Introduction and functionality
Introduction
The purpose of this topic is to outline the main factors that contribute to making a website effective. This will help you to analyse websites, as well as design a website, either on line or on paper. You will be familiar with websites and probably already have an idea about the websites you like and the websites you don't. Aside from topics that interest you, there are important factors relating to how user-friendly websites are. In order for you to effectively analyse why this is, you will need to be aware of what makes websites useful.
The purpose of websites, as with any other text, is communication. Websites might be designed to communicate simple information, complex ideas or information about products or events. As with any form of communication it is essential that websites are clear and express their content as effectively as possible. It is important that websites are functional and easy to use.
As websites are multimedia texts, they contain a number of elements to be analysed. These are often written text, images, animations and sound. You need to be aware of what combinations of these elements create a website that is easily accessible and user friendly.
Functionality
The main consideration for any website and for analysing a website is functionality. This term describes how webmasters (those who design and update websites) ensure that websites attract users and then make it easy to find information. The most successful websites build trust with users, provide the information that their audience is looking for and are easy to navigate. Consider the following aspects of functionality.
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Aspect |
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Tag lines |
Tag lines are short descriptions that define what the website is about. For skwirk.com the description that appears on a search is 'skwirk.com.au is the country's most advanced interactive learning portal, specifically designed for Australian school students.' On the internet, tag lines are very important because it is usually the tag line that will appear in a search. Misleading descriptions or inaccurate descriptions will not attract appropriate users. Accurate and concise descriptions result in a more targeted and appropriate audience. |
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Loading times |
It is important that pages load quickly. Consider your own experience with using the internet. Do you revisit sites that have pages that take longer than 20 seconds to load? Some websites that use an abundance of animations, images or formats that require specific plug-ins restrict users to those who have fast internet connections and are up to date with the plug-ins. It is important that websites know their target audience and do not restrict their audience. Some websites that are targeted towards advanced technical issues may be able to assume that their users will have fast internet and up-to-date plug-ins. Most websites, however, will have a more general audience. |
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Special format or viewing tools. |
Have you ever been to a website where you are informed that your web browser does not support the format of the site? For a website to be effective it needs to be accessible to people who have a range of computers, connection speeds and programs. |
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Ease of reading. |
Some websites are less effective because the design of a page is restrictive in terms of how easy the text is to read. Consider how difficult it is to read white text on a yellow background. For this reason, most effective websites use black text on a white background, as this is the easiest and clearest to read. |
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Ease of navigation |
Accessibility and usefulness are often dependent upon how easy it is for users to find their way around a site. This is called navigation. Navigation bars, otherwise known as navigation menus (usually placed horizontally along the top of the page or vertically on the left-hand side) are a user's main means of finding his or her way through a website. In order for a navigation bar to be effective, the content of a website needs to be divided into relevant categories and sub-categories. When you are analysing a website make sure that these categories are useful and that they link to pages that are relevant to the information that the audience is looking for. |
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Short and concise text |
Depending on the type of content in a website, it is generally effective to include as little text as possible. Of course for this website, there is a fair amount of text (although limited to around 700-1000 words a chapter) because of the academic nature of the content. For other websites, particularly business websites that sell products, it is important that text be kept to a minimum, as most users find it difficult to read a lot of text from a computer screen. |
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Limited scrolling |
Again, depending on the content, pages that require a lot of scrolling are generally seen as being ineffective. Notice that many websites will limit scrolling by splitting content into chapters (this website for example) or pages. The results of internet searches are a good example. Long lists of links are particularly difficult for users to absorb. It is more effective to categorise links so that users can link to shorter, more targeted links. |
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Links |
Most websites will contain a links page or links within the content. A major reason for including a links page is that it helps websites achieve a higher- ranked listing in internet searches. Effective websites are those websites that have links that are relevant and useful for users. Short descriptions of useful links or links within the content are a good sign of effective linking. When analysing a website it is important to check that the links are working. |
