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1 – 10 of over 64000Abdolrasoul Jowkar and Fereshteh Didegah
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate Iranian newspapers' web sites based on the criteria obtained from Alexa Search Engine using correspondence analysis.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate Iranian newspapers' web sites based on the criteria obtained from Alexa Search Engine using correspondence analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 55 newspaper web sites are selected from Iranian Magazines Information Bank (Magiran.com), the number of which, after investigating the web sites one by one, due to their print prevention, cessation or no coverage by Alexa, is decreased to 24 web sites.
Findings
Based on data obtained from Alexa, Iran newspaper has the highest traffic rank and the largest number of links among others. Bashirmazandaran newspaper has the largest number of foreign users whilst Karvakargar newspaper has no foreign users. The results of the study also show that most newspaper web sites' visitors come from the USA. Correspondence analysis classifies 24 web sites into three groupings gathered based on some common attributes.
Originality/value
The results of this research will be useful not only for administrators of Iranian newspapers' web sites but anyone with a need to increase usage of a web site and an interest in analyzing the use of web site which naturally includes librarians and those in charge of library web sites.
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Monica Perry and Charles Bodkin
Discusses the results of content analysis of the Web sites of Fortune 100 companies, carried out to identify the mix of promotional activities on their Web sites. Specifically, we…
Abstract
Discusses the results of content analysis of the Web sites of Fortune 100 companies, carried out to identify the mix of promotional activities on their Web sites. Specifically, we performed a content analysis of Web sites utilizing categories representing a range of marketing communications, including: communicating product, pricing and dealer/retail location information, related and unrelated advertisements, sales promotion, direct marketing, basic company information and public relations. We also identified differences between and among industries based on standard industrial classification (SIC) codes. We found considerable variability in how members of the Fortune 100 used their Web sites. The Web sites ranged from very simple ones that focused on basic company information, such as company history, to quite complex Web sites that incorporated a mix of promotional elements, such as press releases, advertisements, games, free gifts and pricing information.
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This paper aims to evaluate selected Southern African Development Community (SADC) governments' web sites with regard to their language, content, currency, interactivity, and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate selected Southern African Development Community (SADC) governments' web sites with regard to their language, content, currency, interactivity, and visibility.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted both content analysis and link analysis methods.
Findings
The findings show that all the SADC member states surveyed had web sites, whose statuses were at diverse development stages. The majority of the web sites were written in English while a few were bilingual and one was multilingual. Most of the web sites did not provide their dates of copyright or update. The majority of the web sites had government publications such as constitution, government reports, national development plans, and annual budgets. Only a few had information on parliamentary and presidential elections. Most web sites lacked vital statistics, calendars of forthcoming events, and facilities for feedback. Furthermore, the web sites varied with regard to their levels of interactivity and visibility.
Research limitations/implications
The survey was limited to English speaking SADC countries and some French‐speaking countries whose web sites had an English version.
Originality/value
The findings of this exploratory study may be used to help improve the design and development of government web sites in SADC and other countries in the Sub‐Saharan Africa.
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This article sets out to describe the background behind WIT Libraries' recently launched new‐look web site: its origins, implementations and long‐term goals, and explain how the…
Abstract
Purpose
This article sets out to describe the background behind WIT Libraries' recently launched new‐look web site: its origins, implementations and long‐term goals, and explain how the library is using a new web content management system to its best advantage, particularly in terms of compliance with web standards and guidelines.
Design/methodology/approach
This case study reports on the use of a web content management system to develop the new library web site. It describes the move from an existing site, where the main focus was on visual impact to the new site, which also focuses on providing open and equitable access to information for all users.
Findings
Concludes by stating that the new library web site, as managed by the content management system, adheres to accessibility standards, which the old site, managed in a less efficient way, could not maintain.
Research limitations/implications
The project is still in development. The study provides a short‐term view of one small academic library's experience of implementing a usable and fully accessible web site.
Practical implications
This account of WIT Libraries' experience of working with a content management system to develop a usable and fully accessible web site is likely to be a useful source of practical information for organisations in similar positions, faced with similar challenges of a comparable scale.
Originality/value
Offers practical insights for libraries in similar positions, showing them how successful transference of the library web site to a web content management system can include having excellent compliance with web standards and accessibility guidelines.
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Eunyoung Jang and Leslie Davis Burns
The purposes of this study were to investigate components of apparel Web sites and to examine whether differences existed among the types of Web retailers in their components…
Abstract
The purposes of this study were to investigate components of apparel Web sites and to examine whether differences existed among the types of Web retailers in their components. Thirty‐six apparel Web sites were classified into four categories: virtual e‐retailer, catalog company, bricks‐and‐mortar retailer, and multi‐channel retailer. The Web sites were content analyzed according to the components of the apparel Web including merchandise, promotion, and customer service. Significant differences were found among the four types of Web retailers as to the components (product description, product price information, advertising, catalog service promotion, placing order, and returns policy) included on the Web sites. Currently, competition among Web sites is not based on what information is available, but how information is provided. Therefore, to differentiate themselves from competitors, each type of Web retailer should take advantage of their unique Web strategy within their own retail channel.
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Mohammadamin Erfanmanesh and Fereshteh Didegah
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the web site performances of 18 Iranian Research Institutions based on the following factors: web impact factor (WIF), connectivity…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the web site performances of 18 Iranian Research Institutions based on the following factors: web impact factor (WIF), connectivity, visibility and traffic rank.
Design/methodology/approach
In this research, AltaVista search engine was used to calculate the number of total links and WIF; and data for traffic rank, number of pages viewed and percentage of foreign and Iranian visitors were extracted from the Alexa data bank. Also correspondence analysis is employed to analyze the data using John's Macintosh Project software.
Findings
The results revealed that SANJESH Organization and Iranian Scientific Information and Documentation Center web sites have performed fairly well in most factors. These two web sites have the best ranking in traffic and attracted a large number of total links compared with the other web sites. The results of the correspondence analysis of these 18 web sites can be divided into three groups consisting of one, five and 12 web sites, respectively.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, the evaluation and ranking of Iranian research institutions' web sites were not discussed in any other studies. With web technologies playing such an important role in the areas of science and research today, the functions and performances of research and academic institutions' web sites on the world wide web should be assessed to identify their weaknesses.
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The purpose of this paper is to explore both accessibility and usability and examine the inhibitors and methods to evaluate site accessibility. Design techniques which improve…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore both accessibility and usability and examine the inhibitors and methods to evaluate site accessibility. Design techniques which improve end‐user access and site interactivity, demonstrated by practical examples, are also studied.
Design/methodology/approach
Assesses various web sites for accessibility and usability.
Findings
Criteria are determined by which to assess accessibility and usability of web sites.
Originality/value
Disability is an important consideration in the development of contemporary web sites. By understanding the needs of all users, not only those with disabilities, organisations may begin the process of advancing both accessibility and usability and integrating these elements into their web development strategies.
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Diana Saiki and Audrey Robbins
The purpose of this research is to assess trends in information categories featured on costume and textile collection web sites, and to assess differences in the online…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to assess trends in information categories featured on costume and textile collection web sites, and to assess differences in the online capabilities of these features between 1997 and 2006.
Design/methodology/approach
The instrument was a content analysis of costume and textile collection web sites developed from a study completed in 1997. The previous study identified information categories which included hyperlinks to other sites, events calendars and forms to arrange visits, FAQs, online tours, and discussion group links. Information about education programs, contacting staff, volunteering, membership, and museum purchases was also noted. Data were collected from the 60 web sites used in the original study.
Findings
The findings revealed that costume and textile museums were using web sites to stimulate interest in visiting the physical museum. A picture of the artifact does not show all the specific features of an actual costume and textile, and thus the audience needs to actually visit the museum in order to learn about costume and textiles. A comparison of the 1997 and 2006 data revealed an increase in the frequency of features with higher levels of interaction capabilities.
Research limitations/implications
The research was limited to observing web sites and web site information categories documented in the original study.
Originality/value
The paper identifies the information categories that costume and textile museums find most useful to fulfill audience needs and describes trends in the use of information on web sites which can serve as a guideline in developing museum web sites.
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Providing a Web site that satisfies the expectations of the National Library’s New Zealand and international users required a re‐evaluation in 2002 of the library’s Web site…
Abstract
Providing a Web site that satisfies the expectations of the National Library’s New Zealand and international users required a re‐evaluation in 2002 of the library’s Web site content, design and navigation. There is a demonstrated public demand for subject‐based and digital information on the Web site as well as for the traditional access to the library’s catalogues. The Web site has also evolved as a result of developments in Web site usability. The design also reflects the library’s description of its services on the new government portal. This has required the library to describe its services, Web pages, catalogues, and key corporate publications using the New Zealand Government Locator Standard metadata set (NZGLS) as well as meeting the library’s own Dublin Core metadata standard framework.
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A fundamental internet marketing challenge is that consumers can quickly move from seeks to one web site to another if they cannot easily find what they want on a given web site…
Abstract
Purpose
A fundamental internet marketing challenge is that consumers can quickly move from seeks to one web site to another if they cannot easily find what they want on a given web site. This paper address the web site navigational design issues associated with internet marketing.
Design/methodology/approach
A two‐year participant observation study in a UK tourism marketing organisation is provided in order to demonstrate a web site design approach in action.
Findings
Existing web site design approaches such as hierarchy charts and storyboards can assist in structuring web site content but do not necessarily cater well for making web sites straightforward to use by consumers. Human computer interface web site design approaches typically relate more to style, appearance and functionality than to structuring web site content. Web site content ranking and grouping can allow straightforward access to web site content, by making frequently required content the most accessible and by grouping related content for ease of identification. From a web site marketing perspective, the more accessible web site content relating to products and services offered, the more likely that such products and services will be purchased by the consumer.
Practical implications
If consumers are to use a web site and use it again in the future they need to be able to find what they require in a straightforward manner. Ranking web site content to present frequently required content earlier in the web site, and grouping web site content so that similar content appears on the same web page or on closely linked web pages can make a web site more straightforward to navigate. In a marketing context, the more accessible a web site, the more likelihood there is of repeat business from the consumer.
Originality/value
The originality of the research reported in this paper concerns the use of web site content ranking and grouping to design web sites that can enable straightforward access to information and transactions by consumers, and thus potentially increase both current sales and future repeat business.
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