BSI British Standards Commissioned to Create a new Standard for Websites

British web compliance expert, Magus Ltd, has commissioned BSI British Standards to develop a Publicly Available Specification (PAS 124) for web standards. Web standards govern the effectiveness, function and appearance of a website, and include: brand, legal, accessibility, search engine optimisation (SEO), usability and technical standards.

Websites are increasingly the key communication vehicle for a company, its brand and products. Despite this, research from Magus shows that many of the world’s leading organizations don’t have formal brand and technical standards defined to govern their websites. Even those that do are failing to effectively implement or enforce them, achieving full compliance with less than 20% of their own web standards. The websites of these organizations significantly under-perform or damage the brand as a result.

PAS 124 will help to protect the significant investment organizations are making in their web presence and online brands, by establishing best practice for “defining, implementing and managing organizational web standards”. It will provide a clear framework to help organisations apply standards effectively to significantly improve online performance and protect the integrity of their brands.

Mike Low, Director of BSI British Standards comments: “BSI British Standards is delighted to be working with Magus on this important first step towards a framework for best practice in web standards. The PAS will enable organizations and their suppliers to better understand the need for web standards and consequently provide more structured web solutions.”

The specification will be developed using a two-stage stakeholder consultation. A BSI steering group of independent stakeholders representing a cross-section of the industry will review and provide feedback on the best practice specification before it is put out for public comment. Organizations on the steering group include: Shell, Unilever, Institute of Directors, Interbrand, SDL, The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Digitas, and The Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA).

Associated Link: BSI British Standards

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