Choose the best interactive ads and websites for the ad:tech People’s Choice Awards! You have until April 4th to vote and winners will be announced at ad:tech San Francisco.
Web Marketing Association’s 12th Annual WebAwards to Honor World’s Best Web Sites
The Web Marketing Association is pleased to announce the call for entries for its 12th annual international WebAward competition. The WebAwards is 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 who create and maintain outstanding Web sites. The deadline for entry in the 2008 WebAwards is May 31, 2008. A complete list of past winners and this year’s entry form can be found at www.webaward.org.
“The WebAwards is different from other Web site award programs because we’re not just a beauty pageant focused on name recognition and design,” said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association. “The goal of the WebAwards is to not only recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing some of the most effective Web sites on the Internet today, but also provide valuable feedback to entrants on how their sites stack up against their peers and industry standards of excellence. For that reason, we see ourselves more like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval than the Academy Awards.”
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.
Using the quantifiable data collected from nearly 18,000 Web site evaluations over the past decade, the WebAwards has defined and recognized industry-specific benchmarks for successful Web sites in each of these areas and release a the Internet Standards Assessment Report to communicate the findings of the study. A copy of the study is available at www.webaward.org.
This year’s top awards will include:
• A “Best of Industry” WebAward, a handsome plaque with the image of the winning site embossed, 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 2008 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 Walt Disney Internet Group for its outstanding work on Disney XD web site, which also won Best Design Website. Best of show runner up submitted by Atlanta-based IQ Interactive is UPS Whiteboard.
• The Web Marketing Association will also recognize the interactive agency winning the most awards in the competition with the “Top Interactive Agency” WebAward. The 2007 Top Agency award was Biggs/Gilmore taking home 20 WebAwards. Biggs/Gilmore is headquartered in Kalamazoo, MI and took home Best Food Website, Best Pharmaceutical Website and 8 Outstanding WebAwards and 11 Standard of Excellence WebAwards.
Judging for the 2008 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 A&E Television Networks, Agency.com, Blattner Brunner, Bridge Worldwide, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Comedy Central, Disney, Euro RSCG, Ion Global, J. Walter Thompson, John Deere Company, New York Post Interactive, Organic, Inc., Refinery, R/GA, Saatchi & Saatchi, SAP, Starwood Hotels, Sun Microsystems, Warner Bros. Online, Xerox and Zugara.
About the WebAwards
The 12th annual international WebAwards competition sets the standard of excellence in 96 industry categories by evaluating Web sites and defining benchmarks based on the seven essential criteria of successful Web site development. The goal of the Web Marketing Association, sponsor of the WebAwards, is to provide a forum to recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing some of the most effective Web sites on the Internet today. Entrants benefit from a Web site assessment by a professional judging panel and the marketing opportunities presented to an award-winning Web site. For more information, visit www.webaward.org.
WebmasterRadio.FM presents The Web Marketing Awards Special, Airing April 4, 2008
WebmasterRadio.FM, the premier free, 24/7 Internet business radio network focused on the B2B marketplace and the official radio network of the 12th Annual WebAwards is pleased to announce The Web Marketing Awards Special airing April 4, 2008 on WebmasterRadio.FM
On the WebmasterRadio.FM Web Marketing Awards Special, host William Rice from the Web Marketing Association will speak with Josh Webb, Associate Creative Director and Rocky Hunter, Account Supervisor from IQ Interactive, the Atlanta-based interactive firm that won Best of Show Runner Up in the 2007 WebAwards for their outstanding work on the UPS Whiteboard Website. “The whiteboard ad campaign has been used by UPS to successfully each its target audience across many media platforms, says William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. “Josh and Rocky will walk us through the concepts and technology that make the UPS Whiteboard Website so innovating and award winning”.
The show will also discuss how Web marketing professionals and Webmasters can win recognition for their own efforts by participating in the 2008 WebAward competition. Websites can be entered into 96 industries, including financial services, medical, small business, travel, advertising, transportation and government The Web Marketing Association’s independent expert judges will visit each site entered and evaluate it based on seven criteria of a successful Website. Sites earning the highest score in their industry will receive the Best of Industry WebAward. Sites not receiving the top award will be eligible to receive Outstanding Website and Standard of Excellence WebAwards.
|
|||||
 |
 |
||||
The deadline for entering the 2008 WebAwards is May 31st and you can learn more and enter at www.webaward.org. WebmasterRadio.FM is the official radio network of The 12th annual WebAwards competition, the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks based on the seven criteria of a successful Web site.
ExactTarget eMarketing Essentials Seminar Hits The Road
Route 1 to 1: The New eMarketing Essentials seminar from long time Web Marketing Association supporter ExactTarget is heading your way. ExactTarget’s one-day seminar is coming to a town near you and will help you improve your email marketing program. You’ll learn how to:
Engage your prospects
Maximize your marketing ROI
Drive higher sales
Increase return on customer
Build brand loyalty
In other words, Route 1 to 1 is the fast track to email marketing success!
They’ve gathered the industry’s best and brightest to bring you the latest news in digital communications. In addition to informative ExactTarget presentations, top industry experts and analysts will provide one-to-one marketing technology insight, and ExactTarget clients will share real-life examples of B2B and B2C email marketing success.
As a leading provider of on-demand email marketing software, ExactTarget is committed to delivering results. Take a field trip from the office and join us for Route 1 to 1. You’ll walk away with an arsenal of actionable strategies to power your email marketing program down the road to success.
Here are the dates and locations:
April 22 – Atlanta, GA
April 24 – New York City, NY
May 13 – Cincinnati, OH
May 15 – Chicago, IL
May 20 – Toronto, ON
May 22 – Minneapolis, MN
June 10 – Dallas, TX
June 12 – Denver, CO
June 17 – Orange County, CA
June 24 – Seattle, WA
June 26 – San Francisco, CA
July 22 – Miami, FL
July 24 – Boston, MA
ExactTarget is the email provider for the Web Marketing Association. We hope you attend this exciting and beneficial program. For more information, go to the ExactTaget Website.
B@B Magazine NetMarketing Breakfast Series
Join interactive experts and your marketing peers for the B@B Magazine NetMarketing Breakfast Series, a networking breakfast and lively panel discussion a on cutting edge technologies for b-to-b marketers. From video and mobile marketing to social media and widgets, you’ll gain insight into the most effective digital strategies as our panelists share those that have – and have not – worked for them. BtoB’s editor, Ellis Booker, will moderate.
Remaining Spring 2008 dates and locations:
Atlanta: April 23
San Francisco: May 8
Chicago: May 20
Interactive Briefing Feature Articles
In this month’s Web Marketing Association Interactive Briefing Newsletter, there are two articles you might find interesting:
Pull PR: Combining SEO and Public Relations – Giving to get, transparency, conversation and participation are key concepts when it comes to an online PR program that involves not only blogger relations but also the search engines.
http://www.webmarketingassociation.org/wma_newsletter08_03_widget.htm- Letting your customers consume content on their own terms.
Conference Drawings
The last issue we offered a change to receive a chance to attend Search Engine Strategies in New York, March 17-19. Congratulations to Lori Keith, E-Marketing Manager at Strategic Diagnostics, Inc. in Newark, Delaware. Her name was selected and she is attending the conference on us!
This month we have a full conference pass to ad:tech San Francisco April 15-16 to offer to readers of Interactive Briefing. This is always one of the most impressive Internet conferences of the year. If you are interested in being entered, simply email your contact info to adtech at webaward.org and you’ll be entered into the drawing. Deadline to enter is Thursday, March 27th and we’ll contact the winner on the 28th.
Web Marketing Association Announces the Winners of the 2008 Internet Advertising Competition Awards
The Web Marketing Association announces the winners of its annual Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards, an effort to honor excellence in online advertising and to recognize the individuals and organizations responsible for the best in Internet marketing. The IAC Awards are the first and only industry-based advertising award competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising. The Competition web site with a complete list of winners is located at www.IACAward.org
“Online advertising is finally getting the recognition it deserves and The Web Marketing Association is pleased to help set the standard for Internet excellence,” said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association, Inc. “Spending for online advertising continues to grow rapidly and the IAC Awards highlight the best in this unique advertising medium by industry.”
2008 Best of Show Awards were awarded in each of the online medium categories. This year’s winners include:
Smashing Ideas for Picross Evolution (Best Ads the Client Did Not Pick)
Xylem CCI for Jack Link’s Warm Wishes Email (Best of Show Email Message)
Spy Publishing for Get A Room (Best of Show Email Message Campaign)
Critical Mass for SUPERVALU’s Selection ’07 Interactive Campaign (Best of Show Integrated ad campaign)
Texturemedia for PENTAX Photo Gallery (Best of Show Interactive Application)
McKinney for Wakey’z (Best of Show Microsite/Landing Page)
JWT INSIDE for Make a Visible Difference (Best of Show Online ad)
RDA International for NIVEA FOR MEN Up 4 Anything Dream Week Contest (Best of Show Online Campaign)
BGT Partners for FedEx LAC Sales Team Intranet Redesign (Best of Show Online Newsletter Campaign)
Mullen for Mobile Nuance Type Test Banner (Best of Show Rich Media Online Ad)
Profero for Mess With Your Mind (Best of Show Rich Media Online Campaign)
For the fourth year in a row, TMX Communications of Conshohocken, PA was recognized with the 2008 Top Agency Award, winning 17 IAC Awards. Their awards included 12 Best of Industry awards and five Outstanding awards.
Other IAC Award winners who received multiple awards included:
AGENCY (number of awards)
TMX Communications 17
Bridge Worldwide 13
BGT Partners 11
Critical Mass 11
VML 11
Biggs|Gilmore 9
Creative I Advertising 9
Agency.com 8
USDM.net 8
AngelVision Technologies 7
Cheil Communications America 7
Atmosphere BBDO 6
Avenue A | Razorfish 6
Hitchcock Fleming & Associates 6
McCann Worldgroup Hong Kong 6
Palm Communication 6
Euro RSCG 4D 5
OTOlabs 5
Peter A Mayer Adv 5
Wunderman Team Detroit 5
Mullen 4
MRM Worldwide 4
Text 100 4
Young & Rubicam Brands 4
LBi 4
JWT INSIDE 4
Idea Integration 4
AKQA 4
The Competition web site with a complete list of winners is located at www.advertisingcompetition.org
The Web Marketing Association are now accepting entries for the 12th annual WebAward Competition for Web site development at www.webaward.org. Deadline for entry is May 31st 2008.
The Internet Standards Assessment Report updated by the Web Marketing Association for 2008
The Web Marketing Association, today released its Internet Standards Assessment Report (ISAR), which provides industry-specific benchmarking data for web development. The ISAR Index reversed a downward trend and the overall standard of excellence in Web development rose across 96 industries.
The ISAR index is an average of all scores in the Web Marketing Association’s WebAward competition sine 1997. Index rose from 50.7 in 2005 to 51.8 in 2007, an increase of 2%.
“The ISAR Index is the benchmark that many organizations use to compare their Web development efforts to’, said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. “Web standards move as the technology and consumer trends push companies to upgrade their Web efforts and are reflected in the judges scores. Web sites that can create a total user experience that both informs and entertains the visitors who reach their sites will be most successful.”
The ISAR report includes the following just-released information:
1 Detailed Industry findings as compared to historical trends
2 Best and Worst Industries in Web Development
3 Best and Worst Industries as they compare to the 7 criteria for a successful Website
4 Award-wining sites for each industry
5 Commentary for each industry as compared to the overall competition in 2007
Information within the report is derived form the Web Marketing Association’s annual WebAward competition (www.webaward.org) which judges websites in 96 industries based on the seven criteria that combined help create award-winning websites.
The WebAward’s seven criteria for a successful Website include:
1 Design
2 Innovation
3 Content
4 Technology
5 Interactivity
6 Copywriting
7 Ease of Use
The ISAR report also includes an index with a running benchmark of web development to which each industry can draw comparisons. Drawing off information found in the ISAR report, web developers and others within organizations responsible for web design, can leverage statistical data to make more informed decisions in an effort to create more effect websites.
“The most successful award-winning websites develop the correct balance of design, innovation and technology to create a total user experience,” said Rice. “Once the total user experience is attained, the site becomes a sales tool itself because it has captured the visitor and the winners of the WebAward do this especially well.”
According to the ISAR report, the five best industries for Website development in 2007 were:
1. Toy & Hobby Web sites
2. Television Web sites
3. Airline Web sites
4. Arts Websites
5. Broadcasting Web sites
The worst overall industry websites included those such as Regional, Consulting and Investment websites.
To request your copy of the 2008 WebAward ISAR report, please visit the WebAward Website.
Web Developers anxious to see how their site compares with the ISAR Index can enter the 2008 WebAward competition in April and receive valuable feedback regarding their web development efforts. Learn more at www.webaward.org
About WebAwards
Now in its 12th year, the annual international WebAwards competition sets the standard of excellence in 96 industry categories by evaluating Web sites and defining benchmarks based on the seven essential criteria of successful Web site development. The goal of the Web Marketing Association, sponsor of the WebAwards, is to provide a forum to recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing some of the most effective Web sites on the Internet today. Entrants benefit from a Web site assessment by a professional judging panel and the marketing opportunities presented to an award-winning Web site. For more information, visit www.webaward.org.
IAC Award Results To Be Announced
The results of the Web Marketing Association’s 2008 Internet Advertising Competition Awards will be announce publicaly on Tuesday, March 18th online at www.advertisingcompetition.org and at Search Engine Strategies New York.
Participants who wish to see the results for their entries can log in to their nominator account and review the results and update entry information prior to the public release.
Thank you to everyone who participated this year, especially out team of expert judges to volunteered their time and expertise to help select the winners.