The Web Marketing Association is pleased to announce the call for entries for its 16th annual international WebAward competition. The WebAwards are the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks based on the seven criteria of a successful Web site. It recognizes the individual and team achievements of Web professionals all over the world who create and maintain outstanding Web sites. The deadline for entry in the 2012 WebAwards is May 31, 2012. A complete list of past winners and this year’s entry form can be found at www.webaward.org.
This year’s top awards will include:
• A “Best of Industry” WebAward will be given in each of the 96 industry categories, including financial services, medical, small business, travel, advertising, transportation and government.
• The competition’s highest honor, the 2012 WebAward “Best of Show,” will be given to the one site that the judges believe represents the pinnacle of outstanding achievement in Web development. Last year’s Best of Show winner was Organic, Inc. for its outstanding work on the “U by Kotex: Ban the Bland.” The site was also recognized as Best Consumer Goods Website.
• The Web Marketing Association will also recognize the interactive agency winning the most awards in the competition with the “Top Interactive Agency” WebAward. For the second time, the Top Agency award was awarded to Biggs|Gilmore taking home 28 WebAwards.
Each year many agencies and some corporations win multiple awards and deserve additional recognition. This year, we will recognize each organization that wins 10 or more WebAwards with an Outstanding Interactive Developer trophy.
Web sites are judged on seven criteria, including design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, copy writing and ease of use and receive a numeric score. Each WebAward entry is judged against other entries in its industry category and then against an overall standard of excellence. Entrants also benefit from receiving valuable feedback from the WebAwards professional judging panel on their Web site development efforts.
Judging for the 2012 WebAwards will take place in June through August and winners will be announced in September. Judges will consist of a select group of Internet professionals who have direct experience designing and managing Web sites,–including members of the media, interactive creative directors, site designers, content providers and webmasters – with an in-depth understanding of the current state-of-the-art in Web site development and technology. Past judges have included top executives from leading organizations such as CNN.com, Yahoo!, BGT Partners, Ion Global , Brunner, Razorfish, Chrysler LLC, DraftFCB, Family Cookbook Project, IBM , agency.com, Possible Worldwide, Baylor University, Organic, Inc., imc2 , Sabre Hospitality Solutions, PayPal, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Bridge Worldwide , Boeing, Small Army, United Technologies and Website Magazine.
Check out our Web Marketing Association Facebook Page and be sure to like us as we will be providing hints and tips on how to improve your chances on winning a top award though out April and May.
The 2012 WebAwards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: BGT Partners, PR Newswire, Burst Media, MycroBurst, EContent Magazine, ExactTarget, ad:tech conferences, Internet World UK, SES Conferences, Webmaster Radio, and Website Magazine. The Web Marketing Association thanks these companies for their commitment to the entire online marketing community.