FP_21:
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Web Site Quality Criteria and Guidelines

  A Google search turned up these results.

   3 Style Guides

1. http://webdesign.about.com/

2. http://www.w3.org/Provider/Style/

3. http://www.webstyleguide.com/index.html?/contents.html

  Table 2-1

  Criteria

  Guidelines

• Announce who is responsible for the existence of the Web page.
• Name the sponsoring organization and author of the Web page.
• Use clear, concise titles that identify or announce the purpose of the page.
• List appropriate dates, such as the date written or the date the page was last changed.
• List the sources for information or other data used on the Web page.

• Ensure the Web page looks good and is easy to navigate.
• Provide functionality and clear organization.
• Select good metaphors to represent your concepts and ideas.
• Use complementary color schemes.
• Eliminate the use of too many animated graphics on a single page.
• Avoid long paragraphs of plain text.

• Keep the pages relatively short. Long pages take time to display.
• Web page design should be a compromise between many graphics vs. speed of display.
• Use the 10 second response rule when possible: A user will wonder if something is wrong after waiting about 10 seconds without a response.

• Use the same colors, locations, and navigation techniques for all related pages.
• Maintain a uniform look and feel for all related pages.
• Utilize themes and templates to ensure consistency.

• As with any paper, story, or other literary piece, proofread the text for accuracy.
• Verify all the hyperlinks to ensure they are valid.
• Check the image, sound, or movie files used in the Web pages.
• View the Web page using several different browsers. Not every little HTML trick or every file format is supported in all browsers.

• Use alternate text in your Web page to provide support for text only browsers.
• Note the size of a large image next to a hyperlink so viewers can decide whether or not to download it.
• Use thumbnail images for items such as Forward and Back buttons. Remember that you have a global audience.

• Ensure that each Web page stands on its own; users can come in from anywhere.
• Provide hyperlinks to resources mentioned in the page.
• Use clear navigation hyperlinks such as Next, Back, and Home.
• At a minimum, always have a hyperlink to the site's Home page.
• Limit the number of hyperlinks.
• Avoid click here hyperlinks.

• Note the type of file, such as avi for compressed video files, or jpg for image files.
• Include a notation of the size of the file next to the hyperlink.