O'Callaghan Middle School

What really makes a web site truly GREAT?

1) The URL should describe the content, be short and be unique.

For instance, http://www.symphonyofscience.com/ tells us that it is about science and music. It is not short, but it is very unique. Another example is http://cnn.com/. This is a national news website with a short name and is not easily forgotten.

2) The website should have credible and original content.

How trustworthy is the site? Looking at Symphony of Sound's site, you will see that the creator has created very original content by using old science video clips. He morphed the voices and set them to his own music to create a science music video. The videos are based on past and present scientists of our time. (Due to the school district's filtering software, files found on YouTube are not visible. However, the videos are downloadable from another site.)

3) The website should be frequently updated and share their information when the updates are made.

Are you able to receive an email, twitter or newsletter about new content? When you revisit the site, is there something new that catches your eye? Being able to know when something new is added to a website makes people want to revisit it.

4) The website should be customized and be user friendly to people who have older technologies.

Are you still on a dial-up connection? Does the website load quickly or take more than 8 seconds to go from a blank page to something showing up on your screen? The web site should be inviting enough to make a user want to explore the site, but not leave the user hanging too long between link clicks. Take a look at CNET or Discovery.

5) The website should be interactive, organized and easy to read.

Do you squint when you go to this site? Is the content the same thing like other sites? Can you quickly find the information for which you are looking? The site should make you want to explore it more beyond the first 3 clicks, and you should be able to understand its content. Discovery is a great example of this.

Information from What makes a Great Web Site?

Why can't I get there? (PAGE 3)