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The staff at OWMG has engaged in in-depth discussions and conducted polls on what constitutes the ideal Masonic homepage. In accordance with our findings, we have assembled a set of standards which if adhered to, will assure you that your homepage represents the highest of standards for a Masonic homepage. It is not our intention to create a fraternal-wide Internet Standard, but rather to establish a watermark by which we might gauge our work. If your homepage does not meet all of the established criteria, it does not necessarily mean that your homepage is sub-standard or has not been designed well. However, our Awards are only issued to the sites that are beyond reproach in representing our most Ancient and Noble Fraternity. We encourage all of our members to keep these standards in mind when designing your homepages. By following these guidelines you will be assured of having a homepage which represents yourself, your lodge, and your fraternity in the best possible light.

Presentation: Loading Time- The loading time for your main page should be between 15 and 30 seconds. Long loading times will cause your visitors to become frustrated and lose interest in your site. Navigation- Your site should have a clear and easy to use navigation structure. Visitors should be able to jump back and forth between the different articles and sections of your site. Graphics/Music- Large graphics should be kept to a minimum to keep your loading times manageable. Select your images sparingly and choose only the ones which enhance your site and give it an air of professionalism. Music if added, should be of a high quality and tasteful in relation to your site. If in doubt, an "on-off" option should be included, with "off" as the default selection.  Advertisements- Commercial advertisements should be taboo on a Masonic site. Annoying pop-up windows and banners which appear on the Free web space sites should be avoided at all costs. By paying a moderate fee, your site can be exempt from the distractions of pop-up windows. Content: Identity- Your site should include your lodge name, address, the meeting dates, and a means of contact by either phone or e-mail. Information- You should strive to present as much information as you can about Freemasonry, or your lodge. Your goal should be to offer information for both members and non-members alike. Do not assume that only members of our fraternity will be visiting your homepage. Links- By design, the Internet or "Web" allows us to cross-reference to other sites that can offer complimentary information. Links to other good Masonic sites or your Grand Jurisdiction is encouraged. A homepage with no links becomes a dead-end for your visitors. Updates/Currency- It is recommended to update your site regularly. A timestamp should be included to let your visitors know when your site was last updated. Calendars or event schedules should be kept updated with current information. Technical: HTML- We should attempt to use valid error-free HTML code, spelling, and proper grammar in order to create a professional presentation. Broken Images & Links- Your site should be free of outdated links and broken images. Javascripts and Java applets should work and be free of errors as well. Browser Support- While the latest advancements in technology are nice, your site should strive to be browser friendly. HTML standard 3.0 is a good median standard to use at this time. Use "alt text" coding in your image source code to accommodate those with text-only browsers. Avoid the use of special plug-in requirements. Your page should be able to work with the standard browser applications. Intangibles- Your site can gain these bonus points for whatever reasons the committee wishes to award them.