Website Usability Checklist of Gossip Lanka News.lk Website………..

Nowadays due to complicated busy life styles most people’s search information and latest news through websites, hence giving a good first impression on your site is crucial. What makes a great website? There are many ways to measure the effectiveness and quality of a website. I selected www.gossiplankanews.lk to check usability since it is a most popular website in srilanka among news seekers and general public. To analyze the user friendliness of particular website is the main objective of this measurement. This will be done by using four sub topics; Accessibility, Identity, Navigation, and Content. Let’s check these dimensions through http://www. gossiplankanews.com.

Accessibility

v Site load‐time is reasonable - It is fairly okay when comparing other news sites. Just within 60 seconds time whole site is loaded and save any waiting time. However I found that when comparing other websites gossip lanka home page take time to load mainly due to the large number of animations and images of their advertisements.

v Adequate text to background contrast - It is very much available. The site had a good (Blue& white) contrast between letters & background. Therefore everything is noticeable.

v Font size and spacing is easy to read – In this site font size and spacing are ok. They had large font size and they also had Sinhala font also. It is very friendly for local users.  

v Flash & add-ons are used sparingly - This aspect also satisfactory in this website and it is also busy website at most of the time. The site does not distracting the viewer. The website provides some direct links to their official social media pages also

v Images have appropriate ALT tags - This criterion is very satisfied in this site. When moved over an image they give a description about the image.

v Site has custom not found/404 page - This site has contains a custom not found page.

Identity

v Web site name is prominently placed - There is no specific logo to the website they just use their name as a site logo with a different font style and with white blue color in dark blue background. It is at the left top corner of their website.

v  Tagline Makes Company’s purpose clear- There is best tagline in the website. it can be seen as a strength of the site.

v Home‐page is digestible in 5 seconds- By just looking at the website it gives some ideas to the viewers because there are colorful images and relevant tabs grab the viewer’s attention. We just want to spend less than 5 seconds time to go through the website main page. 

v Clear path to company information - It has a clear path to website information under separate links and information about news provide in very creative manner. 

v Clear path to contact information - We can’t see they have give map to their location, telephone number. But they have provide link to add more news to the web site.

Navigation

v Main navigation is easily identifiable- Main navigation is easily identifiable as the image shows gossip lanka.com  has clear navigations at the top of the page and middle which is easy to find and read.

v Navigation labels are clear & concise- Navigation labels are clear & concise as they are in English letters or Sinhala letters with a blue background.

v Number of buttons/links is reasonable -Number of buttons/links is reasonable as they have different shapes of buttons since they are providing diversify service. Each of those paths takes viewers to the relevant place and provides more information.

v Company logo is linked to home‐page -Company logo is linked to home‐page as when we click logo it’s automatically take us to the home page.

v Links are consistent & easy to identify -Links are consistent & easy to identify as they show every links with images.

v Site search is easy to access- Site search is easy to access as I mention above there is no search button in this website.

Content

v Major headings are clear & descriptive -Major headings are clear & descriptive.   With images headings are very clearly viewers easily can find what they want to find. Headings are placed in different color background the purpose of clutch their attention.

v Critical content is above the “fold”- Since they are working in different sectors.  They unable to present critical content above the fold. Home page just shows only paths and most important information only.

v Styles and colors - Styles and colors are consistent as the different font sizes, colors and shapes use throughout the website.

v Emphasis (bold, etc.) is used sparingly - Emphasis (bold, etc.) is used well as everything is in bold but most of headings are in color dark red.

v Adds and pop-ups are unobtrusive - There are so many adds and pop-ups, which indicates they give serious attention to them.

v Main copy is concise & explanatory- The main page of the site consists of all the important, latest information for the viewer.

v URLs are meaningful & user‐friendly: The URLs given, direct the viewer to the other websites mentioned without any problems. Meaning also ok because they provide most behind screen news.

v HTML page titles are explanatory-A clear HTML is given to all the pages loaded.

Finally my conclusion is this website is effective and therefore provides competitive advantage over competitors.