Life Sciences Sector Websites Perform Well - But Not for Everyone

net-progress have today released the latest in a series of surveys examining website performance on the internet. The latest survey looks at the Life Sciences sector.

(PRWEB) June 30, 2005 -- net-progress have today released the latest in a series of surveys examining website performance on the internet. The research is intended to raise awareness of issues that effect website usage and to create a picture of the state of the internet". The latest survey looks at the Life Sciences sector.

The survey examines three key areas of performance, namely website quality, website presence and website accessibility. Under quality, a website is tested for issues that can impact on visitor sessions, like website speed, broken links and missing pages. Website presence looks at how easily a website can be found via search engines and other websites. Website accessibility looks at whether the website is likely to exclude user groups or not.

These areas were chosen for two reasons. Firstly, as they will be of interest to both website stakeholders and the wider public at large. Secondly, these aspects of performance can be objectively measured in a way that, for example, design cannot. net-progress uses a combination of manual and automated tools to ensure the veracity of their results.

The findings of this survey show that websites in the Life Sciences sector perform fairly well. Website quality in this sector is above average. This should mean that on a majority of websites examined, visitors should find that there are few problems that prevent them from carrying out the tasks they set out to complete. Website presence is fairly typical of most sectors. All the websites examined did well for the company names, and a majority did well for product names in the search engines. Performance was predictably more varied for generic search terms. The average number of links to the websites were also high, but the range reflected that some companies have work to do in this aspect of website presence.

The one area that almost all of the websites examined have much scope for improvement is that of accessibility. Only one of the websites tested passed the World Wide Web Consortiums Website and Content Accessibility Guideline Priority 1 checkpoints -- the minimum recommended level of accessibility.

GlaxoSmithKline were given the net-progress Gold Standard Award for their website performance. AstraZeneca were commended for both website presence and website quality.

The full report is available from the net-progress website, as well as full details of the survey methodology and awards scheme.

About net-progress
net-progress is an internet consultancy using a holistic approach to add value to a companys online activity. net-progress specialises in accessibility, quality, presence, behaviour analysis and reputation management in order to deliver measurable improvements to a business.

net-progress has been working in the field of web analytics since 1997, with clients ranging from FTSE100 companies to SMEs.

net-progress designed, built and maintains net-guide, an accessibility centric search engine and directory that has received RNIB accreditation. The value of this project was recently recognised in the House of Commons in an Early Day Motion signed by more than 50 MPs.

net-guide was short-listed for The National Library of the Blinds Visionary Design Award in 2004 and net-progress were short-listed for the RNIBs Simply the Best Award in 2005.

In addition to the core web analytics business, net-progress produces regular surveys on various aspects of online performance in a variety of sectors, as well as accepting commissions from trade and consumer publications. net-progress produce a regular Site Inspection feature for Ability Magazine, a campaigning publication for people who have difficulty using IT.

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