This document provides guidance for analyzing commercial websites. It discusses: 1) The goals of understanding varying audience needs and analyzing existing websites. 2) What constitutes a commercial website and examples of commercial site categories. 3) Criteria for website analysis including purpose, visitor needs, information flow, features, benefits, and content. 4) The task of researching and analyzing at least three contrasting commercial websites using the specified criteria.

1. Research
Lesson 1

2. Web Design
A sixth form student is looking at
various university websites while
they consider their options.
Describe the needs of a typical
student viewing these websites:
＋ Content
＋ Technical

3. Lesson Goals
 Know the ways in which the needs of an audience may vary
 Understand how to identity key features of a website
 Be able to analyse a range of contrasting commercial websites
LO1 – Understand a range of contrasting commercial websites
P1
Learners analyse a range of contrasting commercial websites:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Purpose
Visitor Needs
Information Flow
Features
Benefits
Content

4. What do we mean by a
commercial website?
Think about the key terminology…

5. Website Research
Know varying audience needs
Analyse existing websites
 Any website that is involved in
buying, selling or making some
kind of profit can be considered
a commercial website.
 This could include any kind of
store or website advertising a
product or service.
 You must make sure that you
choose a contrasting range of
websites for your research.
#commercial
#website

6. Know varying audience needs
Analyse existing websites
Commercial Sites
Technology
Charity
Sort
Film
Sport
Fashion
Home &
Garden
Food
Tickets
Services

7. Website Analysis
Know varying audience needs
Analyse existing websites
 To make judgments on how effective a website is in comparison to others
we need to test each site against a set criteria.
 We will analyse the following areas:
 Purpose
 Visitor Needs
 Information Flow
 Features
 Benefits
 Content
#commercial
#website

8. Website Analysis
Know varying audience needs
Analyse existing websites
 A website can be analysed by using the following criteria:
What’s the point of the website? What’s it used for?
e.g. Information, E-Commerce, Promotion, Downloads
What are the requirements of the user?
e.g. Get information, purchase products
How easy is the website to use?
e.g. Site Layout, Page Layout, Navigation
#commercial
#website

9. Website Analysis
Know varying audience needs
Analyse existing websites
 A website can be analysed by using the following criteria:
What are the key features of the page?
e.g. Text, Navigation, Graphics, Background, Rich Media
What’s the positive aspects of this website existing?
e.g. Increase Sales, Available 24/7, Audience Accessibility
What pages are included and what information is on them?
e.g. Home, About, Downloads, Products, Advertising
#commercial
#website

10. Your Task
Know varying audience needs
Analyse existing websites
 You must research at least three
contrasting commercial websites,
choose a range of sites to analyse.
 For each website describe:
 Purpose
 Visitor Needs
 Information Flow
 Features
 Benefits
 Content
#commercial
#website