• • • Detailed Scoring System • • •



When evaluating your website, we will start from 0 (zero) points, and add scores according to the following system.

• • • 15 points - Content.

Does the splash page (if you have one) or your first page, clearly introduces the visitor to the main purpose or theme of your website? If yes, we will score between 1 and 2 points, otherwise we will score none.

Language is also a big part of your content. While we wouldn't take points away for slightly improper grammar, assuming that not all the applicants have a good command of this language, we would expect you to run a spell check, in order to avoid some gross and disturbing errors. Obviously, bad language, slang, swear words, modern short-cuts such as "cuz", "4 u", "gr8" etc will not be accepted. If your text has less than 3 spelling errors and an overall pleasant and fluent writing style, we will score 4 points, otherwise we will score none.

If I am new to the theme you are going to discuss, will I still be able to understand it? Or is your site written in a professional language without explanation to people who are outside the discussed sphere? Likewise, does your website promote higher values? Does it make people think, aspire for excellence and better the Internet? If yes, we will score between 1 and 6 points, otherwise we will score none.

Does your website teach the visitor something new or interesting? If yes, we will score between 1 and 3 points, otherwise we will score none.


• • • 55 points - Design and presentation.

Compared to other websites, how original is yours? When saying "original" we don't mean that the header should be at the bottom or anything like that. We are seeking layouts that makes us say "wow!", and would not remind us of many other websites. If we find your design to be innovative, refreshing, stylish, individual, artistic and original, we will score between 1 and 20 points, otherwise we will score none.

How to do you present your content? Will we find one big mess on one page, or is your content wisely divided by subjects and sub headings (if you have any) and makes effective use of the white space? If yes, we will score between 1 and 5 points, otherwise we will score none.

Is there a good balance between graphics' size and text? Are titles visible, yet not over sized? In other words, will we see good proportions? If yes, we will score between 1 and 5 points, otherwise we will score none.

Are all the images and illustrations you use of high quality, or will we find pixelated, low quality, blurred (unintentionally) or improperly resized pictures? If all the illustrations are flawless, pleasing and original (i.e. not ready-to-use standard icons), we will score between 1 and 10 points, otherwise we will score none.

Do the fonts you use suit the subject, add harmony to the overall design and have a good contrast with the background? If yes, we will score between 1 and 7 points, otherwise we will score none.

Have you made excessive use of animations and / or Java scripts? If .gifs and Java Scripts effects are not present or do not disturb and dominate the design, we will score between 1 and 3 points, otherwise will score none.

Do the colours complement each other and accomplish a harmony, or to they clutch? Do they create a delightful "colours scheme" together? If yes, we will score between 1 and 5 points, otherwise will score none.


• • • 12 points - Technical part.

This is the non-subjective part of the criteria.
Does your website pass HTML validation using online tools such as WDG and W3C? If yes, we will score 3 points, if some pages pass validation and others do not, we will score between 1 and 2 points. If most of your pages have errors, we will score no points here.

Does your website require more than 15 seconds to load on DSL connection or 1 minute on a dial-up connection? If most pages load within this time scale, we will score 1 point, otherwise we will score none.

Have you took the time to optimize your website for Search Engines by creating relevant titles for each page and meta tags? If yes, we will score 1 point, otherwise we will score none.

Will we find improperly coded links? (so called "dead links"). If all your internal links work properly and open in the same browser's window, while external links work as well, but open in a new window (as not been a part of your site) we will score 4 points. Two external broken link is allowed, as we assume some of the pages you link to, might go offline unexpectedly. However, if you have more than 3 broken external links, or / and 1 or more broken internal links, we will score no points at all.

If your website gives a green light upon ICRA check, we will score 1 point, otherwise we will score none.

If we will see that you have taken care of the accessibility levels for your website and it complies with wither 508, WAI-A, WAI-AA or WAI-AAA levels, we will score 1 point, otherwise we will score none. Please note that the entire website should comply with the accessibility level you claim and not only some of your pages.


• • • 10 points - Navigation.

We would like to see a 'Site Map' as an alternative way of navigation, and link to site map from any page. If you have a properly coded site map, which we can reach from any page, we will score 2 points, otherwise we will score none.

Does you have a consistent menu on all pages? Can I reach your Home Page from ANY page? If yes, we will score 5 points, otherwise we will score none.

How many clicks does it take to reach a particular page on your site (without using the site map)? If it takes less than 4-5 clicks to reach a certain page, we will score 3 points, otherwise (if we'd need above 6 clicks) we will score none.


• • • 3 points - Free or / and interactive material

Having high quality, generously offered free material of any kind, or any interactive and frequently updated ... such as poll, Awards Program, any sort of pick of the day / month (such as quote of the day, wallpaper of the week, etc) is a good way to guarantee that visitors will come back. Do you provide anything of a similar nature? If yes, we will score 5 points, if your site provides no interactive nor free material at all, we will score no points.


• • • 5 Points - Judge's Conclusion

Here I will rate your website according to my subjective conclusion. The maximum score achieved for judge's impression is 5 points.

In order to win the Digital Glow Award, you need a minimum of 60 points.