Hello, my name is Jason Tweed, editor of ZuLink.
ZuLink is a collection of reviews of some of the best, and worst websites. Each website will be reviewed based on several criteria.
- Aesthetics
- Usefulness
- Functionality
- Navigation
- Uniqueness
- Activity Level
- Cool Factor
Let’s take a look at each one a little more in depth.
The look and feel of a website is important. Aesthetics evaluates the visual and audio appeal of a website. High grades go to modern looking websites whose form follows function. The web is all about information, however presentation is important as well. Low-grades go to websites that the art overpowers the information. The key to a high aesthetics score is context. The information must be easy to read, see, or hear while being presented in an attractive and appropriate manner. For Example: A flashy website that is heavy on bandwidth may not get a high score, but it wouldn’t be penalized if the site was focused on gamers who traditionally have high speed connection and graphic cards. A band’s website that has a loop of original music would be okay, but a MySpace page constantly looping the latest Shakira hit would probably be bashed.
So many websites today offer little value. Many times they just regurgitate information available in a thousand places. The usefulness score is awarded based on how easy it is to find very specific pieces of information. Is this a website that you will bookmark and visit frequently? The highest scores will go to websites that present highly unique or specific information. Also contributing to usefulness is value. Some information has more value by its nature. Websites that are useful for business or personal growth will be favored over websites that are more trivial.
The functionality score evaluates the ease of use. Websites with complex information presented in an easy to understand format will score best. Websites that are very complicated, or whose information isn’t complex will score somewhat lower. Some websites are able to present the simplest information with maximum hassle. These won’t score well. The final element of functionality is “Does it work?” Broken websites or ones that haven’t been thoroughly tested will score worst.
Ease of navigation is critical. Does the navigation structure makes sense? Can you get from the homepage to the information you want quickly? Is it easy to tell which links are informational and which are promotional? Is easy to return to the home page? Do the back and forward buttons function correctly? Does the navigation fit the context? For example is it easy to continue browsing after adding something to a shopping cart on your e-commerce site?
Originality is rewarded. Does the site simply copy another site’s format or is it completely unique? If the site does use another as inspiration, does it at least improve on the model? The uniqueness score rewards originality over weirdness, although genuine weirdness is nice too.
A site’s activity is critical. How frequently is a blog updated? If the content is user generated, how many contributors actively participate? Finally, does the site’s activity have influence outside its own domain?
Finally, there is the very subjective “Cool Factor”. Let’s face it, sometimes you visit a website that is just wicked cool. The Cool Factor is kind of like extra credit in history class. It gives your website bonus points without ruining the curve.
The first few posts will be some of my favorites to get us started. After that, we will take nominations. If you would like to have your website reviewed, shoot me an e-mail at editor@ZuLink.com.