About.com

In: web resources

26 Jan 2011


Logo


What can you use the application for?


About.com is one of the most well known informational resources on the internet. The site includes helpful articles that cover just about anything. Some articles are written like a how to while others are purely information. Users can discover new things or find answers to their questions. About.com includes a wealth of knowledge on a diverse collection of topics. There are too many topics to list them all. Users can discover information on cities, saltwater aquariums, martial arts, networking, holidays, pets, vehicles and much more. About.com gives users numerous options, whether they are looking for an interesting read, searching for a solution to a problem or in need of a thorough how to.


What is the history and popularity of the application?


About.com was founded in 1996 as a United States consumer website. In March of 2005 it was acquired by The New York Times for $410 million. The current About.com team includes Chief Executive Officer Cella M. Irivne. About.com was originally known as the Mining Company. Today, it has earned a place among the top 15 content websites available. It is also one of the largest producers of original content currently operating today.


What are the differences to other applications?


The sheer volume of content available on About.com is what makes it so appealing. Users can learn about almost anything. The About.com collection is extremely diverse and detailed. The information is accurate and can help users accomplish something, complete a project or simply pass some time while expanding their knowledge of a subject.


How does the application look and feel to use?


Many people can easily recognize the familiar About.com logo, which includes a red sphere and black lettering. The homepage is clutter free, using a white background to keep the focus on content than eye candy. That is not to say the site is not attractive, it uses hints of red to spice up the look of its well organized design. Users can easily enter keywords into the homepage search bar or scroll through an enormous list of alphabetized topics to get started.


How does the registration process work?


Visitors are not required to create an About.com account to access content or search tools. The user can look for articles on anything as soon as they arrive on the website. The site is primarily focused on content, so there is no official registration option. Users who wish to become contributors can click on the blue “Write for About” link at the very bottom of the homepage. User can choose to apply for a position as a video producer, guide or contributing writer. Users must be selected by About.com (not everyone is accepted).


What does it cost to use the application?


About.com offers a great deal of information at a great price: free. There are no subscription fees or other charges for accessing About.com. Users can learn about almost anything and find the answers they have been searching for without having to pay a dime for doing so. This is a big plus that helps keep About.com traffic-heavy (that and the enormous amount of content it contains).


Who would you recommend the application to?


About.com is a valuable resource for anyone searching for help online. The site provides resources on almost any subject, even very specialized topics. Users can gain insight, learn something new or get answers by browsing the About.com data base. Searching is made easy with category listings and a handy search tool.


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