Most search engines allow you to type link: URL (the URL of the page you're browsing) to find out what other sites link to the one you're examining. This can
help you determine how well thought of a site is.
For example, if you type link:brcc.edu into a search engine, it will return other websites that link to the College's homepage.
Who is responsible for the web site on which the web page resides?
Are there any clues on the web page about the larger site? Look for a logo or icon that may be a link to the main web site.
What is the background of the author of the web site?
Is the author an expert in the field, a student or an organization? Has the author provided any information about herself and her qualifications? Use search engines to try and find additional information about the author's credentials. What is the focus or purpose of the organization? Look for any links to a description of the organization. Is there a way to contact the organization, company or person responsible for the contents of the site? Is the name of the copyright holder given? Is the web site an educational site (.edu), a commercial site (.com), a nonprofit organization (.org) or a government site (.gov)? Does the site list any recommendations or ratings from outside sources.
Ready? Set? Dig!
Authorship and other important information isn't always readily available, but that doesn't mean you can't find it. Click through navigation links to find the "about" section, or find the homepage of a hosted page to look for this type of information before you give up. You can cite an anonymous source with no data, but consider how much you trust a citation with no author. Depending on the type of source or project, you may be better off finding a source with a clear author.
You can also use Network Solutions to find out who created a domain, or web address you find on the Internet.
