Evaluating Your Website: Does It Meet Award-Winning Standards?

The Journey to Website Excellence

Eight months into running a home business, the decision was made to apply for a website award. The initial attempt was unsuccessful due to the lack of contact information, a lottery link, and an affiliate program that didn't align with the awarding body's standards for a professional, quality website. Despite the setback, the site's content and design were continually improved.

A few months later, an award of excellence spotted on another website sparked a renewed interest in applying for an award. Unfortunately, the second attempt was also unsuccessful. This time, the absence of a privacy policy was the issue, in addition to the previous lack of contact information and operating hours.

Learning from Rejection

The repeated rejections prompted a more serious approach. The awarding body's qualification criteria were studied in detail, revealing the importance of a privacy policy - a crucial element that had been overlooked. Contact information had been included in the business's newsletter for eight months, but it was absent from the website due to concerns about sharing personal information with viewers.

After adding the necessary information and reapplying, the site was finally awarded the Award of Excellence for a Pennsylvania business.

Key Takeaways for Website Improvement

If you're considering applying for a website award or simply want to improve your site, here are some essential tips:

• Ensure your contact information is prominently displayed on your main webpage. This should include your company name, your name, address, telephone and/or fax, and email address.

• State your hours of operation. If you're running a home-based business, specify the hours you're available.

• Create a Privacy Policy. This should include a commitment to protect your customers from spam and keep their information confidential. You can view a sample here.

• Proofread and edit your content for common errors such as spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure.

• Regularly check that all links are working. Links may need updating or correcting if they were entered incorrectly.

• Pay attention to your site's aesthetic. The background and font design should complement each other, and avoid using fluorescent or brilliant colors that can strain the eyes.

• Be mindful of your use of banners. While they're popular, they can slow down your page's load time, which can deter visitors. Instead, consider writing a brief description about the link and then linking to the site.

• Don't neglect your meta tags, title description, and keywords. These are crucial for search engines to find your site.

• Be cautious about the content on your site. If you're aiming for an award, you may need to remove content such as lottery games or adult-only material.

• Consider investing in your own domain. While free hosting can be a good starting point, having your own domain can lend more credibility to your site.

Remember, these tips are not exhaustive, and some may not be required for all awards. However, they are essential for creating a quality website.