CNET.com provides a service to customers with a one-stop centre on technology information and products. It adopts the Business to Consumer (B2C) e-commerce model and has three business models of information broker, advertising and community-based. CNET.com has quite a number of features such as reviews, news and tips and tricks that enrich customers with information on technology. It also provides us with a good illustration on how a typical corporate website should look like with its clear cut linkages and simple animation. CNET.com has quite a number of strengths and few weaknesses in which we will look into it in the later part and not forgetting some areas in which they could further improve on.
Objective of the site:
CNET.com shows us the exciting possibilities of how technology can enhance and enrich our life. The website provides us with information, tools, and advice that help us decide what to buy and how to get the most out of our technology.
Features:
a) Business model
CNET.com falls under the e-commerce category of Business to Consumer (B2C). The website adopted three Internet business models namely information broker, advertising and community-based. However, the main focus of their business model is the information broker.
b) Characteristics
1) Today on CNET
In “Today on CNET”, consumers are able to see more links like ‘Top Features”, “Reviews’, “News”, “Downloads”, “Tips and Tricks”, “CNET TV” and “Compare Prices”. This page mainly serves as a summary of the featured contents of the day for easy access of consumers.
2) Reviews
In Reviews, there are reviews of different technology gargets like cell phones, TV, cameras, MP 3 players etc. The reviews include not only the editors’ but also from various users stating their comments of the gargets they owed. These reviews provide information that consumers need before making a decision. Editors and normal users will also rate the technology gargets through this page. The product information such as specifications (dimensions of the product) is also available in this page. Consumers can also use the “Compare” function to compare more than one product. When the consumer has made his/her decision on the certain product to purchase, all he/she has to do is to click on “shop” to make a purchase online from the online stores.
3) News
Under News, there are different categories like “Business Tech”, “ Cutting Edge”, “ Access”, “Threats” , “Media 2.0”, “Markets”, “Personal Tech”, “New Blogs”, “ Video”, “Extra” and “My News”. These links offer various forms of information to consumers.
Business Tech – Provides the latest news on enterprise-level information technology, from chip research and server design to software issues including programming, open source and patents.
Cutting Edge - Keep up-to-date on cutting-edge research and what's new in a wide range of areas from robotics, space ventures and general science to automobile design and solar energy.
Access - The latest news on tech that helps you communicate, from cell phones and other mobile gear to VoIP and Internet access via broadband and wireless connections.
Threats - Worried about hacking, phishing and other threats to your online security? Want to know what glitch might be lurking in your software or what virus might be heading your way? Check here for the latest updates.
Media 2.0 - The Web is now the place to go for news and entertainment. Look here for the latest on blogs, music, video, virtual worlds, social networking and more.
Markets – This section provides information of the index prices and stock market pricing. The prices of major indices are updated in this section. Investors are also able to catch the latest news regarding market movement. Headline news and market updates are available here.
Personal tech - Cell phones now pack music, video and camera features. TVs are techier than ever, and video games are a force to be reckoned with. We give you the latest on the new era for consumer electronics.
News Blog – Recent posts on Technology, trends and more.
Videos - Plenty of videos are listed here. Dominated by technological videos, there are some other categories of videos as well. These videos provide additional information on how things can be done, or how technology will develop in future.
Extra - General News etc
Consumers can obtain the latest information from your favorite sites on the web via Newsburst, right alongside your selections from CNET News.com.
Newsburst helps track virtually any type of information on the Web: news, blogs, shopping lists, weather, search results, alerts, auctions and more.
Anywhere you find RSS, you can bring it to My News, via Newsburst (a free service of CNET News.com).
4) Download
Software of different kinds are available for downloads.
5) Tips & Tricks
Tips and tricks on technology how to and online classes from CNET experts provided for consumers who need help.
6) CNET TV
There are different videos available for viewing to obtain more information. They are Reviews videos, CNET Tech videos, News video, How-to videos and music videos.
7) Compare Prices
Consumer is able to compare the prices of a particular product from the different online stores such as Dell, Sony and JR.com
8) Blogs
There are more information on technology provided in the blogs of CNET editors and selected experts.
9) Member benefits
·Personalization: Track the products, prices, downloads, news, and discussions that are most important to you.
·CNET Newsletters: Award-winning editorial content, delivered free!
·Get tech help: Get advice from thousands of CNET members who participate in their expert tech community. It is open 24 by 7.
·Online classes: Take a free online class with them and it covers dozens of tech topics.
·Voice your opinion: Engage in discussions with other members of their community.
·Create your profile: Put yourself in the spotlight by sharing the ways you use technology in your everyday life.
10) Advertisements
CNET helps marketers develop messaging strategies and advertising programs that resonate with their target customers. Whether launching a product, generating awareness, or driving sales, they have the programs to fit your advertising needs
c) Design
Overall, this website gives viewers a professional look. It comes with simple layout, with links at the side and at the top of the page. The white background offers simplicity and the yellow top frame color offers a more refreshing look.
The links of the site are quite clear cut and does not look messy. It thus helps to enhance user experience.
d) Graphics
CNET uses simple animation to catch the attention of consumers on their featured contents. Videos and pictures are shown to avoid the boring image of an information site. Therefore interactivity is well done up to enhance the image of the site.
Analysis:
a) Strengths
This site is a one-stop centre for information on technology. For example, it has reviews on the latest technology, latest news on technology, buy products and last but not least, tips and tricks which include online courses, tutorials and troubleshooting etc.
CNET.com also provides the editors with a web space to host their own blog whereby more information on technology could be found. This site is thus customer-oriented as it has almost everything it needs for a technology lover.
The good thing about the reviews is that it is not subjective because the reviewers are not only the editors whom are the experts but anyone who would like to share their views. Therefore it gives the users a broader aspect of the technology.
One of the features of cnet.com is that customers can compare prices of the products from the online stores. This service provides convenience to the customers and helps them do their job of consuming as they do not need to check the prices of a particular product in the stores and customers could make online purchase instantly. This service thus attracts potential customers to their site.
This site also provides personal attention to customers who signed up with them (members) as they do get to personalize their webpage. For example, members get to track the products, prices, downloads, news, and discussions that are most important to them.
CNET.com provides customers with an enjoyable and rewarding experience and this was further shown in the “What’s new” feature they have. This feature shows a list of events that have taken place daily. Customers who do not have much time could therefore refer to this webpage and look that those events that have taken place after their last visit.
This site also provides a sense of community. For example, members get to receive immediate feedbacks and replies on the problems they faced when they engaged in discussion boards.
When a customer wanted to search for an ideal product that he/she wants, he/she could do it quickly and just with a few clicks on the mouse. This is because cnet.com has incorporated many search categories for a product whereby they think customers have in mind. That is, by price, colours, manufacturers, style etc.
b) Weaknesses
CNET itself does not sell the products online; it will link you to other online stores like Amazon.com which requires consumers to sign up an account with them before making a purchase. Thus, this has brought consumers a lot of hassle just to purchase a product. Consumers will end up with multiple accounts at the end of the day.
It does not provide information for older products. This was conjured during the course of research, where information on such products could not be found.
c) Enhancements
Allow consumers to purchase the product online through CNET itself. If so, they would have an additional Internet business model of transaction broker. This will bring more convenience to consumers as they do not need to be redirected to the other online stores to make a purchase and this also provides an additional income for CNET.
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