Websites Evaluation Exercise - Essay Example

CDC Website Evaluation CDC Website Evaluation Website evaluation involves establishing if a particular website meets the characteristics of a good website. This is because websites should not just be created for the sake of it as most companies do. According to Linde and Stock, many websites are being put in place just to as a show off or to show that the respective company that has put up a website is moving parallel to changes in information technology, (Linde &Stock 2011).There are various reasons why many companies have very shady websites.

One of these reasons is lack of funds. Companies often hire the cheapest web developers available to develop their website, (Linde &Stock 2011). At the same time, these web developers who charge very low fees are often in experienced. As a result, they develop the website very poorly resulting in an inefficient website. For example, in some websites when one clicks on hyperlinks they often give a 405 error. This is often as a result of a poorly developed website which has a hyperlink, but the page designated for the hyperlink either does not exist or its development had a lot of errors, (Linde &Stock 2011).

Another reason why many websites are in effective is the fact that their development had no goal in particular. A good example is when companies want their names to appear on search engines such as Google, (Linde &Stock 2011). When such websites are put up they contain minimal information and normally do not have valid hyperlink or any hyperlinks at all. These websites are more of posters than websites, (Linde &Stock 2011).The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has a website, which can be accessed through the URL: www.cdc.gov.

The website has used a lot of graphics which capture the users’ eye. By using these graphics without reading anything else, one is able to come to a conclusion what the website is about. The website meets the characteristics of a good website. For example, all the hyperlinks when clicked take the user to the specified web page. The website has a professional impression and it is designed accurately, which helps the user navigate easily through the site. The website is authentic and objective as it provides various links to other site where users can gather information.

It is credible as is written by a government institution which means the information is collected from reliable sources.The site also meets the characteristics of a good website in that it provides relevant and enough information. For example, the site list all known recent out brakes, and even goes further to give information of the symptoms of the disease and what one should incase they develop these symptoms. The website also provides information about the protocols followed in case of any outbreak of a disease.

Information on how to contact the CDC incase of any outbreak is also provided. Since a lot of information is supposed to be provided by the CDC, the website has arranged topics in an alphabetical order which makes it easy to find to access information on the website. This is another characteristic of a good website.A good website should also be updated regularly. The CDC website also meets this characteristic. This can be proved by looking at when the website was last modified by looking at the pages properties.

For example, the website is dated 3rd march 2013. On viewing the page properties, it is clearly indicated that the website is frequently modified and kept up to date. After evaluating the website carefully one can give it a rating of seven out of a possible ten. This is due to the fact that the website meets almost all the qualities of a good website.ReferenceLinde, F & Stock, W. (2011). Information Markets: A Strategic Guideline for the I-Commerce Knowledge and Information Series. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.