CONTENT
CLEAN UP
PAINT UP
FIX UP
GOOD SITES
ABOUT US
SERVICES
CHECKLIST
RESOURCES
Use the attached checklist for self-evaluation of your site.
SPEED
No "extra" graphics should be used, particularly on the home page. They consume valuable time during the "Loading" of your page into the browser. A good rule of thumb is limit graphics to 30KB. ALWAYS use “Alt” fields with your graphics, because some browsers will only display the "Alt" field.
CLARITY
Ease of use is vital and clear and persuasive text, combined with a good menu system will accomplish this.
Suggest a response to your site at every opportunity (also known as a "trial close"). Your site has a purpose, communication!
SIMPLICITY
Browsers are always changing to incorporate new features. Keep your e-commerce site simple and avoid "new" technologies. This will assure that your message is delivered as intended. Browser considerations also include items such as screen width. Use about 750 pixels as a maximum width to allow viewing on almost all screens without horizontal scrolling. Use “common” techniques, avoiding (repetitive and annoying) audio, unless it is vital to your product or service.
LINKS
ALL links must be relevant to your site purpose. Don't send your customer away until your have your sale.
Check all linked sites regularly, to make sure they still exist, and don't compete with your site.
Do not “lose” visitor to another site! Open an additional browser window, when appropriate. Don't display someone else's site inside your own.. This is particularly true for "frame" sites.
SEARCHING
Company Name - Try to find your site using two or three major search engines, searching only on your company name. An astonishing number of sites do NOT have the company name in searchable text. It's in a logo graphic, which is not searched!
If found, how many other sites are in the same list?
Your product or service should also be found by a search engine. A good site has a long list of keywords (called meta-data) which do not appear on the site text, but are found by search engines.
If found, what other firms were in the search?
PRINTING
Print your site in B/W and in color to see what your customer keeps. Would you hire a printer to print a brochure that looked like your printout?
Did it print all of the info? (Frames can be tricky on printing, so don't use frames on "key" print pages.)
Good printing requires high contrast between text color and background color or pattern. Remember, most browsers do not print the background when asked to print a site. Essential graphics must not be on the background.
Create a separate “print page” when appropriate, testing it with different browsers and printers.