Internet Study Sets Industry Benchmarks for 10 Years of Web Site Development

The Web Marketing Association, sponsor of the annual international WebAward competition (www.Webawards2006.org), today announced the findings of a decade-long study of Web development trends across more than 80 industries. The resulting Internet Standards Assessment Report (ISAR) provides industry benchmarks for Web site development and is based on data collected from nearly 10,000 Web site evaluations. A copy of the full report can be downloaded at http://www.webaward.org/isar_report.asp.

The WebAward competition is the only major award program to provide an in-depth, quantitative analysis of results to develop standards of excellence for future development. The results evaluate average scores in each industry against defined benchmarks in seven categories, including design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, copywriting and ease of use.

“According to our professional judges, design, ease-of-use and innovation are the most important contributors to a Web site’s success or failure,” said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association. “However, our results found that industries overall excelled in content and copywriting over design and ease-of-use, which may close the door to many users. Innovation, while critical to a Web site’s success, actually received the lowest average scores across all industries. We believe this is due to the fact that innovation is so elusive and difficult to maintain – what is groundbreaking in one industry may be commonplace in another.”

The report reveals that gaming Web sites dominate the top scores in every category, followed by music, which placed second overall, and automobile and sports Web sites, which tied for third place. The industries with the lowest average Web site scores included radio, public relations and search engines.

Top Industries

The consumer-focused sites which led the industry rankings over the last decade feature vibrant content aimed at migrating the brand experience online and building online communities. In addition, these industries excel because of the need to meet high audience expectations that almost demand that sites be on the cutting edge of Web development. For example:

· Gaming Sites: These sites feature experienced designers who understand the intricacies of Flash animation and the benefits of online communities, including message boards and chat features. Targeted to a younger audience, these sites focus on providing a user experience that is on par with the actual gaming experience. Recent best of industry winners include: Star Wars Mercenaries Game Site, SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs and Disney’s Hot Shot Business.

· Music Sites: Users come to music sites for the content, but they stay for the experience. According to Rice, “Music sites have conquered the age-old dilemma regarding the use of technology, where too little equals boring and too much means the site can be overwhelming. The music sites we’ve evaluated over the years have demonstrated the ability to build a loyal following by effective uses of technology to stream rich media content without sacrificing usability.” Recent best of industry winners include: Red Bull Music Labs, Sting: Public & Pay Member Site and Live365.

· Automobile Sites: One of the most hotly contested industries, automobile sites realized early that customers were most likely to engage an auto brand in the privacy of their home or office, rather than in a showroom with a commission-driven sales person. As a result, this is one of the few industries that has beaten the average scores for the WebAwards every year since the competition’s inception. Recent best of industry winners include: Volkswagen 2005, Toyota Scion and The all-new XJ online campaign.

· Sports Sites. These sites benefit from a fanatical fan base who count on their favorite Web sites to stay in-the-know about sporting news and events. Therefore, it’s no surprise that this industry ranked highest in the areas of design and content. Recent best of industry winners include: Nike Basketball, RBK Sound and Rhythm and Prince Tennis Website.

“As Internet bandwidth developed, so did the ability for Web sites to deliver a dynamic rich media experience that merges online entertainment with e-commerce to create a compelling interaction for users,” added Rice. “While content is still king, it’s a Web site’s ability to interact with users in interesting ways that keeps an audience coming back.”

Other noteworthy industries include retail, healthcare and travel. Retail-oriented sites, including shopping, auctions and catalogs, ranked highest for interactivity. These sites allow for personalized cross-selling and detailed product information which are not always available in print catalogs or off-line stores. Similar to the automobile industry, the retail industry has succeeded by maintaining its off-line brand presence online.

In the healthcare and travel industries, content, copywriting and ease-of-use dominated the scores due to recent changes in industry dynamics. “An important trend we’re seeing in healthcare and travel is disintermediation,” said Rice. “For example, the healthcare industry previously relied completely on service providers for patient interaction, but new legislation has opened the door for direct-to-consumer initiatives. As a result, the healthcare industry has become very competitive in the areas of content and copywriting as consumers are turning to these sites to become better informed before deciding on a course of action with their doctors.”

“A similar scenario exists in the travel and leisure industry, with the practical elimination of travel agents,” continued Rice. “These Web sites have demonstrated a strong showing in both copywriting and ease-of-use as Web sites integrate effective copy with strong images to create a lifestyle experience for the user, allowing them to make better choices for themselves.”

Bottom Industries

The industries with the lowest average Web site scores included radio, public relations and search engines. These sites tend to concentrate more on content than delivery platform, often forcing too much information into too little space, which hinders design and ease-of-use. For example:

· Radio Sites. These sites rank particularly low in the areas of innovation and use of technology. This is surprising given the industry’s ability to harness rich media similar to music sites. While radio station sites can draw upon music for content, they often try to cram their homepages with so many options that users can feel lost and overwhelmed.

· Public Relations Sites. While advertising sites excelled in design and innovation, public relations sites ranked low across all categories. Notably, public relations scored lowest for copywriting, even though it is an industry known for effective communication. According to Rice, “It’s likely that PR practitioners focus more on developing their clients’ sites, while their own sites suffer from typical ‘brochure-ware.’ Another possibility is that the low scores reflect the informal nature of the Internet and the backlash over over-edited, corporate speak.”

· Search Engine Sites. While search engines are dominating the buzz around the Internet industry as a whole, these sites rank lower than average in every category, except ease-of-use. In fact, search engines received the lowest scores for use of technology even though the behind-the-scenes technology driving search engines is so sophisticated. These low scores can be attributed to the spartan nature of most search engines which allow the results to speak for themselves.

“Of course, in every industry, there are Web sites that stand out and others that don’t make the grade,” concluded Rice. “Our goal has always been to be more than just a popularity or beauty contest that rewards brand names and good design. Instead, this report is designed to take a decade’s worth of judging scores to define what Internet marketing professionals should strive for in their Web site development efforts.”

About the WebAwards

The 10^th annual international WebAwards competition sets the standard of excellence in 95 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.webawards2006.org.

Register.com Named WebAward Sponsor

Global domain name registration and Web business services provider, Register.com, has been named a 2006 sponsor of the Web Marketing Association’s 10th annual 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 corporate Web sites. The 2006 WebAward Call for Entries will begin April 2, 2006 at www.webaward.org.

"Register.com is a leader in providing services and domain names to Web professionals and small businesses. We are excited that we will be working with them to promote the WebAward Competition this year," said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association. "The WebAward.org domain has been with Register.com since the WMA was founded in 1997. Register.com has a stellar reputation for seeking out and providing the best services to business owners and Web professionals and we are delighted to work with them."

"In addition to fostering the online interests of small business owners and assisting them with their Web needs, helping to support the online marketing community is an important part of Register.com's philosophy," said Monica Hodges, general manager of Retail at Register.com. "We recognize the value of participating in a program such as the WebAwards and believe that the expert feedback participants receive is invaluable. Moreover, winning an award provides businesses with a valuable marketing tool and demonstrates to company management that their online investments are on the right track. We are pleased to support the efforts of the Web Marketing Association and the WebAward program."

Register.com, Inc. is a leading provider of global domain name registration and Internet services for businesses and consumers that wish to have a unique address and branded identity on the Internet. With approximately three million domain names under management, Register.com has built a brand based on high-quality domain name management services for small and medium sized businesses, large corporations, as well as ISPs, telcos and other online businesses. Register.com’s call center was certified in 2005 by J.D. Power and Associates for providing “an outstanding customer experience.” The company was founded in 1994 and is based in New York. To experience the Register.com difference in customer service, call toll-free 1-888-REGISTER or visit the company online at (www.register.com).

Internet Study Sets Industry Benchmarks for 10 Years of Web Site Development

The Web Marketing Association, sponsor of the annual international WebAward
competition (www.Webawards2006.org),
today announced the findings of a decade-long study of Web development trends
across more than 80 industries. The
resulting Internet Standards Assessment Report (ISAR) provides industry
benchmarks for Web site development and is based on data collected from nearly
10,000 Web site evaluations. A copy of the full report can be downloaded at http://www.webaward.org/isar_report.asp.

The WebAward competition is the
only major award program to provide an in-depth, quantitative analysis of
results to develop standards of excellence for future development.  The results evaluate average scores in each
industry against defined benchmarks in seven categories, including design, innovation,
content, technology, interactivity, copywriting and ease of use.

“According to our professional
judges, design, ease-of-use and innovation are the most important contributors
to a Web site’s success or failure,” said William Rice, president of the Web
Marketing Association. “However, our
results found that industries overall excelled in content and copywriting over
design and ease-of-use, which may close the door to many users. Innovation, while critical to a Web site’s
success, actually received the lowest average scores across all industries. We believe this is due to the fact that
innovation is so elusive and difficult to maintain – what is groundbreaking in
one industry may be commonplace in another.”

The report reveals that gaming Web
sites dominate the top scores in every category, followed by music, which
placed second overall, and automobile and sports Web sites, which tied for
third place. The industries with the
lowest average Web site scores included radio, public relations and search
engines.

Top Industries

The consumer-focused sites which
led the industry rankings over the last decade feature vibrant content aimed at
migrating the brand experience online and building online communities. In addition, these industries excel because
of the need to meet high audience expectations that almost demand that sites be
on the cutting edge of Web development. For example:

· Gaming Sites: These
sites feature experienced designers who understand the intricacies of Flash
animation and the benefits of online communities, including message boards and
chat features. Targeted to a younger
audience, these sites focus on providing a user experience that is on par with
the actual gaming experience. Recent best of industry winners include: Star Wars Mercenaries Game Site, SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs
and Disney’s Hot Shot Business.

· Music Sites: Users come to music sites for the content,
but they stay for the experience. According
to Rice, “Music sites have conquered the age-old dilemma regarding the use of
technology, where too little equals boring and too much means the site can be
overwhelming. The music sites we’ve
evaluated over the years have demonstrated the ability to build a loyal
following by effective uses of technology to stream rich media content without
sacrificing usability.” Recent best of
industry winners include: Red Bull Music Labs,
Sting: Public & Pay Member Site and Live365.

· Automobile Sites: One of the most hotly contested industries,
automobile sites realized early that customers were most likely to engage an
auto brand in the privacy of their home or office, rather than in a showroom
with a commission-driven sales person.  As a result, this is one of the few industries
that has beaten the average scores for the WebAwards every year since the
competition’s inception. Recent best of industry winners include: Volkswagen 2005, Toyota Scion and The all-new XJ online
campaign.

· Sports Sites. These sites benefit from a fanatical fan base
who count on their favorite Web sites to stay in-the-know about sporting news
and events. Therefore, it’s no surprise
that this industry ranked highest in the areas of design and content. Recent
best of industry winners include: Nike
Basketball, RBK Sound and Rhythm and Prince Tennis Website.

“As Internet bandwidth developed,
so did the ability for Web sites to deliver a dynamic rich media experience
that merges online entertainment with e-commerce to create a compelling
interaction for users,” added Rice. “While content is still king, it’s a Web site’s ability to interact with
users in interesting ways that keeps an audience coming back.”

Other noteworthy industries
include retail, healthcare and travel. Retail-oriented sites, including shopping, auctions and catalogs, ranked
highest for interactivity. These sites
allow for personalized cross-selling and detailed product information which are
not always available in print catalogs or off-line stores. Similar to the automobile industry, the
retail industry has succeeded by maintaining its off-line brand presence
online.

In the healthcare and travel
industries, content, copywriting and ease-of-use dominated the scores due to
recent changes in industry dynamics. “An
important trend we’re seeing in healthcare and travel is disintermediation,”
said Rice. “For example, the healthcare
industry previously relied completely on service providers for patient
interaction, but new legislation has opened the door for direct-to-consumer
initiatives. As a result, the healthcare
industry has become very competitive in the areas of content and copywriting as
consumers are turning to these sites to become better informed before deciding
on a course of action with their doctors.”

“A similar scenario exists in the
travel and leisure industry, with the practical elimination of travel agents,”
continued Rice. “These Web sites have
demonstrated a strong showing in both copywriting and ease-of-use as Web sites
integrate effective copy with strong images to create a lifestyle experience
for the user, allowing them to make better choices for themselves.”

Bottom Industries

The industries with the lowest
average Web site scores included radio, public relations and search engines. These sites tend to concentrate more on
content than delivery platform, often forcing too much information into too
little space, which hinders design and ease-of-use. For example:

· Radio Sites. These sites rank particularly low in the
areas of innovation and use of technology. This is surprising given the industry’s ability to harness rich media
similar to music sites. While radio station sites can draw upon music for
content, they often try to cram their homepages with so many options that users
can feel lost and overwhelmed.

· Public Relations
Sites. While advertising sites excelled
in design and innovation, public relations sites ranked low across all
categories. Notably, public relations
scored lowest for copywriting, even though it is an industry known for
effective communication. According to
Rice, “It’s likely that PR practitioners focus more on developing their
clients’ sites, while their own sites suffer from typical ‘brochure-ware.’ Another possibility is that the low scores
reflect the informal nature of the Internet and the backlash over over-edited,
corporate speak.”

· Search Engine Sites. While search engines are dominating the buzz
around the Internet industry as a whole, these sites rank lower than average in
every category, except ease-of-use. In
fact, search engines received the lowest scores for use of technology even
though the behind-the-scenes technology driving search engines is so
sophisticated. These low scores can be
attributed to the spartan nature of most search engines which allow the results
to speak for themselves.

“Of course, in every industry, there are Web sites that
stand out and others that don’t make the grade,” concluded Rice. “Our goal has always been to be more than
just a popularity or beauty contest that rewards brand names and good
design. Instead, this report is designed
to take a decade’s worth of judging scores to define what Internet marketing
professionals should strive for in their Web site development efforts.”

About the WebAwards

The 10^th annual international WebAwards
competition sets the standard of excellence in 95 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.webawards2006.org.

NewsUSA Named WebAward Sponsor by The Web Marketing Association

NewsUSA has been named a 2006 sponsor of the Web Marketing Association’s 10th annual WebAward Competition. The WebAwards is the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks based on the seven criteria of a successful Web site.

"We are pleased to have NewsUSA helping us to promote the WebAward Competition again this year," said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. "NewsUSA’s ability to provide news and features the newspapers, magazines and radio outlets throughout the country is critical in helping us not only to reach important reporters and editors, but also search engine placements, which can increase overall visibility and site traffic".

"Helping support the online marketing community is an important part of NewsUSA's philosophy," said Rick Smith, President and CEO of the NewsUSA. "We recognize the value of participating in a program such as the WebAwards. Winning a WebAward not only provides valuable feedback from expert judges, but also gives companies a valuable marketing tool and shows company management that their Internet investments are on the right track. We are pleased to support the efforts of the Web Marketing Association and the WebAward program."

For more than 18 years, NewsUSA has been successful in providing national publicity placement for our clients. We have provided media placements to more than 3,000 clients in a variety of fields – public relations, communications, nonprofit, government, health care, automotive, and health and beauty to name a few. Because of our long-standing relationships with over 16,000 media outlets, we have successfully delivered more than 5 million print and radio placements and billions of dollars of media ad space nationwide.

Our clients include many Fortune 500 companies and some of the largest associations and public relations agencies in the world, as well as smaller companies and individual entrepreneurs. Visit www.newsusa.com for more information.

NewsUSA Named WebAward Sponsor by The Web Marketing Association

NewsUSA has been named a
2006 sponsor of the Web Marketing Association’s 10th annual WebAward
Competition. The WebAwards is the standards-defining competition that sets
industry benchmarks based on the seven criteria of a successful Web site.

"We are pleased to have NewsUSA helping us to promote the WebAward
Competition again this year," said William Rice, President of the Web
Marketing Association. "NewsUSA’s
ability to provide news and features the newspapers, magazines and radio
outlets throughout the country is critical in helping us not only to reach
important reporters and editors, but also search engine placements, which can
increase overall visibility and site traffic".

"Helping support the online marketing community is an important part of NewsUSA's philosophy," said Rick Smith, President and CEO of the NewsUSA. "We recognize the value of participating in a program such as the WebAwards. Winning a WebAward not only provides valuable feedback from expert judges, but also gives companies a valuable marketing tool and shows company management that their Internet investments are on the right track. We are pleased to support the efforts of the Web Marketing Association and the WebAward program."

For more than 18 years, NewsUSA has been successful in
providing national publicity placement for our clients. We have provided media
placements to more than 3,000 clients in a variety of fields – public
relations, communications, nonprofit, government, health care, automotive, and
health and beauty to name a few. Because of our long-standing relationships
with over 16,000 media outlets, we have successfully delivered more than 5
million print and radio placements and billions of dollars of media ad space
nationwide.

Our clients include many Fortune 500 companies and some of the largest associations and public relations agencies in the world, as well as smaller companies and individual entrepreneurs. Visit www.newsusa.com for more information.

ExactTarget Sponsors the 2006 WebAwards

ExactTarget, the leader in on-demand email marketing software, has been named a 2006 sponsor of the Web Marketing Association’s annual WebAward Competition.

“We are pleased to have ExactTarget support the WebAward Competition again this year,” said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association. “ExactTarget’s expertise in delivering customized emails to our opt-in lists is critical to helping us get the word out regarding the WebAwards. We will use ExactTarget’s email program to manage and analyze the communications we send to those interested in our award programs.”

“Email is the most powerful marketing tool available. If used properly, nothing is more personalized, inexpensive, interactive or easier to execute,” said Chris Baggott, co-founder and chief marketing officer of ExactTarget. “Winning a WebAward not only provides valuable feedback from expert judges, but it also shows company management that their Internet investments are on the right track. We are pleased to support the efforts of the Web Marketing Association and their WebAward program.”

ExactTarget is the market leader in on-demand email software solutions for permission-based email marketing. More than 4,000 organizations worldwide, including The Home Depot, Scotts and Encyclopaedia Britannica rely on ExactTarget email solutions to strengthen their customer relationships and to control email throughout the enterprise. ExactTarget is a recognized technology leader, ranked highest in business suitability by JupiterResearch in 2004 and 2005 based on the solution's usability, strong feature set and dynamic content tool. ExactTarget solutions meet the needs of all industry verticals and all size organizations, including SMB, corporate divisions, not-for-profits, large retail/direct marketers, agencies and enterprises. Privately owned and headquartered in Indianapolis, USA, the company has more than 30 offices spanning North America, Europe and Australia. To learn more, go to http://www.exacttarget.com.

ExactTarget Sponsors the 2006 WebAwards

ExactTarget, the leader in on-demand email marketing software, has been named a 2006 sponsor of the Web Marketing Association’s  annual WebAward Competition. 

“We are pleased to have ExactTarget support the WebAward Competition again this year,” said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association.  “ExactTarget’s expertise in delivering customized emails to our opt-in lists is critical to helping us get the word out regarding the WebAwards.  We will use ExactTarget’s email program to manage and analyze the communications we send to those interested in our award programs.”

“Email is the most powerful marketing tool available.  If used properly, nothing is more personalized, inexpensive, interactive or easier to execute,” said Chris Baggott, co-founder and chief marketing officer of ExactTarget.  “Winning a WebAward not only provides valuable feedback from expert judges, but it also shows company management that their Internet investments are on the right track.  We are pleased to support the efforts of the Web Marketing Association and their WebAward program.”

ExactTarget is the market leader in on-demand email software solutions for permission-based email marketing.  More than 4,000 organizations worldwide, including The Home Depot, Scotts and Encyclopaedia Britannica rely on ExactTarget email solutions to strengthen their customer relationships and to control email throughout the enterprise.  ExactTarget is a recognized technology leader, ranked highest in business suitability by JupiterResearch in 2004 and 2005 based on the solution's usability, strong feature set and dynamic content tool.  ExactTarget solutions meet the needs of all industry verticals and all size organizations, including SMB, corporate divisions, not-for-profits, large retail/direct marketers, agencies and enterprises.  Privately owned and headquartered in Indianapolis, USA, the company has more than 30 offices spanning North America, Europe and Australia.  To learn more, go to http://www.exacttarget.com.

Small Army Named WebAward Sponsor By The Web Marketing Association

Small Army, a Boston-based marketing and creative services firm, has been named a 2006 sponsor of the Web Marketing Association’s 10th annual WebAward Competition.

"Small Army has been a long time supporter of the Web Marketing Association and the WebAwards," said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. "They have been a critical marketing and creative partner that has helped us define and build the WebAward brand. Whether it’s marketing strategy and website design or advertising and direct mail, Small Army offers some of the best talent available in the industry. We are excited to continue this partnership.”

"The WebAwards doesn’t only recognize online marketing innovation but, more importantly, drives it," said Jeff Freedman, Marketing Principal of Small Army. “Our partnership with the WebAwards enables us to stay on top of the latest trends and innovations in online marketing. It also provides our agency with the opportunity to help define and raise the standards for the entire industry.

Small Army is a full-service marketing and creative services agency based in Boston, MA. Currently ranked the 23^rd largest agency in New England by the Boston Business Journal, Small Army provides a diverse set of clients with a unique blend of senior-level strategic, creative and technology talent to produce and implement innovative marketing programs with measurable ROI. For more information, visit www.smallarmy.net.

Small Army Named WebAward Sponsor By The Web Marketing Association

Small Army, a Boston-based marketing and creative services firm, has been
named a 2006 sponsor of the Web Marketing Association’s 10th annual WebAward
Competition. 

"Small Army has been a long time supporter of the Web
Marketing Association and the WebAwards," said William Rice, President of
the Web Marketing Association. "They
have been a critical marketing and creative partner that has helped us define
and build the WebAward brand. Whether
it’s marketing strategy and website design or advertising and direct mail,
Small Army offers some of the best talent available in the industry. We are excited to continue this partnership.”

"The WebAwards doesn’t only recognize online marketing innovation but,
more importantly, drives it," said Jeff Freedman, Marketing Principal of
Small Army. “Our partnership with the
WebAwards enables us to stay on top of the latest trends and innovations in
online marketing. It also provides our
agency with the opportunity to help define and raise the standards for the
entire industry.

Small Army is a full-service
marketing and creative services agency based in Boston, MA. Currently ranked the 23^rd largest agency in New England by the Boston Business Journal, Small Army provides a diverse set of clients with a unique blend of senior-level strategic, creative and technology talent to produce and implement innovative marketing programs
with measurable ROI. For more information, visit www.smallarmy.net.

 

eComXpo to Sponsor the 2006 WebAwards

eComXpo, the virtual tradeshow for search, affiliate and interactive marketers, has been named a 2006 sponsor of the Web Marketing Association’s 10th annual WebAward Competition. The WebAwards is the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks based on the seven criteria of a successful Web site.

"We are pleased to have eComXpo helping us to promote the WebAward Competition this year," said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. "Trade shows are an important part of our marketing efforts and we are excited to participate in an event that is much like our own program – 100% virtual and online".

"Helping support the online marketing community is an important part of eComXpo's philosophy," said John Grosshandler, Founder and Event Director of eComXpo. "Marketing professionals come together at eComXpo to learn how to excel as professionals. Winning a WebAward not only provides valuable feedback from expert judges, but also gives companies a valuable marketing tool and shows company management that their Internet investments are on the right track. We are pleased to support the efforts of the Web Marketing Association and the WebAward program."

eComXpo is the first virtual, online trade show and conference for eCommerce marketers. Its third show is April 4-6, 2006 . Free Registration and information are available at http://www.ecomxpo.com. Over 175 exhibitors, sponsors, and presenters will be gathering with over 7,000 attendees, completely online. eComXpo provides all the benefits of a top tradeshow without the cost, travel or hassle normally associated with traditional events.

eComXpo to Sponsor the 2006 WebAwards

eComXpo, the virtual tradeshow for search, affiliate and interactive
marketers, has been named a 2006 sponsor of the Web Marketing
Association’s 10th annual WebAward Competition.  The WebAwards is the standards-defining
competition that sets industry benchmarks based on the seven criteria of a
successful Web site.   

"We are pleased to have eComXpo helping us to promote the WebAward
Competition this year," said William Rice, President of the Web
Marketing Association. "Trade shows
are an important part of our marketing efforts and we are excited to
participate in an event that is much like our own program – 100% virtual and
online".

"Helping support the online marketing community is an important part of
eComXpo's philosophy," said John Grosshandler, Founder and Event Director of eComXpo.
"Marketing professionals come together at eComXpo to learn how to excel as
professionals. Winning a WebAward not only provides valuable feedback from
expert judges, but also gives companies a valuable marketing tool and shows
company management that their Internet investments are on the right track. We
are pleased to support the efforts of the Web Marketing Association and the
WebAward program."

eComXpo is the first virtual, online trade show and
conference for eCommerce marketers. Its third show is April 4-6, 2006 . Free
Registration and information are available at http://www.ecomxpo.com. Over 175 exhibitors, sponsors, and presenters will be gathering with over 7,000 attendees, completely online.
eComXpo provides all the benefits of a top tradeshow without the cost, travel
or hassle normally associated with traditional events.

IAC Awards Update

The judging for the 2006 Internet Advertising Competition Awards is complete and the participants will be notified next week. Winners will be posted on the IAC Awards Web site the following week. A special thanks to all of the industry professionals who pitched in and helped judge this year’s IAC Awards. They did a tremendous job.

IAC Awards Update

The judging for the 2006 Internet Advertising Competition Awards is complete and
the participants will be notified next week. Winners will be posted on
the IAC Awards Web site the following week. A special thanks to all of the
industry professionals who pitched in and helped judge this year’s IAC Awards.
They did a tremendous job.

PRWeb Named WebAward Sponsor by Web Marketing Association

PRWeb has been named a 2006 sponsor of the Web Marketing Association’s 10th
annual WebAward Competition, the Internet’s premier award competition that judges Web site development against an
ever increasing Internet standard of excellence and against peer sites within
an industry.

"PRWeb is the perfect choice for
helping us get the word out about the 2006 WebAward program," said William
Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. PRWeb's press release
newswire, allows us to target
specific industries with our news stories and help us not only to reach
important reporters and editors, but also search engine placements, which can
increase overall visibility and site traffic."

"Supporting the online marketing community is an essential part of PRWeb
philosophy," said Mick Jolly, Executive Vice President for PRWeb. "We
are supported by those marketing professionals who value cost-effective
distribution of their news releases. We
see the WebAward program as another valuable way for marketing professionals
who win an award to benefit from increased visibility. We are pleased to support the efforts of the
Web Marketing Association and the WebAward program."

PRWeb is the Internet's
leading press release distribution newswire. PRWeb developed the direct to
consumer press release distribution model in 1997 and has grown to be
recognized as a leader in the press release and news distribution industries.
PRWeb is the industry leader in search engine visibility and RSS deployment,
serving more than 8.6 million customized RSS feeds to PRWeb visitors.

Global Internet Solutions Not a WebAward winner

We want to warn the Online community that Global Internet Solutions claims "Global Internet Solutions has won the award from the prestigious Webawards competition". This is in fact not true. They have never received any awards from the Web Marketing Association.

We have received several complaints regarding Global Internet Solutions and it is apparent from their unethical and illegal use of our logo on their Web site that anyone considering purchasing their services should be warned.

We will continue to pursue legal means to insure only Web sites that have legitimate won a WebAward are able to display the logo on their site.

Follow up note: A day after this posting appeared, our logo along with several others was removed from the site.

Global Internet Solutions Not a WebAward winner

We want to warn the online community that Global Internet Solutions
claims "Global Internet Solutions has won the award from the
prestigious Webawards competition". This is in fact not true. They have
never received any awards from the Web Marketing Associatio

We
have received several complaints regarding Global Internet Solutions
and it is apparent from their unethical and illegal use of our logo on
their Web site that anyone considering purchasing their services should
be warned.

We will continue to pursue legal means to insure only Web sites that have legitimate won a WebAward are able to display the logo on their site.

Follow up note: A day after this posting appeared, our logo along with several others was removed from the site.

Organic’s Kingdon to lead the 2006 WebAward Judging Panel

The Web Marketing Association is pleased to announce that Mark Kingdon, CEO of Organic, Inc, a unit of Omnicom Group, inc. www.omnicomgroup.com. has been selected to lead the judging panel as the first Chair of the 10th annual international WebAward competition for Web site development.

“As a long time WebAward judge, Mark is exceptionally positioned to lead the judging of this year’s WebAward program,” said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. “For nearly a decade, the WebAwards has used seven fundamental criteria to evaluate, benchmark, and set industry standards for Web site development. Mark will use his expertise and insights to help define and enhance the current standard of excellence for award wining web sites.”

“I am honored and delighted to have been chosen to Chair the WebAwards—a program with a wonderful, rich history of showcasing a broad array of exceptional online experiences—from major global brands to smaller, single-shingle businesses from all over the world,” said Mark Kingdon, CEO, Organic. “Personally, I like seeing the huge range of work and being exposed to web experiences that I might not normally see. It’s inspiring. I’ve enjoyed being a judge and I’m particularly excited about developing a strong sense of community among the judges with a lot of good dialogue about the work.”

The 2006 WebAwards judges consist of a select group of Internet professionals who have direct experience designing and managing corporate Web sites—including members of the media, advertising executives, site designers, content providers and webmasters—with an in-depth understanding of the current state-of-the-art in Web site development and technology. Judging for this year’s awards will take place in July and August, with winners announced in September. Internet professionals interested in being considered as a 2006 WebAward judge can nominate themselves at www.webaward.org/judges.asp

Here is the full press release from PRWeb, a WebAward sposnor.

Organic’s Kingdon to lead the 2006 WebAward Judging Panel

   

         

 

The Web Marketing Association is pleased to announce that Mark Kingdon, CEO of Organic, Inc, a unit of Omnicom Group, inc. www.omnicomgroup.com. has been selected to lead the judging panel as the first Chair of the 10th annual international WebAward competition for Web site development.

“As
a long time WebAward judge, Mark is exceptionally positioned to lead
the judging of this year’s WebAward program,” said William Rice,
President of the Web Marketing Association. “For nearly a decade, the
WebAwards has used seven fundamental criteria to evaluate, benchmark,
and set industry standards for Web site development. Mark will use his
expertise and insights to help define and enhance the current standard
of excellence for award wining web sites.”

“I am honored and
delighted to have been chosen to Chair the WebAwards—a program with a
wonderful, rich history of showcasing a broad array of exceptional
online experiences—from major global brands to smaller, single-shingle
businesses from all over the world,” said Mark Kingdon, CEO, Organic.
“Personally, I like seeing the huge range of work and being exposed to
web experiences that I might not normally see. It’s inspiring. I’ve
enjoyed being a judge and I’m particularly excited about developing a
strong sense of community among the judges with a lot of good dialogue
about the work.”

The 2006 WebAwards judges consist of a select
group of Internet professionals who have direct experience designing
and managing corporate Web sites—including members of the media,
advertising executives, site designers, content providers and
webmasters—with an in-depth understanding of the current
state-of-the-art in Web site development and technology. Judging for
this year’s awards will take place in July and August, with winners
announced in September. Internet professionals interested in being
considered as a 2006 WebAward judge can nominate themselves at www.webaward.org/judges.asp

Here is the full press release from PRWeb, a WebAward sposnor.

IAC Judging Underway

The Call for Entries for the Web Marketing Association's 2006 Internet Advertising Competition Awards is now complete and the judges are reviewing the entries.

We expect winner to be announced in mid-April. Good luck to all who have entered!

IAC Judging Underway

   

         

 

The Call for Entries for the Web Marketing Association's 2006 Internet Advertising Competition Awards is now complete and the judges are reviewing the entries.

We expect winner to be announced in mid-April.  Good luck to all who have entered!

Internet Advertising Competition Deadline this Friday

2006 Internet Advertising Competition Awards deadline is February 17th - less than one week away!

There is still time to enter the 2006 Internet Advertising Competition, the first and only industry-based advertising award competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising produced by the Web Marketing Association.

The Competition Web site is located at www.iacaward.org. The extended deadline for entry is February 17, 2006. Judging begins on February 20th, so this will be the only extension allowed. Don't wait - Enter today!

Internet Advertising Competition Deadline this Friday

   

         

 

2006 Internet Advertising Competition Awards deadline is February 17th - less than one week away!

There
is still time to enter the 2006 Internet Advertising Competition, the
first and only industry-based advertising award competition dedicated
exclusively to online advertising produced by the Web Marketing
Association.

The Competition Web site is located at www.iacaward.org.
The extended deadline for entry is February 17, 2006. Judging begins on
February 20th, so this will be the only extension allowed. Don't wait -
Enter today!

HPshopping.com recognized for award winning Web site

MarketingSherpa, a though leader in interactive marketing, interviewed Catherine Paschkewitz, hpshopping.com's Director of Consumer Marketing in an article entitled "How hpshopping.com Increases Gross Margins While Winning Marketing Awards -- Four Specific Tactics".

This article does a excellent job at describing some of the tactics used to make hpshopping.com an effective award winning Web site.

HPshopping.com recognized for award winning Web site

   

         

 

MarketingSherpa,
a though leader in interactive marketing, interviewed Catherine
Paschkewitz, hpshopping.com's Director of Consumer Marketing in an
article entitled "How hpshopping.com Increases Gross Margins While Winning Marketing Awards -- Four Specific Tactics".

This
article does a excellent job at describing some of the tactics used to
make hpshopping.com an effective award winning Web site.

Interactive Advertising competition Deadline Extended

The deadline for the Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards has been extended until February 17, 2006. This will be the only extention allowed.

The IAC Awards are produced by the Web Marketing Association and are the first and only industry-based advertising award competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising. Awards will be presented within 95 industry categories and advertising formats such as online ad, rich media ad, email message, online newsletter campaign, microsite/landing page, integrated ad campaign and ads the client did not choose.

Interactive Advertising competition Deadline Extended

   

         

 

The deadline for the Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards has been extended until February 17, 2006. This will be the only extention allowed.

The IAC Awards are produced by the Web Marketing Association
and are the first and only industry-based advertising award competition
dedicated exclusively to online advertising. Awards will be presented
within 95 industry categories and advertising formats such as online
ad, rich media ad, email message, online newsletter campaign,
microsite/landing page, integrated ad campaign and ads the client did
not choose.

2006 Internet Advertising Competition Awards deadline is less than one week away!

This is your last opportunity to enter the 2006 Internet Advertising Competition, the first and only industry-based advertising award competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising produced by the Web Marketing Association.

Winning would be a great way to show your clients and your boss your expertise in online advertising. Entering is easy and will make you feel good about yourself (winning will make you feel even better!)

The Competition Web site is located at www.iacaward.org. The deadline for entry is January 31, 2006. Don't wait - Enter today!

The 2006 Internet Advertising Competition is sponsored by BURST!Media, ExactTarget, Small Army, PRWeb, Macworld Expo, SimpleFeed, and AdTools.

2006 Internet Advertising Competition Awards deadline is less than one week away!

 

This
is your last opportunity to enter the 2006 Internet Advertising
Competition, the first and only industry-based advertising award
competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising produced by the
Web Marketing Association.

Winning
would be a great way to show your clients and your boss your expertise
in online advertising. Entering is easy and will make you feel good
about yourself (winning will make you feel even better!)

The Competition Web site is located at www.iacaward.org. The deadline for entry is January 31, 2006. Don't wait - Enter today!

The
2006 Internet Advertising Competition is sponsored by BURST!Media,
ExactTarget, Small Army, PRWeb, Macworld Expo, SimpleFeed, and AdTools.

IAC Award featured in MarketingSherpa Fame

MarketingSherpa Fame, an online marketing and PR newsletter that we at the Web Marketing Association read every week, this week featured the Internet Advertising Competition Awards. See the newsletter at http://www.marketingsherpa.com/1et/fame-01-20-06.htm

IAC Award featured in MarketingSherpa Fame

   

         

 

MarketingSherpa Fame, an online marketing and PR newsletter that we at the Web Marketing Association read every week, this week featured the Internet Advertising Competition Awards. See the newsletter at http://www.marketingsherpa.com/1et/fame-01-20-06.htm

Call for WebAward Industry Categories

   

         

 

As we prepare for the 2006 WebAward competition for website development, The Web Marketing Association would like recommendations on any new industries that should be added to this year’s awards.

The
WebAwards selects the Best Website in 95 different industries and we
will be potentially adding several new categories this year. If you
know of an industry category that is not currently included, please
contact us and suggest an industry and tell us why you think it should
be added and how we can attract sites from that industry to the award
program. Send your suggestions to industry@webaward.org

Current WebAward industry categories include:

Advertising
| Advocacy | Airline | Application Service Provider | Arts |
Associations | Auction | Automobile | B2B | Bank | Beverage |
Biotechnology | Broadcasting | Brokerage | Catalog | Computer: Hardware
| Computer: Retailer | Computer: Software | Construction | Consulting |
Consumer Goods | Credit Union | Design | Directory or Search Engine |
Diversified Business | Education | Email | Employment | Energy |
Entertainment | Events | E-Zine | Faith-based | Family | Fashion |
Financial Services | Food Industry | Game Site | General Interest |
Government | Health Care | Healthcare Provider | Home Building | Hotel
and Lodging | Information Services | Institutional Services | Insurance
| Interactive Services | International Business | Internet Service
Provider | Intranet | Investor Relations | Investment | Legal | Leisure
| Magazine | Marketing | Manufacturing | Media | Medical | Medical
Equipment | Military | Movie | Music | Mutual Fund | News | Newspaper |
Non-Profit | Online Community | Other | Pharmaceuticals | Portal |
Professional Services | Public Relations | Publishing | Radio | Real
Estate | Regional | Restaurant | Retail | School | Shopping | Small
Business | Sports | Technology | Telecommunication | Toy & Hobby |
Transportation | Travel | TV | University

Call for WebAward Industry Categories

As we prepare for the 2006 WebAward competition for website development, The Web Marketing Association would like recommendations on any new industries that should be added to this year’s awards.

The WebAwards selects the Best Website in 95 different industries and we will be potentially adding several new categories this year. If you know of an industry category that is not currently included, please contact us and suggest an industry and tell us why you think it should be added and how we can attract sites from that industry to the award program. Send your suggestions to industry@webaward.org

Current WebAward industry categories include:

Advertising | Advocacy | Airline | Application Service Provider | Arts | Associations | Auction | Automobile | B2B | Bank | Beverage | Biotechnology | Broadcasting | Brokerage | Catalog | Computer: Hardware | Computer: Retailer | Computer: Software | Construction | Consulting | Consumer Goods | Credit Union | Design | Directory or Search Engine | Diversified Business | Education | Email | Employment | Energy | Entertainment | Events | E-Zine | Faith-based | Family | Fashion | Financial Services | Food Industry | Game Site | General Interest | Government | Health Care | Healthcare Provider | Home Building | Hotel and Lodging | Information Services | Institutional Services | Insurance | Interactive Services | International Business | Internet Service Provider | Intranet | Investor Relations | Investment | Legal | Leisure | Magazine | Marketing | Manufacturing | Media | Medical | Medical Equipment | Military | Movie | Music | Mutual Fund | News | Newspaper | Non-Profit | Online Community | Other | Pharmaceuticals | Portal | Professional Services | Public Relations | Publishing | Radio | Real Estate | Regional | Restaurant | Retail | School | Shopping | Small Business | Sports | Technology | Telecommunication | Toy & Hobby | Transportation | Travel | TV | University

The difference between the IAC Awards and the WebAwards

   

         

 

The IAC Awards
were developed to evaluate and recognize innovation and excellence in
online advertising which includes a category for microsites/landing
pages. The WebAwards focus on
the entire Web site, with particular emphasis on the creativity and
functionality of the overall interactive experience. Websites entered
into the microsite category of the IAC Awards will be judged based on
their advertising merit.

A site can be entered in both the IAC Awards and the WebAward Competition.

The difference between the IAC Awards and the WebAwards

The IAC Awards were developed to evaluate and recognize innovation and excellence in online advertising which includes a category for microsites/landing pages. The WebAwards focus on the entire Web site, with particular emphasis on the creativity and functionality of the overall interactive experience. Websites entered into the microsite category of the IAC Awards will be judged based on their advertising merit.

A site can be entered in both the IAC Awards and the WebAward Competition.

IAC Awards Deadline One month away

Ok, the holidays are over and it’s time to get back to work. What better way to start the year than to win recognition for your outstanding online advertising.

The IAC Awards are the first and only industry-based advertising award competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising and the deadline for entry is January 31, 2006. Enter today before it is too late.

eTail 2006 Conference

The 14th annual eTail Conference (February 21-24, 2006, JW Marriott Desert Springs, Palm Desert, CA) is the one place that you can attend 42 sessions (with over 61 Retail speakers participating) filled with content that speaks to the pain points of running your multi-channel enterprise. eTail is engineered to answer your specific questions from top down in Multi-Channel Retail.

Web Marketing Association Members Get An Additional 10% Off To Attend! Register now with code WE100.

Free Exhibit Hall Passes to Macworld

The Web Marketing Assocation would like to invite you to attend Macworld Conference and Expo at the Moscone Center in San Francisco on January 10-13, 2006.

To receive a free Exhibit hall pass (a $45 value) simply register at www.macworldexpo.com with priority code N0348

Be sure to stop by and visit us at booth #2739 at the expo

Seasons Greetings from the WMA

The Web Marketing Association would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

We are looking forward to a wonderful 2006 with the deadline for IAC Awards only a month a way and some major changes for the 10th annual WebAward competition being planned.

Have a happy and prosperous New Year,

Bill Rice
President
Web Marketing Association

Macworld Special discount

Macworld Conference & Expo is your one stop shop to find you next Mac solution, training to boost your Mac abilities and the opportunity to network with industry leaders as well as your peers! This year’s conference included an impressive lineup for Creative Professional including our 1-Day Market Symposiums for Art Directors and New Media professionals. Visit www.macworldexpo.com/marketsymposiums for more information.

Register online at macworldexpo.com before December 9, 2005 with your WMA Discount Code H1301 to receive your 15% discount off all conference packages.

Call for IAC Award Judges

Award programs don’t just happen, they are the result of hundreds of dedicated professionals in the Internet community stepping up and helping define what excellence is in terms of online advertising.

If you think you have what it takes to become a 2006 IAC Award judge, please complete the nomination form at www.iacaward.org/iac/judges.asp If you were a past IAC Award judge, we will be sending you an email in a week to see if you will be available to participate this year.

2006 IAC Awards Call for Entries Now Open

The Web Marketing Association announces the launched of its fourth annual Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards, a program 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 is located at www.iacaward.org and the deadline for entry is January 31, 2006.

Judges Recognition

the Web Marketing Association would like to take a moment and once again than the judges of the 2005 WebAwards. These men and women represent the best the online community has to offer. The come from all over the world to help set the standard of excellence for Website development. They volunteer their time and expertise to judge dozens of entries and provide valuable feedback to participants. We thank them for giving sharing their skills and knowledge.

As a token of our appreciation, we have sent out today Certificates of Appreciation to recognize our judges for their hard work. We also will be sending out a survey to those judges by the end of this week to solicit feedback as how we can improve next year’s WebAward Competition.

ad:tech comes to New York (Nov 7 - 9)

This is the place to learn about the lates trends in online advertising. Kevin Roberts, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi, tops the list of leaders and visionaries representing the left and right brain demands of today's interactive marketing environment. Network with like-minded executives in an inclusive forum featuring keynote speeches, expert panel discussions and the latest advances in digital technology.

Use source code "ATNY5B" to receive a discount on a full conference pass. To register go to http://www.ad-tech.com/register.asp

Sponsorship Opportunities

The Web Marketing Association is in the planning stages for our 2006 award competitions and we are interested in seeking new sponsors who are willing to help us grow the WebAwards and the Internet Advertising Competition Awards.

If you know of a company that is interested in promoting their brand to the interactive marketing community, please have them contact the Web Marketing Association.

2005 WebAward award update

This year, we are coordinating the shipping of both image plaque and certificates at the same time. We currently expect both to ship around October 3^rd.

If you ordered additional certificates, they should be shipped at the same time. If you ordered additional plaques or image plaques, they will follow a week or two later.

You can still order additional awards at www.webaward.org/order.asp

2005 WebAward Winners Announced

the Web Marketing Association is pleased to announce the winners of its ninth annual WebAward Competition for Web site development. More than 2,100 sites from 33 countries were adjudicated in 95 industry categories during this year's competition. Entries were judged on design, copy writing, innovation, content, interactivity, navigation, and use of technology. A complete list of the winning sites can be found at the WebAward Web site at www.WebAward.org

The 2005 Best of Show WebAward is presented to Atlanta -based IQ interactive, for their outstanding work on National Geographic - Inside The Mafia. The site was also awarded Best Entertainment WebAward. To generate interest and viewers for the show, IQ Interactive was challenged to create a web site as engaging and compelling as the show itself. With a click, mysterious and intriguing rich media banner ads drive viewers straight to the full screen immersive interactive experience. Targeting a lifestyle demographic called New Enthusiasts, this dark and stylistic micro site engages in an almost game-like way. This discovery based site allows viewers to explore the world of the mafia through a variety of avenues, from full original animation, to a variety of video compositions and much more. The goal being to use video in a way that hasn't been used before.


Zugara was named Top Agency at the 2005 WebAward Competition, taking home 20 awards, more that any other organization in the history of the competition. The Top Agency Award given to recognize the consistently outstanding development going on at interactive firms. Zugara is headquarted in Los Angles and took home Best Music site for Red Bull Music Labs, 11 Outstanding and 8 Standard of Excellence WebAwards.

I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank all of the many judges who participated in this year's WebAwards. Our judges are industry leaders who donate their valuable time and expertise to help set the standard for Internet excellence. It is an honor and a privilege to work with such an esteemed group of individuals, without whom the WebAward competition could not go on.

A special thanks also goes to all of the great sponsors of the 2005 WebAward Competition including BURST! Media, Oddcast, NewsUSA, O'Dwyer's PR Daily, Small Army Creative Services, Burrelles Luce, Line 56 Media, Perseus Software and PRWeb. The Web Marketing Association thanks it sponsors for helping to make this annual competition possible.

For complete information regarding 2005 WebAward Competition winners, please go to www.WebAward.org

2005 WebAward Judging Complete

The judging for the 2005 WebAward competition is complete and we are processing the scores and selecting the winners. Right now the plan is to notify the winners on September 6th and announce to the world the following week on September 13th. This may change, but that's what we are shooting for.

2005 WebAward Call for Entries Now Closed

The 2005 WebAwards Call for Entries period is now closed and soon the judging process will begin. Good luck to all who entered this year's competition.

Web Marketing Association Names Best Investor Relations Web Sites

Colgate-Palmolive Wins Best of Show in the Second Annual Interactive Investor Relations Awards Competition

The Web Marketing Association, in partnership with the Wealth Management News Service, is pleased to announce the winners of the second annual Interactive Investor Relations Awards Competition (IIR Awards) for investor relations Web site development. Entries competed with peers within more than 50 industry categories as well as against an overall standard of excellence. Sites were judged on design, navigation, ease of use and use of technology to enhance the investor’s experience as well as specific content criteria relating to investor and financial communication.

"This year’s winners demonstrate that it takes more than just a flashy design to have an effective investor Web site," said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. "IIR Award winners are judged not only on design, but with a strong emphasis on content, combined with a high level of functionality and usability for their target audience. Participating in the competition provides management with valuable feedback from expert judges and gives companies an opportunity to measure the effectiveness of their online investor relations efforts.”

The 2005 Best of Show IIR Award is presented to the Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) at investor.colgate.com for their outstanding investor Web site. In the opinion of the competition judges, the site went beyond all others entered in the IIR Awards to provide investors and the financial community access to critical information in a user friendly format. Particularly, effective use of Flash and video presentations were sited as contributing to the sites success.

A complete list of the winning sites can be found at the interactive Investor Relations Award Web site at www.iiraward.org.

Special recognition is also given to b2i Technologies, Inc. of Richardson Texas. B2i won 21 awards in the 2005 IIR Awards for their clients, including 14 Best of Industry Awards and 7 Outstanding IR Website Awards.

The interactive Investor Relations Awards are judged by individual and institutional investors, financial advisors, financial media, IR professionals and Web developers. Each site is judged on 35 different criteria, earning a score between 0 and 100 points. The highest score in a given category wins Best of Industry for that category. Remaining entries receiving a score of 80 points or greater receive the Outstanding Web site Award. All entries receive judges’ comments and feedback to help participants understand how their entry is viewed and to facilitate improvement.

Sponsors of the 2005 interactive Investor Relations Awards include Barron's and The Wall Street Journal Online, Burrelle's Luce, NewsUSA, O'Dwyer's PR Daily, Small Army Creative Services and PRWeb.

2005 WebAward Deadline Extended

The deadline for entering the Web Marketing Association's 2005 WebAward Competition has been extended until June 15th. This will be the only extension to allow the judging to begin on schedule.

If you have not yet submitted your entries and want to be recognized for your outstanding Web development work, please go to www.webaward.org and enter today. You'll never know if you don't enter.

If you are one of the many Internet professionals who have already entered, now is the time to review your entry one last time before it is sent to the judges. Entries may be edited until the 15th using the edit entry link in the confirmation email sent when you entered your site. All entry fee payments must be received before the entry deadline.

The WebAwards is the premier Website award program available to the interactive community. This is your final opportunity to be included in this exciting event.

Good luck to all our participants and judges.

WebAwards deadline only days away!

If you are like most Internet professionals, you have already entered the 2005 WebAward competition for website development. If you have not done so yet, what are you waiting for? There is only one week - 7 days - less than 168 hours - to earn the recognition that will get you noticed.

You don't want your CEO coming to you in September and asking why your competitor won a WebAward and have to tell him or her that missed the deadline! With 90 industries participating, of course there is a category for you.

Don't wait any longer - enter the 2005 WebAwards today before it is too late!

Go to www.webaward.org and enter right now.

Only two weeks left to enter 2005 WebAwards

Time is running out to enter the Web Marketing Association's 2005 WebAward competition for Website development. The deadline is June 1st and the order form and complete information can be found at www.webaward.org

If you have not yet entered, this is your chance to be recognized as having the best Website in your industry. And with 90 industries you choose from, you're sure to find the right one to meet your needs.

Imagine the look on your boss' or client's face when you tell them your online work has earned the company a prestigious WebAward! Think of the marketing opportunities you could create - but you need to enter to win!

A Website says "you're here".
An award winning Website says "You've arrived"

With only two weeks left, now is the time to go to the online entry form and get the recognition you deserve.

Enter today at www.webaward.org

Web Marketing Association Announcing Winners of the 2005 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.advertisingcompetition.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."

2005 Best of Show Awards were awarded in each of the online medium categories. This year's winners include:

EVB, Inc. for Redwood Creek (Best of Show Online ad)
TMX Communications for Endo_Lidoderm Campaign (Best of Show Email Message Campaign)
she communications (Hong Kong) for Heineken Pulse (Best of Show Online Campaign)
Power Design for Wanda Sykes Cotton T-shirt Tour (Best of Show Email Message)
Organic, Inc. for Jeep Brand Web Site (Best of Show Integrated ad campaign), Jeep Trail Rated Challenge (Best of Show Interactive application) and ROBOTS - CONQUEST AD (Best of Show Rich Media Online Ad)
i33 Communications for Buick Email Re-contact Program (Best of Show Online Newsletter Campaign)
Agency.com for Someone To Turn To (Best of Show Rich Media Online Campaign) and Where Did The Time Go? (Best of Show Microsite/Landing Page)

Two agencies tied for the 2005 Top Agency Award, each winning 21 IAC Awards.

Organic, Inc. of Bloomfield Hills, MI received 21 IAC Awards, including Best of Show Integrated ad campaign for Jeep Brand Web Site, Best of Show Interactive application for Jeep Trail Rated Challenge and Best of Show Rich media Online ad for ROBOTS - CONQUEST AD.

TMX Communications of Conshohocken, PA for recognition of winning the most awards in the competition. TMX Communications took home 21 IAC Awards including Best of Show Email message campaign for Endo_Lidoderm Campaign.

Other IAC Award winners who received multiple awards included:

AGENCY (number of awards) JWT (11)
USDM.net (10)
Marketel-McCann Erickson (9)
Agency.com (6)
Beyond Interactive (6)
BLITZ (6)
Wunderman (6)
Nurun/Ant Farm Interactive (5)
Avenue A Razorfish (4)
Bridge Worldwide (4)
Bronwyn Communications (4)
GREY Direct Oy (4)
Internet Strategy Group (4)
Team One (4)
VML (4)


The Competition web site with a complete list of winners is located at www.advertisingcompetition.org

The 2005 Internet Advertising Competition is sponsored by, BURST! Media, Small Army Creative Services, AdTools, ExactTarget, OddCast, Line56 Media, and PRWeb.

About the Web Marketing Association

The Web Marketing Association is an organization working to create a high standard of excellence for Web site development and marketing on the Internet. Staffed by volunteers, it is made up of Internet marketing, advertising, PR and design professionals who share an interest in improving the quality of advertising, marketing and promotion used to attract visitors to Web sites. Since 1997, the Web Marketing Associations annual WebAward Competition has been helping interactive professionals promote themselves, their companies, and their best work to the outside world. Now in its ninth year, the WebAward Competitions have become the premier event for Web developers and marketers worldwide.


The Web Marketing Association is currently accepting entries for the ninth annual WebAward Competition for Web site development at www.2005webaward.org. Deadline for entry is June 1th.

Rice to Host IAOC Blog "Awards Week"

Bill Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association will be hosting the International Assoication of Online Communicators (IAOC) Blog next week to discuss the importance of winning awards and how they can be used in an overall marketing strategy. The blog is located at www.iaocblog.com.

Please join us for what we hope to be timely blog postings.

Awards Update

WebAward Competition –The 9th annual WebAwards Call for Entries has begun. Recognizing Net Excellence, the WebAwards are your opportunity to be recognized and gain valuable exposure for yourself and your Website. Deadline for entry is June 1st. Don't wait - Enter today! For more information go to www.webaward.org

Interactive Investor Relations Awards – 2005 IIR Awards Call for Entries has ended and judging as begun. Good luck to all who have entered. For more information go to www.iiraward.org

Interactive Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards – The 2005 judging has been complete and we are tabulating the winners which will be announced May 4th. Join our mailing list to be notified when the winners are announced. For more information go to www.iacaward.org

WebAwards to Honor Best Websites in 90 Industries

It's time to be recognized for your outstanding Web development work by winning a 2005 WebAward.

The Web Marketing Association is pleased to announce the call for entries for its 9th annual WebAward Competition, the Internet's premier award competition that judges website development against an ever increasing Internet standard of excellence and against peer sites within 90 industries. The deadline for entry is June 1, 2005 and the competition Website is www.webaward.org.

"The WebAwards is different from other website award programs because we recognize the talented individuals and development teams as well as the Website itself," said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. "Winning has meant personal recognition for the people behind the site and a great marketing opportunity for the Website itself. That is the goal of the WebAward Competition - to provide a forum to recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing some of the most effective websites on the Net today.


Industry Categories


A complete list of past winners and the entry form for companies who wish to compete for 2005 honors can be found at www.webaward.org for the following industries:

Advertising | Advocacy | Airline | Application Service Provider | Arts | Associations | Auction | Automobile | B2B | Bank | Beverage | Biotechnology | Broadcasting | Brokerage | Catalog | Computer: Hardware | Computer: Retailer | Computer: Software | Construction | Consulting | Consumer Goods | Credit Union | Design | Directory or Search Engine | Diversified Business | Education | Email | Employment | Energy | Entertainment | Events | E-Zine | Faith-based | Family | Fashion | Financial Services | Food Industry | Game Site | General Interest | Government | Health Care | Healthcare Provider | Home Building | Hotel and Lodging | Information Services | Institutional Services | Insurance | Interactive Services | International Business | Internet Service Provider | Intranet | Investor Relations | Investment | Legal | Leisure | Magazine | Marketing | Manufacturing | Media | Medical | Medical Equipment | Military | Movie | Music | Mutual Fund | News | Newspaper | Non-Profit | Online Community | Other | Pharmaceuticals | Portal | Professional Services | Public Relations | Publishing | Radio | Real Estate | Regional | Restaurant | Retail | School | Shopping | Small Business | Sports | Technology | Telecommunication | Toy & Hobby | Transportation | Travel | TV | University


Judging Criteria


Web sites are judged on design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, navigation and ease of use. Each WebAward entry is judged against other entries in its industry category and then against an overall standard of excellence. A Best of Industry WebAward, a handsome plaque with the image of the winning site embossed, will be given in each of the 90 industry categories. New categories for this year include Healthcare Providers, Medical Equipment, Fashion and Technology.

Judging for the WebAwards will take place in July and August, and winners will be announced in September 2005. Judges will consist of a select group of Internet professionals who have direct experience designing and managing corporate web sites -including members of the media, advertising executives, site designers, content providers and webmasters - with an in-depth understanding of the current state-of-the-art in Web site design and technology. Past Web Marketing Association WebAward competition judges have included top executives from leading corporations, institutions and media organizations such as Ogilvy Interactive, Saatchi & Saatchi, Blattner Brunner, SAP, Comedy Central, Sun Microsystems, Refinery, Euro RSCG, EPB Interactive, New York Post Interactive, The Cincinnati Enquirer, J. Walter Thompson, Xerox, Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Modem Media, Answerthink, and Zentropy Partners.


2005 Sponsors


The 2005 WebAwards are sponsored by BURST! Media, Burrelle's/Luce, O'Dwyer's PR Daily, NewsUSA, Small Army Marketing Services, Perseus Software, Line56 Media, PRWeb and the World Organization of Webmasters (WOW).

Enter your Website today and be recognized for your outstanding work and create a marketing opportunity for your Website. WebAwards - Recognizing Net Excellence
www.webaward.org

WebAwards featured in DM News

Online Exclusive: Winning a Web Site Award Is Only Half of the Battle

Prestigious Web site awards have long been used to help marketing professionals promote an organization's Internet efforts. But what does it take to have an award-winning Web site, asks Web Marketing Association's William Rice. According to the Web Marketing Association, it takes a site that brings many aspects together to meet the user's need. They should know. Since 1997, the association's WebAward Competition has set the standard of excellence for Web site development all over the globe through the seven criteria they developed and use to judge the annual WebAward Competition.
www.dmnews.com/cgi-bin/artprevbot.cgi?article_id=32374

Interactive Investor Relations Awards Deadline Extended

It's time to be recognized and gain valuable exposure for your online IR efforts.

The deadline for entering the 2005 Interactive Investor Relations Awards, the premier event to recognize outstanding writing and implementation of online investor relations in 60 industry categories, has been extended until April 15th.

Complete details and entry form can be found on the competition Web site at www.IIRaward.org. The deadline for entry is now April 15, 2005.

If you did not enter last year, you missed out the opportunity to promote your IR efforts both internally and to the investment community. Both large and small companies were among the winners of last year's IIR Awards. The Best of Show winners was The Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO) which also won Best Banking IR Web site. Other winners included Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), SAP (NYSE: SAP), CVS (NYSE:KO), GM (NYSE:GM), eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY), Dell (NASDAQ: DELL), IDEXX Laboratories (NASDAQ: IDXX), Marine Products Corp (AMEX: MPX), and Nevada Gold (AMEX: UMN)

Sponsors of the 2005 Interactive Investor Relations Awards include The Wall Street Journal Online (www.wsj.com), Barron's (www.barrons.com), Burrelle's Luce (www.burrellesluce.com), O'Dwyer's PR Daily (www.odwyerpr.com), TheStreet.com (www.thestreet.com), and the American Stock Exchange (www.amex.com).

The IIR Awards are produced by the Web Marketing Association (www.webmarketingassociation.org) in association with the Wealth Management News Service (www.wmns.org). Since 1997, The Web Marketing Association had been dedicated to increasing the professional standards of excellence in Web development. Its annual WebAward Competition (www.webaward.org) has set the standard of excellence for overall Web site development for the past nine years. The Wealth Management News Service is an online public relations service providing expert commentary and ideas to the financial media.

ENTRY DEADLINE - April 15, 2005