Awards for websites that comply to Web Standards

Just launched three days ago, the www.shockmedia.com.au website has already recieved recognition, being selected by W3C sites as an Editor's Pick of The Month.

Who is W3C Sites?

W3C Sites is a collection of web sites created by designers that conform with the W3C standards.

Despite the name 'W3C', W3C Sites is not an initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), but rather an inspiration that came out of it.

W3C Sites website has one goal. The same goal that responsible web designers all share. That is to promote web sites that are designed to comply to the web standards.

To be considered as an 'Editor's Pick' you must comply with the following:

• validate without a single error in the W3C MarkUp Validator and the W3C CSS Validator;
• be created beautifully
• have a proper title and a carefully thought-through description.

Here is just a short list of the benefits of compliant websites:

• Improve user experience = Reduce page weight = Faster page load
• Increase page accessibility = Increase area of audience
• Maintain consistency in look and feel
• Provide easy to maintain pages = Reduce maintenance cost
• Forward browser compatibility = Stop the pain of designing for old browsers

How does accessibility effect my website? 

While WAI sounds like a good initiative it is also part of Australian Law and all website's built after January 2000 must comply to at least WAI Phase 1 or face complaints, demands to upgrade or in some cases, possible lawsuits. Furthermore it is compulsory for Australian Government to meet Phase 1 and all Queensland Government website's to meet Phase 2.

More Information

For more information on how Shock Media can assess and implement your website to be accessible, please click here.