Website Layout and Navigation

  • Are all the buttons and links in places you’d expect to find them i.e. is it like driving a car where all the controls are in “standard” locations?
  • Are page links obvious and do they catch your attention (with relevant titles)?
  • Can you find your way back to pages you previously visited without starting again from the home page (ideally there would be a “breadcrumb trail”)?
  • Is there an (obvious) sitemap?
  • Is there an “Intro” screen which you need to (annoyingly) click through in order to reach the main menu?

Graphics and Colour Scheme

  • Do the page colours look good on different monitors and at different monitor brightness levels i.e. is it “easy on the eye” or too bright or dull?
  • Is the colour of the text in good contrast to the background (optimal readability is normally darker text on a light background).
  • Do all the pictures/pages load quickly?
  • Are there too many animations/moving images that are annoying/distracting or are they supporting/explaining the message and/or difficult issues, visually, in an effective way?

Readability and Accessibility

  • Is the text big enough to read?
  • Are there relevant headings that draw your attention when scanning the page?
  • Are blocks of text broken up by “bullet points”?

Information and Services

  • Is the information on the website relate to what you expect to find there?
  • Do the links to information pages relate to the content of that page?
  • Is there enough information?
  • Is there a good balance of information c.f. “advertising/promotional” messages
  • Does the information look current and/or recent?
  • Is there an obvious section for “latest news”?
  • Does the information presented make you want to revisit/bookmark the website?
  • Are there ways to contact the website owner e.g. phone, email (online form), street address?
  • After submitting an online enquiry, how long did it take to receive a PERSONALISED (not automated) response?