- SDL seems to use .NET platform to run the server. That makes the home page look equally good on all platforms, including Palm and Pocket PC. But that also embeds ActiveX components in the code, what causes warning messages on some platforms. Other than that their Web is impressive: functionality is very good (clearly organized menu, search functionality, translated links to localized versions of the Web, separate "Services" link), design is informative and clear. Clear logo with words "e-nabling global business".
The page is informative and not heavy: 291 words, 145K (total page size).
SDL way of increasing relevance: word "translation" is all over the page (including browser windows title), there are 3 "translation" links and several related news.
Coding style: standard, structured.
Code: 8 out of 10.
Functionality: 9 out of 10
Design: 9 out of 10
Informative: 8 out of 10
Searchability: 10 for "translation", 7 for "localization" (pages 1 through 4 for different searches on Yahoo and Google)
Overall: 8.5
Impression: Ultra-effective Web Page
What can be improved: Server-side improvements (automatic redirection to localized versions of the Web page, minor code optimization).
- BGS' R&D produced the worst code: they seem to use SiteCatalyst to alter the code, hoping that search engines will put BGS on first places in ranks/ratings... Not only that made the Web site ugly (if you open bowneglobal.com and look at the MS IE title, you'll see no company name. The text is truncated: "Language Translations, software localization, online translation, website localization, technic"), but also made BGS home page code contain Omniture ad embedded in it:
Coding style: nice and compact (except for the Omniture messy addition).
The page is uninformative. 98 words. Page size: 260K (mainly because of Flash)
But that's also the BGS way of increasing relevance as well: important words are placed in browser windows title, word count is small, some text is even represented with graphics, and theoretically that should be helpful. That doesn't help though...
On different platforms browsers display 1 or 2 ActiveX warnings when opening the Web Site. The page can't be viewed or used from Palm or Windows Mobile platforms: on small screens it's structure is completely destroyed.
Functionality error: the Home Page doesn't allow to get back to the previously visited page. What's worse, trying to get to the previous page wipes out MS IE Navigation history, so you can't move forward too.
The home page has one navigation menu and one navigation bar (it's good and confusing at the same time, but that's not a problem). The menus are well organized. Clear logo (with no motto), search engine, link to Elcano. List of services can be found under "Solutions" menu.
Links to localized versions of the page are 'hidden', language names are not localized.
Rating:
Code: 3 out of 10.
Functionality: 8 out of 10
Design: 7 out of 10
Informative: 4 out of 10
Searchability: ??? (BGS can't be easily found through search engines, but it is on page 2 in sponsored links on Yahoo for word "translation".)
Overall: 5.5
Impression: Colorful ad.
What can be improved: the page code needs to be re-done, design has plenty of room for improvements.
- Lionbridge. The HTML code is almost perfect, but unoptimized structuring (over 2000 tabs) is making it heavy. Coding style: very formal.
LIOX Web engine beats everybody else: lionbridge.com is the _only_ site that opens localized if you use a localized Web Browser to open it. LIOX R&D did it right.
Design is somewhat limiting navigation: the page has no menus, but contains navigation bar with pop-up hints and very straightoforward "Find it fast" section. Translated links to localized versions of the Web. Clear logo (with no motto), balanced design. The front page can be viewed on Palm and Windows Mobile platforms, but it doesn't look nice. No "list of services" link, although the navigation bar basically lists the services.
Lionbridge way of increasing relevance: key words in browser windows title and XML tags. There is only one word "translation" on the page.
The page is ultra-informative. 419 words. Page size: 190K
Rating:
Code: 9 out of 10.
Functionality: 10 out of 10
Design: 7 out of 10
Informative: 10 out of 10
Searchability: 6 for "translation" (page 4 on Google), 10 for "localization"
Overall: 8.66
Impression: impressive, but a bit heavy.
What can be improved: adding menus and "Search" functionality could be really useful. Also the mobile platforms needs to be considered.
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