Long ago a poet philosophized — "Truth is beauty; Beauty is truth."

Of course the translation has nothing to do with the beauty of that which we see, but relates directly to the beauty of the truth itself. More specifically the realization or discovery of a certain knowledge. A Web site's truth is in its content.

All That Glitters ...

The true essence of a Web site is not in its breathtaking graphics, but in its presentation of truth. As we meander the Web in search of whatever it is we need to confirm or discover, we (whether by purpose or by nature) hold what we find to a test, which we expect to provide a level of fidelity to our perception of a certain standard. That standard is our self-defined truth and if we find it, we subscribe our thoughts to that site as being superb. Heck, to some, even a holy experience leading to the chanting of Mantras and the cleansing of the soul.

As one who has devoted thousands of hours to the evaluation of Web sites, I must continuously remind myself not to blinded by the glitter, nor to aspire to any transcendental fundamentalism; but rather to dress in the attire of one who is present for a purpose other than as an appraiser. Reviewing a Web site should be done by removing oneself from ones own shoes and assessing what is really there; not what some standard says should be inherent in an "award winning site."

Exit Stage Left

This new modus operandi has greatly enriched my personal surfing experiences. Nevertheless there are certain criteria that, if present or absent as the case may be, will immediately cause me to do my "exit stage left" routine. These are:

• Obtrusive pop-up banners that are omnipresent or Javascript that asks for my name and makes a loud harsh sound.
• Animated divider bars, that little red animated devil dude that dances across the screen in endless motion, or more than three 460 x 60 banner ads.
• Corrupt or non-anti-aliased graphical content.
• Grammatical or spelling errors that are so obvious that even I (normally more than tolerant of such errors) am embarrassed.
• Reckless disregard for the intellectual and property rights of others.
• Meta refresh or Java redirects that lock me into a site or take me unwillingly to another location.
• Needless hype or anything that promotes hate or violence.
• Lack of a reasonable navigation system.
• Can't find any way to contact the site owner or Webmaster.

I am sure most of you would have similar feelings — just a plain commonsensical list of what not to do.

What is Content?

So what is this thing called content? How do we define it? Is it an elusive butterfly or as rare as a four leaf clover? Allow me to share a few experiences with you.

The other day I was looking for some encryption software. My wish list included — but was not limited to — ease of use, cost, platform-ability and level of encryption. I ventured from resource to resource and at last came upon what seemed like an oasis to me. A plain vanilla wrapper at best, but the magical words were listed right there within seconds of my arrival. All the features I was after and then some. It was easy to download and I did just that. Just this morning I purchased it for $35.95 US (about $53 in my currency) and was elated to do so.

Now, did this site have visual appeal — not even close. Did it have content? You bet your bippy it did. It had exactly what I needed — down to the last detail. That's probably why it sported several five star ratings from some of the most recognized software authorities in the world. Would I award this site? You bet I would!!

Recently a site was submitted to me via our review application. This was from a Web Design company. As one might expect from any bona fide design house the graphics, design, colors were superb and the flash media was equally impressive. The only thing missing was content. No articles; no links to client sites — basically a fancy brochure that lacked anything of true use or interest. It was tough, but I could not award the site.

Like anyone visiting this site I am looking for specific content to answer defined needs; and like them I will compare this site to all others of its ilk within my knowledge.

Majority of Sites

It is not a paradox that most great sites do it all well — graphics, layout, use of interactive media and laden with useful content. Yet site evaluators are subject to an aberrant view of the Web.

Many of the sites that come to us fall within two definitions: those that are outstanding and those that are at the opposite end of the spectrum. The vast majority of Web sites, that fall somewhere in between, simply do not apply for awards. We must realize that the latter are also true representations of what the Web is and has been for many years.

The Mighty Word

There is without doubt a gold mine of great content to find by surfing through many of the Web's finest award sites.

To discover the wealth of great information (content at it's highest) we must imbibe a selection of these sites. In doing research for articles, newsletters or other matters I have been lucky enough to happen upon numerous sites that kept my interest for hours. There were no contests to sign up for; no fancy graphics or for that matter many had none (which is far better than filling a page with useless animations and Java pop-ups that keep popping); nor could I find surveys, free stuff or any other commercial loyalties and rewards.

Not that there is a thing wrong with any of the aforementioned items, I just find it interesting that the content made all of these sites stand on firm foundations. The written word is still mighty and I for one will do my best to support its continuance by awarding it above all else.

Great Content Sites

Great content sites come from all sources — from members of our commercial sectors to housewives with something special to share. Consider this superb site, the GE Center for Financial Learning. Kudos to General Electric for providing such an incredible free resource. Brenda Parris Sibley (a caregiver) presents us with A Year to Remember, a touching site about Alzheimers.

For those with aspirations of gaining recognition for their efforts via Web awards, let content stand as your reason for so doing. The catalyst for great content is the will to do our best at any chosen project. To research it until we feel that our readers will have gained a new level of knowledge and perspective. Whether your site is about art or beanie babies, whether it is commercial or a hobby, give your site visitors an experience that they will appreciate and remember.

Whilst I don't think great content is an elusive butterfly, I do believe it is the essential ingredient that provides the special flavor we all seek. A site with the fanciest metallic buttons, all the Java tricks in the book and any other HTML marvels, is nothing without content that the reader embraces as a source of truth, wisdom, entertainment or purpose and that has the power to move his or her finger to the bookmark link.

A Must Visit

The best place I can send you for some of the finest tips for anyone wishing to develop a Web site of some significance is to a fellow named Jeffrey Zeldman, aka Doctor Web. His site is truly one of the finest I have ever visited in this category. Start with his About Content page and then follow the site for more information.

Perhaps the truth is out there! Start your search for it by visiting TheTruth.Com. I'm not the only one who thinks this concept called "truth" deserves more than a mere glance in the rear view mirror.

Above all else: "To thine ownself, be true."

Until we meet again — Sayonara!