After having spent several hours trawling through page after page of website data relating to folk venues in the south-east of England, (and having created several sets of web pages of different sorts myself over the years) I have some recommendations which I'd like to pass on to those who develop web pages for folk music sites, or those who are responsible for updating them.

1. It's sometimes difficult, if not impossible, to gauge the accuracy and currency of web pages if they don't have a "last updated" date on them. Even if a page has not actually changed for some months, it's worth editing a "last updated" date when the page has last been checked.

2. It's worth splitting a complex club site up into simple, separate and clearly labelled pages, such as: "home", "contacts", "dates/diary", etc. Sounds obvious, but some club sites are either impenetrable or lacking in all but the most basic info.

3. Keep pages clear and simple in their design. Some clubs make use of specialist web developers. The problem with these can be that they're sometimes more intent on being clever than straightforward. Fancy graphics, backgrounds and buttons can be overdone and mask essential information.

4. Long lists with no spaces in between are very difficult to read. Linked pages can often be more effective.

Many club sites are excellent, I have to say. One site - can't remember which at the moment - has clear pages setting out all the basic info, plus pages on the club's performing and booking policy, a "what is folk music" page for the uninitiated, etc. A model of its kind.

It's worth remembering that such pages can be the club's most important face to the world...