Using Webnode: An Evaluation
I found Webnode to be a very useful web publication tool, especially for a novice like myself. It includes most things needed for a website, and it is easy to use, even for beginner web designers. As someone who has no experience with website design (in particular no knowledge of html), the task of creating a website was slightly daunting. Webnode allowed me to focus on how I wanted to lay out my information, without having to worry about creating the website from scratch.
Webnode provides a wide range of website templates to choose from, giving me the chance to experiment with different styles and layouts. An unfortunate downside to Webnode is that a large number of templates are only available through a premium account, and therefore, were inaccessible for use in my project. The worst part about this was that I often greatly preferred the premium templates, and I was really disappointed that I did not have access to them.
After searching through the available options, I eventually decided what template I wished to use. Unfortunately, Webnode users are not able to manipulate chosen templates, especially with regard to colour and layout of some basic features. It was often the case that I would find a template with my preferred layout, but it would not be available in a colour I liked, or vice versa. This is one of my main issues with Webnode; it does not allow users complete control over how they wish to present their website. The availability of templates is a really useful tool that makes website creation a lot easier, but it does prevent the designer from being able to change the webpage to their liking. Personally, I felt limited by having to use templates as I was unable to make any alterations to the design of the webpage. I was lucky in that a number of templates are available in different colours and designs, but not being able to change the colour to my exact preference was limiting, particularly as I had a very specific idea of how I wanted my website to look.
Once a template is chosen, Webnode allows the designer to add different types of content and to arrange information in different ways. There are some restrictions with regard to what changes you can make to the website template, but Webnode does allow manipulation of a number of different features.
I was able to make changes to the style of some of the text on the webpages. The default text style was in a small Arial font, and was coloured a medium grey. When I first saw the text, I was quite concerned. I wondered if it would be difficult to read, particularly by those who have bad eyesight. Luckily I was able to change the writing style, and I settled on using a larger type and a darker colour. Webnode offers a few different text styles (though not as many as Microsoft word). These text styles are limited to simple fonts, which are easier to read on screen. Although I would normally consider the amount of text styles limiting, in this case I think it was a good idea to only allow a couple of different text styles. Anything greater would probably result in the user choosing a more ornate style which may look great on paper, but would be difficult to read on a computer screen.
Unfortunately, I was unable to change all the text on my website. The text on the main heading (logo), the text in the contact box on the homepage, and the text in the news box on the homepage, were not subject to change. The only way I could change the main heading was to change the logo entirely by inserting an image. I tried this out, but was not happy with the end result, so I just decided to leave it the way it was.
Webnode allows the user to make changes to the layout of the page, which was a useful tool in creating a unique looking website. It was particularly handy in cases where I had a number of different text boxes. I didn’t want to just have a long list of different text boxes. I was able to manipulate the layout to make narrow columns of text side by side, as well as wide rows of text. I feel that this makes the text more accessible to the user. It makes the webpage look more interesting and allows the user to get a quick look at the different boxes of information available. Being able to change/insert headings into these boxes of information was also helpful in highlighting the important information and explaining what each section was about.
I was slightly disappointed that I wasn’t able to change all parts of the page layout; I was unable to move the menu box, the logo, and the contact box around. I would have liked to have been able to make changes to the logo in particular. When preparing this website, I consulted with people outside the class as to how they would like the website to look. One reply I got back was that the title/logo on top of the page was a bit distracting, and if possible, I should change/move it. However, I was unable to change it to my satisfaction, so I had to leave it the way it was. This is an unfortunate truth about using Webnode; frequently you have to make a compromise between what you want and what is possible to do.
Webnode also makes using images for the purposes of a web publication quite easy, as it provides a number of images to use. I was slightly wary about adding images. I was concerned with using images available on the internet in case it infringed copyright, and I had a limited number of personal images to use. When deciding what to use for the main image on the top of the page, I had planned to use something I had taken myself. However, I had difficulty uploading my image because the file size was too large. Luckily, I discovered that Webnode automatically brings up a number of Flickr images for this particular image space (it does not do this when adding in additional images). Once a picture is selected from Flickr, Webnode instantly adds the attribution at the bottom of the page. I wanted to add images from Flickr elsewhere, but I found I would have to do so manually. To make things easier, I decided to add my own pictures, as I would not have to worry about copyright. Once I found images that did not exceed the maximum file size, they were uploaded easily.
Webnode allows the addition of a number of different items, e.g. polls, forums, photo galleries etc. In the end, I did not use some of the available functions as I felt they were unnecessary to my project and would only end up adding unneeded clutter to my webpage. Having such a wide variety of items to add offers a lot of temptation, and it would be easy to include a lot of unnecessary items just for the sake of having them. However, I wanted to keep my website fairly simple, so I only added things that would enhance or add value to my organisation. I would have liked to include a photo gallery or a photo-stream, but I did not have enough images to do so. If I was to do this project again it is definitely something I would look into.
I found the inclusion of widgets to be a very useful tool, and I particularly liked the social media and Google maps widgets. I also found the PayPal widget to be a great addition, even though I did not need to use it myself. I used the Google map on my contact page along with the address and contact details of my organisation. I felt this was really useful as it gave the user a clearer idea of where the business was situated, and providing a visual representation of our location gave the webpage a more professional feel. It was also very easy to set up once I had decided where to locate my business.
Webnode offered a number of different social media widgets, including Facebook “like” buttons and boxes, Twitter box and a Google+ tool. I decided to exclude Google+ as it is not as commonly used as the other two social networking sites. I was wary about adding too many widgets as I did not want to overwhelm my webpage, so I decided to only add a few of the necessary ones to avoid over-complication. I added a Twitter feed box and Facebook like box on my “About Us” page as I had more space there. I also thought that it may serve as a reminder to people interested in our organisation to check out our Facebook and Twitter. On the homepage, I added a small Facebook like button and the Twitter feed box. I placed these directly under the Tag cloud, as I felt they would clearly stand out and be noticed straight away. I also provided links to the business’s Facebook page and Twitter account on the main page.
The tag cloud was a great addition, and was very easy to use. When designing my news page and my events webpage, I was immediately able to add tags to each section. Once items were tagged, the tags automatically appeared on the main page. Equally useful, once an item was deleted, the tag immediately disappeared, saving me the trouble of going back and editing my tag cloud. I also discovered that I was able to add tags to every webpage by clicking on the properties button on the toolbar. I thought the tag cloud was a really useful function, and that it would be really helpful for users of this website.
The properties function was really useful as it allowed me to edit pages if I made a mistake (particularly with regards to misspelling the title, or putting in the wrong type of webpage). Without this function, I would have had to delete the page and start again, so it saved a lot of time.
Unfortunately, Webnode did not contain all the tools that I needed for my project. While researching other restaurant websites, I noticed that the vast majority of them allowed you to reserve a table online. I wanted to include this function in my website, but unfortunately Webnode did not offer this service. This is understandable as what I was looking for is quite specialised and is only applicable to the restaurant/bar/hotel business. It is quite likely that it may be available for those with a business account; however, I had to make do with what the personal account offered. To overcome this obstacle, I designed an “online booking system” in Microsoft Paint, and inserted the image onto the Reservations webpage.
I was also disappointed that I was not able to use additional languages, as I had not signed up for a premium account. It would have been useful to incorporate other languages, particularly as my organisation is based in Wales and the Welsh language is in common use.
All the different Webnode tools are available on the main toolbar. They are clearly laid out, but it does take some exploration to get to grips with what it available. One useful feature is the explanation of what each tool does. By placing the mouse over a button, a little box pops up explaining what it does/contains. This is really handy, especially for beginner users. Webnode also provides a comprehensive help section, which covers most, if not all, aspects of using the program.
Webnode allows the user to preview the work already done, which is a handy tool. It allows you to get a better idea of how the webpage will look without the “edit content” boxes getting in the way. Being able to explore the preview of my work gave me a better idea of how the website would look to a visitor, and I was prompted to make changes based on this. The preview function also allowed me to show my work to others and get feedback from them.
Overall, I was very pleased with using Webnode to create a website for my organisation. Although it is not perfect, and it does not include every single tool that would be needed for creating a web publication, it is very useful for people not familiar with designing websites. All the tools are laid out clearly, and explanation is given as to what they do. Getting to grips with all Webnode has to offer involves a lot of trial and error, particularly for first time users. However, this is a fun stage of the process as you become accustomed to all the different tools and figure out what is possible to do. Webnode offers a lot of different tools, and its wide range of templates (though not all are available) helps the user to create a fun and unique website. It would be better if I had been afforded more opportunity to change and manipulate different aspects of the template, or if I had access to more templates, but overall I was pleased with what was provided. The range of tools provided cover most functions a website would need. Although all my needs were not met, I can understand that what I was looking for was quite specialised, and therefore, was not available through a personal account. Webnode allowed some manipulation of the content which was really helpful for creating a unique and accessible website, but I would have like to have been able to change more items throughout the design process. A lot of widgets were also available which helped me bring in social media and Google maps. I appreciated this function as it made my website look more professional and it allowed easier access to external links (Facebook and Twitter). I would definitely use Webnode again. Although it is not perfect, and does not cover everything, it is an easy and fun way to make a comprehensive website.