CONTENT (Up to 30 Points)

Content is the backbone of a website and the more interesting the subject, the more times the visitor will return. Intriguing content, which convinces the visitor to bookmark the site, is a big plus. A website should not only be creative, it should also be the original work of the webmaster. Content not only includes the actual write up, but also how it is presented. Color blending, text size, and choice of words play a major role in the presentation of a website.

LAYOUT/DESIGN (Up to 30 Points)

What catches viewers attention when they first visit your website? Usually, it will be the visual presentation of the site. Design/layout are major elements that will influence whether visitors will want to continue their exploration of your site or simply leave. The design/layout should be created and executed in an artistic or highly skilled manner. A well-organized website is one which is laid out in such a way that it holds the intended audience's attention.

ORIGINALITY (Up to 20 Points)

How often have you visited a website and asked yourself: "Where have I seen this before?" Being able to create independently, without outside help, is considered a natural quality in some webmasters. The ability to bring into existence something out of one's own imagination and creating a website is a gift.

THEME (Up to 5 Points)

Have you ever visited a website and wonder what the main subject was after browsing through a couple of pages? There should be a specific and distinct quality throughout the entire site. An overall theme should be implemented. A broad range of theme-related material should be broken down into individual categories.

NAVIGATION (Up to 5 Points)

When navigating a website, is there any possibility the visitor will get lost? Nothing is more frustrating than not knowing where one is at or has been when surfing a site. Having to depend on the browser back button is poor planning on the webmaster's part. If the pages are long, it is nice to have navigation or "up top" links located at the bottom of the page. Navigation should be clear and simple.

SPELLING/GRAMMAR (Up to 5 Points)

Spelling and grammar are very important in a website. If a letter is omitted or an extra one added in a word, the whole meaning of the word can change. The same thing goes for the grammar aspect of a sentence. A misplaced comma, adverb used instead of a noun, or the wrong tense of a verb can change the entire meaning of the sentence one is trying to convey to the intended audience.

LOAD TIME (Up to 5 Points)

One reason viewers leave a site instantly is because they don't have time to sit and wait for a page to load. Too many graphics, applets, and java scripts are attributing factors to a slow loading website. Due to the technical aspects of Flash, it is understandable why these sites take slightly longer to appear than straight HTML sites.