1. Select three businesses/organizations that are competitors in the same industry and that have a Web site providing information about the organization or for electronic commerce. Visit their Web sites. As an example, you might compare:
• Citibank, PNC, Wells Fargo Bank
• Hollister, Abercrombie, and American Eagle
• Amazon.com, Borders, and Barnes and Noble
• Wal-Mart, Target, and Kmart
Note: When evaluating, most any business will do as long as it has competition. You may even want to compare a college or university to another.
2. Prepare an evaluation report (use Word) of each business's Web site in terms of its functions, user friendliness, and how well it supports the company's business strategy. Which Web site does a better job? Why? Can you make some recommendations to improve these Web sites? (maximum of three pages total)
3. There are many criteria for evaluating WWW sites but use the following in your analysis:
• Content: Does the Web site should offer something unique? Will you want to return to this site repeatedly?
• Accuracy: Is the material free of error (typos, spelling, grammar, etc.)? Are the sources for factual information in the material clearly identified? Can you verify them?
• Objectivity: Is any bias present? To what extent is the material meant to persuade? Is this clearly stated? Is the page an advertisement or some other kind of promotional material? Would any surrounding advertising influence the material's contents or results? Is the advertising clearly separate from the resource contents?
• Coverage: Who is the intended audience?
• Navigation: Is the site easy to move around in? Do you always know where you are? Is it easy to use and fast?
• Appeal: Is the site aesthetically pleasing(appealing in look and color), how do you feel while you are visiting the site? How would you change the look (if you would)?
• Type: Is the site informational, or is it used for ecommerce? Is it secure? How do you know?
• Marketable: Can you find the site in Google based on product, service, or any keyword other than the name of the organization or url? Where does it fall in the Google ranking?
• Browser Compatible: View the site in both Firefox and Internet Explorer and indicate if there are any differences in the presentation.
4. Additionally, add a description of any kind of social media. What is it? How is it used? How will your organizations in the industry you have chosen use this or any social media to gain a competitive advantage? How will this help them find employees or understand more about their customers?
5. Do these sites conduct any ecommerce? If so what kind?
6. Do they make money? If so how? If not what is their purpose?
7. What is their EC Business Strategy?