Criteria for evaluating internet sites in rural territories: comparative analysis of Russian and foreign examples

In the context of global digitalization, Internet sites play a key role in the promotion and development of rural areas. This article is devoted to the development of criteria and methods for assessing Internet sites in rural areas using the example of Russian and foreign web resources. The main purpose of the study is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of sites, as well as to develop recommendations for their improvement. The article examines the following criteria: design and visual appeal, ease of navigation and structure, mobile adaptation, content and relevance of information, functionality and interactivity, optimization and performance, user focus. A comparative analysis was carried out using the example of Russian and foreign sites. Key shortcomings of Russian websites have been identified, such as outdated design, insufficient mobile adaptation, abundance of official information and lack of content for tourists. At the same time, their strengths are also noted: high-quality content, convenient structure and relevance of information. Foreign examples demonstrate a high level of visual appeal, interactivity and mobile adaptation, which contributes to more effective promotion of rural areas. The results of the study allow us to offer specific recommendations for improving Russian websites, including updating the design, adapting for mobile devices and increasing the variety of content aimed at tourists. Finally, the authors formulate a series of recommendations covering design, structure, content and functionality to make Russian rural websites attractive, user-friendly and useful to a wide audience.