Case Profile

Content Specifics

Web site address:
www.recipe.com

Web site content types and volume:
medium-large volume of recipes in text format

Update frequency:
daily or more often

Current methods for content management:
database/php

Users:
customers, advertisers and employees

Content Management Evaluation

The organization of recipe.com's homepage is easy to understand with familiar sidebars, search functions, and advertisements. Away from the homepage, organization becomes much more confusing as links often do not go where their name suggests. There is also a barebones site map, but again, not all of the links work and it offers no information about the organization of the site. The intentions of various categories are clear, but often nonfunctional. Information about the site, products, or services is nonexistent.

The recipes are organized using categories such as cuisine, occasion, and preparation method, but because the site relies on unmediated user input, a lot of this information is inaccurate or even inappropriate. Overall the content management is minimal and inconsistent.

Recommended Improvements

Users

The primary improvement to user profiles will be to make the current functions operational. User ratings are not connected to an individual registered user, and the user comments function is completely inoperative. Connecting comments and ratings with registered users will allow users to track their own opinions as well as those of others. In addition, it will be a lot easier to prevent and control inappropriate postings since everything added to the site will be connected to a specific user and email address. Using XML to make these changes will allow for easier updating of existing data, the management of a growing number of users, and the addition of more user tools and functions.

Recipes

For the recipes themselves, we have separated the instructions and ingredients into different schemas. This allows users to search for recipes containing only certain ingredients, or specific preparations, such as recipes that are made on the grill. The improved searching function will also expand other search options, allowing users to search in user comments, for certain cooking or preparation times, or even for all recipes that a certain user has rated. We have also added a difficulty level function, which allows users to filter recipes appropriate for their skills. The self-describing nature of XML is ideal for recipes, and its flexible nature will allow the site to use their recipes for even more functions in the future.

Additional Content

We also recommend that the owners of the site change their privacy policy to encourage users to register on the site. The more users that register and contribute to the site, the better the site will be. We have also added a function that allows users to report inappropriate material. When the owners are alerted to unsuitable content, they will immediately be able to remedy the situation.

All of the above improvements have the potential to increase users and the quality of content on the site which will attract advertisers and increase revenue.