Introducing the analysis of eweek.com and b-eye-network.com begins with the general overview of these sites. Eweek.com is a web designed in a hierarchical structure with the main purpose of providing the latest technology news with different categories that mainly cover a more mature technically oriented visitor. The site’s main auditory is people interested in the news in business technologies and new technologies in business mainly focusing on presenting and following the latest achievements in technology for the buying audience.
Whereas b-eye-network.com is a more business-oriented site oriented on implementation of the technology in the business with delivering the latest in the data warehousing industry. The site structure is also hierarchical with similar to week,com categories such as blogs, news, reviews( articles), and jobs(career).
Both sites are leading tops in search engines and similar in structure, and though in general target different directions they have conterminous topics which can interest both audience categories.
Moving to the site’s overall look, both sites share a strict design with a similar color palette. In terms of usage, both have the same functionality providing similar transitions between pages with the presence of such services like video and RSS feed. The business orientation is visible through the orientation on the sponsorship advertisements in which some links are not apparent in leading to redirection, though it is obviously a partnership links exchange as they cover the same topic or extend the same article or review. What can be confusing for a first-time visitor are the distraction in the body of the page and the overflow of the categories which can be solved by orienting on the headings, although the benefit for a possibly busy audience is the absence of the necessity in surfing through the headings categories and have a visual presentation on where to proceed from the main page with emphasizing on the latest news. In that context, e-week is more organized as the latest top stories are recognizable on the main page. In terms of interactivity, both sites share the same principles in providing the audio and video materials for the covered topics, minimal to absent use of flash technology and banners and javascript. The target audience for both sites can be characterized as the mid-age business-oriented managers, to whom the connectivity and narrow purposefulness of the sites are best suited. The connectivity is demonstrated in the RSS feed and newsletters signup. The business purpose is also obvious in the absence of such elements as forums and comments.
One of the mutual features of both sites which can be found useful is the blog section. Where the news and articles are can be more of fact-based information on the updated content of the sites, the blog is a diary with a constant staff of writers who share their opinion on different products or events. The blog can be described as a style based connection between the reader-visitor of the site and the editorial staff of the blogs, as in the blog the personal opinion is demonstrated and as a result a fell of attachment is created, e.g. a reference to a specific writer, the ability to subscribe to updates in the blog of a particular journalist.
There are a few links that can be described as interesting in the context of the site. In eweek.com the buyer’s guide is a useful link, despite existing in another domain, but being a part of the same group can be an example of integrating different directions of strategy without locating all the content under the same name.
I can be a good example of using partner sites to promote each other and obtain a high rating.
Furthermore, in b-eye-network.com, the regional division of the news can be very helpful in addressing specific markets of technological-business implementations, where it shows that the delivery of information must be built on the current need of specific market conditions. Another thing demonstrated through the site is the invisible relation between sponsorship and partnership in terms of cooperation.
In comparing both sites, first, it should be stated that regardless of the content differences both of them are professionally well developed and very good examples of how to merge IT, business, and high-level proficiency in journalism.
The disadvantages are as stated before the disorder of the information placed which might confuse the first time visitor of the site, and the used direction of content which can be specific and not interested to people who seek general information, but as it was stated it is a characterization that serves a purpose at the same time in being specific, not general themed.
As a result for people who are professionally interested in obtaining the latest information in business intelligence or make technology decisions for their company’s, these sites can be a valuable source. The advice of the leaders of the market not only will recommend the best technology solutions, but also will improve the background knowledge of specific topics (research library, knowledge center). The availability of partner sites inside the same media group will expand the level of interconnection, along with providing a clearer picture of related topics. The topic you are interested in will be covered in these sites whether you are an IT/ BS manager or just an enthusiast.
Works Cited
www.eweek.com
www.b-eye-network.com
www.sonic.net