Website Reviews

Application | Completed Reviews | Queue | Rubric

Why do you do reviews?

I do reviews because I feel that I can help people improve their website. I know that some people are also open to receiving an opinion from me. I class myself as a relatively good reviewer because I have been designing for many years, and because I have studied user-centered design and creative design practices and theories at a tertiary level (university) – these areas that I believe are important in a good website.

Are your reviews professional?

Though I aim to be professional in my reviews, one cannot write a completely unbiased review when their personal opinion affects their thoughts on the subject. I will make comments and review based on web standards and theoretical practices, but for something like layout or graphics, if I don’t like the colour red, I personally just don’t.

While I do appear to sound professional in my reviews, don’t be surprised by a smiley or a personal comment, but don’t expect me to shower you with compliments if you are my friend. I will state the complete and honest truth. Assume that if I make no comment about a certain page or aspect of your website that it is fine.

Do you expect anything from me/my site?

I do require a link back on your site, to mine, for me to complete your review. Reviews, in one sitting, can take me up to six hours to do. This is a lot of my personal time and I may not want to, or have the time to, complete a review in one sitting.

I do not welcome rudeness. You are giving me permission to analyse your website and comment on it where I see fit, allowing me to provide constructive criticism and feedback. You do not have to agree, and I will find it rude if you try to prove me wrong. Remember – you applied!

I don’t expect you to have validated coding, although it is desired. I look at cross-browser compatibility as it is important for the viewing of your website for different visitors. I will point out errors across different browsers, to the best of my ability. (I have Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, Google Chrome and an iPhone.)

I won’t judge your website on what content I expect you to have. I will review appropriately according to the type of website you have and its purpose. However, I do expect websites to be original; seeing the same thing over and over, particularly after over 100 reviews, is not very good! :P

How is the review set out?

The following sections will be in your review:

  • Site Name & First Impression
  • Coding and Validation
  • Browser compatibility & Usability
  • Layout
  • Content
  • Originality & Creativity
  • Organisation & Errors
  • Overall Comment

You’ll receive a rating out of five as a rough indication of how good your website is. Please do not refer to the rating as a sole means of the quality of your website. One cookie, like the one below, will represent one out of five. Often, half cookies are also awarded, and less often, no possible rating, in some cases.