you may want to warn your visitors beforehand, and they will be prepared to wait a little longer. 5. HTML Code Proper HTML coding helps reduce load time of your pages. Neat coding without unnecessary spaces or tabs will even reduce the size of your page! Using proper begin and end tags will overcome compatibility problems in most browsers. Although we do not require strict enforced "W3C HTML Validation", you may want to use it as guideline to help you weed out some problems in your HTML. Also, see our tutorials about "Speeding up your pages" to find unnecessary codes in HTML. Simply pay attention to certain areas which may cause problems, and you will be credited for it. 6. Header information inside HTML (keywords and description) "Description" Meta tag provides a useful way to control summaries of your pages in some search engines/directories. They return a description of the page (as specified in the tag) in place of the keyword summary search engine would ordinarily create. The "keywords" tag provides a summary of keywords, which certain search engines use (such as Google) to associate your page with the search string, based on closest match. (In other words, the search engine will look into your content to find a close match). Both these tags are extremely important. If used properly, they will help increase traffic to your website. 7. Content vs. Tags relationship The content on the page should correspond with the description and keyword tags you have used. Example: If your page content is about rabbits and mice, it is acceptable if your keywords / description include words such as " pets", "animals", "carrots" etc. All keywords / description phrases should "relate" to the content of your page. It will be helpful if you have those words in your content. Synonyms, or use words often used on your page are also a very good option. You should never include words like "mp3" and "free music" trying to attract and mislead visitors coming from search engines. 8. Color Requirements Your website will be tested at a setting of 256 colors to determine whether you have used "safe" colors. To prevent images from appearing pixilated under higher and lower color settings, use safe colors. For more information about "WebSafe Colors" look up our article in the articles section. However, times are changing and higher color depth becomes more and more common in web designs. We will be lenient in some respects, depending on the design of graphics used on your site. 9. Implementation of Backgrounds This subject will test how you have managed to use background colors or background images on your site. Leaving your pages on default (not applying background color or background images) may cause your pages to appear in the color of default settings used by your visitors. If your pages are intended to be white, set the background color to white, or use an all-white image as background color to prevent this from happening. Examples of backgrounds being used are:
10. Ease of Navigation Navigation on your website should be easy to use, functional, accessible and obvious. Your links should be "logically organized" and enhance the "flow" of your site, and should not cause frustration to your visitors. Java scripts, frames and image buttons may be used to enhance the beauty of your navigation, but if they do not load, your visitors will not be able to continue. Host an alternative, textual version of your navigation (example: an easy accessible sitemap) for major content pages / sections. In addition, links should be provided in order to return to previous pages without using browser navigation tools. 11. Resolution Requirements Careful planning is required when you design a website. One of the most difficult things to do is to make your design work well under different screen resolutions. The majority of your visitors still use 800x600 as their primary screen resolution, but 1024x768 is becoming increasingly more common. Your website must be fully viewable in both these resolutions to score this point. If you see a lateral scrollbar in either of the aforesaid resolutions, your website does not support the screen resolutions. To solve use "percentage" values rather than "fixed" values when specifying table / cell size. Example:
12. Entry pages and options to visitors Entry pages could really make or break the success of your website. Effective / Clever use is advised; let us say as an introduction to what people can expect on your site. A page saying "Welcome to our website, click here to continue" is really just a waste of space, and adds no real value to your site. Avoid making your visitors wait. Starting off with a bulky Flash movie, which begins with a message "loading" with no alternatives will just discourage your visitors to continue. Leave an option where visitors can continue/skip without having to wait. They can always return to see the movie if they want. Additionally, if you choose to have an introduction or a flash movie, keep it in context with your site's topic. 13. Total page size (incl. images, etc.) Depending on your design, a single web page contains elements such as HTML codes, java script applets, CSS scripts (better known as Style sheets), images, audio, Plug-Ins and more. Remember, ALL these elements are DOWNLOADED and stored in a temporary folder on your visitor's computer before they will be able to view the requested page. Keep your pages within reasonable size and your site will benefit from the fast download times. We recommended that your pages (including ALL of the aforesaid elements) should be between 65 and 85 kilobytes. 14. Load request sequences When a page is accessed, downloading of all elements will start in a specific order - depending on the build-up of your page. Normally, tables and text load first, followed by scripts, audio, images and other web elements such as applets. It will work its way from top to bottom in your HTML source. It is extremely important that you construct your page in an orderly way, to enable your visitors to start reading the content while the page builds up.
15. Java compatibility and functionality The evaluation will include effective and clever use of Java components. Script errors, unwanted or forced instructions and other unnecessary elements should be absent within your site. Avoid including any purposeless applets or scripts that requires user input in order continue to view the site. Avoid filling up your pages with useless information scripts such as the weather in your hometown or what time it is. Make sure that the scripts you're using are compatible or support most browsers / computers. 16. Usage of META tags META tags are very useful for Web developers. They can be used to identify the creator of the page, what HTML specs the page follows, the "language" and "content type" of the page, or even a web spider block! In short, you can control a great deal on your page using META tags. The evaluation will include a variety of META tag checks, such as usage, correct application and effectiveness.
17. Validity and quality of External Links When referring to external sites, we require that at least 95% of your external links should be fully functional and properly targeted. Furthermore, links to external websites must compliment or give additional information covering your topic/theme (such as added resources, references). 18. Link qualities and targeting Building a solid website requires special attention when you are linking your pages to one another. Always keep your site within the same parameters of the open browser window. Using target properties such as target="_self" will prevent your internal links opening a new window when clicked. As a rule your external links should open in a new window using target="_blank". 19. Validity of Internal Links It is extremely important to ensure that ALL internal links and referral points inside your website work properly. A broken link means exactly the same as a page being torn out of a book.... even the last page counts! These are costly errors... some award programs may even disqualify your site. 20. Internal : External link Ratio We strongly believe that the majority of links used should be internal, in relation with your site's core content/topic. Links to other sites are only acceptable if they compliment your content, or serve as additional resource to your visitors. In order to keep your visitors browsing on your site in stead of someone else's, your site should limit to have more than 15% of its links as external links. Do not depend on external resources to make your point. Evaluation Criteria Pages: Overview | Pre-evaluation | Section A | Section B | Section C | Section D | Section E | Self Evaluation Tips
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