Submit
Below you will see some guidelines and other information about submitting your website for review. I recommend you read this page in full, and no, there is no “secret code” to enter in the apply form.
Content or Design?
I decided to divide the reviews on this website into two review types: Content and design. You may submit your site for one or both, as you see fit. All reviews will include comments on obvious typos and coding mistakes such as unclosed link or styling tags, and other basic errors, as well as whether or not proper crediting is included.
Content
Content reviews will review the quality of your content, including but not limited to: originality, grammar and use of the English language, organization, relevence to your website’s theme, level of attraction to first-time visitors (whether or not they’ll want to come back for more), quality of showcased graphics (if it is a portfolio site), etc. When you request a content-only review, you will not receive comments on design unless it specifically relates to content (for example, the navigation links that bring the visitor to the content are important to the content itself, so those would be analyzed in a content-only review).
Design
Design reviews will review the aesthetic appeal and quality of your design, as well as the coding where it might be messy. Other aspects of design-only reviews include: presentation and first impression, loading time, color use, cross-browser and -resolution accessability, links, etc. Design-only reviews will only comment on content if it is necessary, such as whether or not the given content looks pleasing within the layout. In most cases, I will not even be reading your content, except for pages that are directly related to the designing of that particular layout.
Content and Design
A combined review will include all of the above elements described and any more comments I may think of at the time of your review. For a comprehensive, drawn-out, totally suggestive review, I recommend choosing this option; however, I know that sometimes webmasters are exceedingly happy with their design but still need work on their content, and visa versa, and this is why I have given the option to choose your type of review.
Rejected Submissions
My role as “reviewer” entitles me certain rights. One of those rights is to review your site in any way I please; another is to reject your website for any reason I see fit. However, instead of leaving you high and dry with a link to my site (appreciated, but not required), obviously with a yearning that requires you to check back every day to see if your site has been reviewed yet… I’ve decided to create this page informing you as to why I may have rejected your review. I won’t go into specifics for each person.
- I don’t feel I can give you a fair review for whatever reason. Usually it’s because I’m a big fan of your website and have visited it so many times that I have accepted your imperfections and no longer feel I would be critical enough to give you a proper review; but I also might totally abhor your site and wouldn’t, for the life of me, be able to find anything positive to say at all.
- It might be simply because I visited and didn’t get the appropriate tingly feelings that allow me to sit down and spend hours writing a review on par with what you might expect.
- It seems as though you are only asking for reviews to get a lot of praise. This will be evidenced by the past reviews displayed on your website with all your “side comments” flaming the negative aspects of each review you’ve received, and saying that a review was only a “good review” if it kissed your website’s feet and asked for more porridge.
- Content Reviews - Your site is not in English, or in very poor English, and therefore I cannot read any of the content to review it. This includes “Net Speak,” or typing in alternating capital and lowercase letters, misspelling words so that they are displayed phonetically (”kewl” instead of “cool”), using numbers as if they were good substitutes for letters, and other such nonsense.
- Design Reviews - Your website doesn’t seem to display properly in any browser, including Internet Explorer. Or, if that is really your design, see #1.
As I divide my reviews into two parts, I will also reject certain parts based on the following:
Re-Reviews
You may only submit for a re-review under the following conditions:
- You are not a “rejected submission,” as outlined above.
- It has been one month or longer since your last review.
- You have made some major change to your site, whether it be a new layout or newer, updated content. I don’t really want to review the exact same website twice. If you have only changed design, submit for a design-only review, and so on.
- If I am going to take the time to re-review your site, you must keep a link to Obiter Dictum on your website at least between submitting for re-review and getting one.
You may submit for re-review as many times as you’d like, as long as you are within these guidelines.
Basic Guidelines
If you’ve gotten through all of the above and still want to submit, excellent! Here are the basics.
- I will not review explicit/porn websites. If you have nudity in your layout, it’s fine, as long as it’s not blatantly pornographic.
- A link back is appreciated, but not required. You may use a text link or one of the following buttons:
- You may change your layout/content at any time while on the pending page, but keep in mind, I will stop reviewing if your website changes while you are in the active queue. You’ll get a nice half-review of a previous layout, but I won’t continue and start a new one for a newly appearing layout.
- You must have made the layout you are currently using if you would like to include design in your review. If it’s from a friend or a template, please submit to content-only.
Submit
Use the form below to submit your website. If it doesn’t send or you find other problems with using it, you may also email the information to reviews@wherewerewe.org. Please include all information.