The following is a list of rules, guidelines, and disqualifying factors we abide by while reviewing and judging your web site. They have been broken down into separate categories for easy understanding and access.

Categories: Content Design Navigation Impression Disqualifiers



All main areas of the site should be immediately accessible.
The site should contain a menu (text or graphic) on each page, that provides links to all of the main areas of the site.

Navigation should be simple to use and logically organized.
Menus and navigational areas should be properly placed and consistent on each page. If the site contains a lot of content, separate areas should be logically organized and categorized by content type.

Site should require minimal use of the back button.
However, if a certain area of the site requires the use of a back button, it should be available within the site design and not required through the browser.

Internal and external links should be functional and properly directed.
Internal links should not open in a new window unless necessary, and all external links or separate sites (Such as guest books and stand-alone awards programs) should open in new windows. I will make an exception to valid XHTML sites that have taken the time to code within W3C standards.

Use self-induced pop-ups when ever necessary or beneficial.
If a particular statement, enlarged graphic, or item on your site requires minimal content space, it is nice to see these things displayed in small, self-induced pop-up windows for a cleaner site design and easy navigation.