Jerry Tucker, Webmaster
JerryD's Online Award Program

What we look for the first time we visit an applicant's site is "load time." This to me is the most important thing a webmaster needs to address. If it takes too long to load the first page, most likely it will be the only page we look at. If your site takes more than 20 seconds to load, we highly recommend that you place a "skip intro" button at the top of your entrance page.

In addition, the other pages should be structured in such a way that the viewer can move around the site with ease. They should be able to get to any page they wish to view with no more than 3 clicks of the mouse.

Last, but very important, is appeal. The worst thing a site can have is lots of pop-ups and the annoying flashing or blinking graphics. This will automatically send the viewer running, and it's usually the biggest reason why some sites take so long to load. In most cases, these sites will not be considered for an award.

Nikola Kitanovic, Webmaster
Absolut Awards (site closed)

In a logical manner, of course, I first try to determine what is the mission of the site. A site without a mission is simply an empty site, which is why I think that looking for the mission is the logical first step.

Next, I look at the basic design of the site. A site without a basic design reminds me of a computer without a processor. The basic design is the "heart" of a web site. A site without it is a dead site.

And finally, I look for secret, creative links between the mission of the site and its basic design. If there are no links, it reminds me of a surgical procedure where the wrong organ is transplanted. The surgeon removes a kidney and replaces it with a liver. Where is the logic in this?

All of these steps are on the logical level, and I believe that I act as described in most cases. However, I remember one of my favourite award programs, "Believe2Achieve," where one of the criteria was "If I like your site." Perhaps, if we are completely honest with ourselves, and with others, we first look to see if we like a site when we visit it.

A lot of people will not admit this because it means the evaluation is subjective to some extent. The real truth, I guess, is that most evaluations are partly objective and partly subjective. By constantly improving our criteria and gaining experience, we reduce the level of subjectivity and increase our objectivity.

Personally, I like this process. Each award giver defines and objectifies his own personal likes and dislikes in the criteria for his award, and this separates his award program from all the others on the Web.

Will Harbeson, Webmaster
The Medals Of Excellence

Like any reader of publications, the first thing I see when I visit an applicant's site is the cover, splash or homepage. Exactly like the cover of a good book, it should welcome or invite me to come inside. It should be very clean and all seen in one field of view so I get an idea of what is in store during my visit.

I don't like to journey down a long first page past guest books, affiliations, vote for me's, send this site to a friend links and advertisements to find the way inside. I'm not saying those things don't have a place on a good site. I just think they can be left for inside the cover in order to make the first impression solid and on subject.

On the cover should be enough information to give me a decent idea of what the site is all about. A nice banner graphic for good branding is a decent touch followed by some text in a large readable font to further give me reason to open the cover. Too much information is a killer here. It's just clutter that tends to confuse the message.

Avoiding scroll bars in both horizontal and vertical formats allows the viewer to make a visual assessment of what can be found inside without searching all over the place for the handle to open the door. This is especially important to a business site where just like a brick and mortar store you will never get inside if you can't find the door. It's a good idea to make a graphic and a textual link clearly available for entering.

If the site has done these things, then it's easy for me to say, "OK this one is likely to win my award." It merits some more poking around, revisits and the full judging review processes.