Business/Marketing
Business/Marketing
A "business/marketing" web site usually is sponsored by a commercial enterprise to promote their products and services. Companies also use their web sites to provide technical support for their products or services. Many of these sites provide valuable technical reports and industry analyses that affect their industries.
Examples . . .
Science--Global Warming: explorezone.com, The Ecobilan Group
Social Science - Global Security: Rocky Mountain Insititute, Global Security Pro
Humanities - Holocaust: Business and the Holocaust
The more you answer "yes," the greater the likelihood that the information is of high quality.
AUTHORITY- Is the name of the business responsible for the web site clearly identified?
- Does the site clearly identify the owner of the business, and the products and services the business sells?
- Is the business mailing address and phone number(s) readily available?
- Is there a way of determining the financial stability of the company?
- Is there a statement that the content of the page has the official approval of the company?
- Is the business the copyright holder of the web site?
- Are authors of individual web pages employees of the company?
- Has the company provided a link to reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission?
- Are references to factual information clearly identified so they can be verified?
- Is the information presented part of the company's expertise?
- Is the site well designed?
- Is the site free of grammatical, spelling, and other typographical errors?
- Is the site well maintained and are dates provided for updated information?
- If links to additional information are present, are they relevant to the topic?
- Are the links evaluated or summarized?
- If there is advertising on the site, is it clearly differentiated from the informational content?
- Are the goals of the page clearly identified and not just a mask for advertising?
- Have the companies' products and services been tested or reviewed by independent government or industry associations and found to meet minimum product standards?
- Are links provided of outside product reviews?
- For any given piece of information, is it clear what the company's motivation is for providing it?
- Are there dates on the page to indicate:
- When the page was written?
- When the page was first placed on the Web?
- When the page was last revised?
- Are there any other indications that the information is kept current?
- Are links to additional information current and up-to-date?
- Is financial information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission?
- Is the date of the company's annual report listed?
- Is there an indication that the page has been completed and is not under construction?
- If describing a product or service, does it include a detailed description of the product or service?
- Are agents, distributors and wholesalers listed for the company's products?
- Is detailed information provided for all divisions of the company?
Putting it all together . . .
Authority. If the site lists the company's name and provides a mailing address and phone number, and . . .
Accuracy. If factual information is referenced, and current financial information is provided, and . . .
Objectivity. If the site provides product information and links to independent reviews, and . . .
Currency. If your page is well maintained and updated, and . . .
Coverage. If you can obtain detailed product information, and the company lists alternative means for obtaining their products, then . . .
You may have a high quality business web site.
