What Is An Effective Website?

As a college student living in the twenty-first century, I have had my fair share of experiences dealing with various internet websites. The age that we are living in is an age of highly developed technological advancements. As I have traveled through the stages of my academic career thus far, I have watched the realm of the World Wide Web expand and improve. Since I often utilize the internet several times a day to find research or information, I have formed certain criteria that I believe formulates an effective website. The section titled “Plan a Web Site” in The Penguin Handbook offered me some extremely helpful examples and insightful ideas when I organized my personal website criteria. First of all, I think that there are four integral elements that must be included in every “good” website. The first element is that a website needs is to express a strong purpose to the reader. The website must stick to the type of site that it is, for example if a website’s purpose is to inform, than accurate information should be found there. Secondly, a website should have information that is easy to find. Organization of the web design layout allows for “information on the site to be located without difficulty” (Faigley, 246). Thirdly, I also think that the visible structure of content and links should remain consistent and well organized throughout the entire website. Faigley states, “The format of navigation tools should be consistent […] Colors used for navigation should also remain consistent” (250). Last, but certainly not least, the text on the website should be easily readable to the viewer; text should not be too big or too small. All of these elements combined will create an effective, professional website.A good site should also, always speak out to a specific and appropriate audience. The audience is a key aspect-a website must appeal to the target audience and allow them to easily find what they are searching for, whether it is information, pictures or other facts.