One Month Left to Enter 2011 WebAwards

The Web Marketing Association's call for entries for its 15th annual international WebAward competition has less than one month until the deadline of May 27, 2011.. The WebAwards are the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks based on the seven criteria of a successful Web site. It recognizes the individual and team achievements of Web professionals who create and maintain outstanding Web sites.

Entering is easy, simply go to the WebAward Nominator Log-In and log in to an existing nominator account or create a new account. Add a few details about your entry and our judges will do the rest.

This year, a new award has been added to the 15th annual WebAward competition. The much coveted Top Agency WebAward is given to the organization who wins the most total WebAwards in a single competition. However each year many agencies and some corporations win multiple awards and deserve additional recognition. This year, we will recognize each organization that wins 10 or more WebAwards with an Outstanding Interactive Developer trophy.

Check out our Web Marketing Association Facebook Page and be sure to like us as we will be providing hints and tips on how to improve your chances on winning a top award though out April and May.

The 2011 WebAwards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: BGT Partners, PR Newswire, Burst Media, EContent Magazine, We Build Web Pages, MycroBurst, ExactTarget, ad:tech conferences, Internet World UK, SES Conferences, Webmaster Radio, and Website Magazine. The Web Marketing Association thanks these companies for their commitment to the entire online marketing community.

Attributes of Award Winning Websites - A study of the 2010 WebAward winners and what made them successful

Attributes of Award Winning Websites - A study of the 2010 WebAward winners and what made them successful is a new study now available from the Web Marketing Association. Our goal is to provide the Web development community with insights into current industry trends by examining various aspects of websites selected as winners in the 2010 WebAward competition for website development and comparing them to those entries that were not selected as winners.

“We think this study will help give those developing websites important insights into industry development trends,” said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. “Since 2006, we have gathered demographic data on the sites entered. Whether you are in an agency or a corporate interactive marketing department, it is always difficult to benchmark your efforts and demonstrate to senior management and/or clients how your efforts compare. The results of this study will be one way to help accomplish that task.”

The study includes information on the following topics:
Target Audience
Development Platform,
Programming Platform,
Site Developer
Budget

The study also examines specific website features including:
Email Mailing List
RSS Feeds
Use of Flash
Live Chat
Use of Audio and Video
Inclusion of Banner Ads
Shopping Cart
Multiple Languages

To see what we found from the 1,092 sites submitted to the WebAwards in 2010 in our free 24 page Attributes of an Award Winning Website Study, please go to http://www.webaward.org/awardwinning_report.asp

To enter the 2011 WebAward competition for Website Development, please go to the WebAward.org Website.

Increase Your Chances of Winning a WebAward

What is the best way to win a WebAward from the Web Marketing Association? To enter of course! However there are ways to improve your chances when the judging starts. Since April 1st, tips and hints have been posted to the Web Marketing Association’s Facebook Fan Page to help you position your entry in the best possible light. So here are the first 10 tips to get a step ahead of the competition.

WebAward Tip #1 - Pay Attention to the Audience and Mission Statement
The judges use the audience and mission statement to get a sense of what you are trying to accomplish. It puts things into perspective for them. If you are too vague or worst too long winded, the judges will go on what that think the goal of the site should be and it may not be what you expect.

WebAward Tip #2 - Don’t Have A Single Landing Page for All Entries
Some agencies like to have a single landing page for all entries submitted to an awards show. This might make things easy for them, but it can be a nightmare for the judges. Creating a landing page is not required, but also acceptable as long as it is only for the entry under consideration. Judges click on the link and expect to go to the site, not have to search through many potential sites to fine the one they need. Make it easy for them.

WebAward Tip #3 - Enter Early If You Pay By Check
Entries cannot be submitted to the judges until the entry fee is paid. You would not believe how many nominators wait until the final deadline to submit their site and then have to submit a check request! If your company requires you to pay by check, use May 1st as your deadline and get the site submitted and the check request processed to get your entry viewed by the judges in the first round.

WebAward Tip #4 - Don’t Include Instructions In The URL Field
When we ask for a URL, we want only a URL. If you type “www.webaward.org (go to the bottom of the page first)”, the judges will click on the URL and get an error message. This holds up your site being reviewed and makes us work harder. If you have something you want the judges to know, add a “NOTE TO JUDGES” at the beginning of your audience and mission statement.

WebAward Tip #5 - -Have someone from your organization become a judge.
You won’t be allowed to review your own entries, but there is no better way to see how unbiased the judging process is than to judge entries yourself. The judge’s nomination form can be found at http://www.webaward.org/judges.asp

WebAward Tip #6 - Tell Your Other Offices
One of the most prestigious awards given out each year is the Top Agency award, given to the agency which wins the most awards in a given year. If your agency has multiple offices or international offices, make sure they submit their entries also. We will combine all offices of the same company to count for that award.

WebAward Tip #7 - Check your URL and Passwords
Every year sites are disqualified because the nominator had a typo in the URL or the server moved or the username expired. Don’t let this happen to you! If the URL changes, email us and we will update it. Make sure the user name and password (if necessary) are valid until August 15th to be sure the judges can access the site.

WebAward Tip #8 - Don’t Forget Microsites
It’s not just major enterprise websites that win awards. Sometimes it is the microsite, a site dedicated to a single product or concept, that does very well. You can also submit a section of a larger site (i.e. the investor relations section of a public company site). It all starts with the URL you submit on the entry form.

WebAward Tip #9 - Select the Most Appropriate category
The best way to pick the category your site will compete in is by saying to yourself “What would be best for my marketing program if I win?” Many categories overlap because over the years people complained that they were one and not the other. The other thing to consider is how competitive the category might be. The “Mutual Fund” category is narrower than the “Financial Services” category and might be easier to take the top prize. However, Best Financial Services Website might have more cache for your marketing efforts. Sometimes the best idea is to enter both categories and double your chances to win.

WebAward Tip #10 - Non-English Sites Are Welcome
The international WebAwards accepts sites in ten different languages (English, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, Dutch, Chinese, Japanese, Greek and Turkish) and our systems are designed to automatically assign foreign language site to judges who are fluent in that language. However, if an English version of the site is available it is always preferred that you submit that site as we have many more English speaking judges that other languages.

To enter your website into the 15th annual international WebAward Competition for Website Development, go to www.Webaward.org.

Winners of the 2011 Internet Advertising Competition Awards Announced by Web Marketing Association

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

Best of Show Winners

2011 Best of Show Awards were awarded in each of the online medium categories. This year's winners include:

CDMG Inc for Coffey Anderson - Email campaign (Best of Show Email message campaign)
Doremus for Cisco'ed (Best of Show Ads the client did not pick)
Saatchi & Saatchi LA for Toyota Sponsafier (Best of Show Interactive application)
HBO for Eastbound & Down S2 - Kenny Powers Home Run Fiesta (Best of Show Mobile application)
Critical Mass & TBWA\Chiat\Day for the new car (Best of Show Online campaign)
Akron General Medical Center and Hitchcock Fleming & Associates Inc. for Our ER Wait Times banner (Best of Show Rich media Online ad)
Organic, Inc. for U By Kotex* (Best of Show Integrated ad campaign)
BlueRush Digital Media Corp. for Manulife Solutions (Best of Show Online Newsletter campaign)
GEICO Insurance and CDG Interactive for GEICO Gecko Wheel of Wisdom iAD (Best of Show Online ad)
Organic, Inc. for Help Me Choose (Best of Show Online Video)
Definition 6 for Coca-Cola Happiness Machine (Best of Show Social Media campaign)
e-Dialog, Inc. for e-Dialog 2010 Holiday Card (Best of Show Email message)
Rockfish for America's Health Rankings (Best of Show Website)
Madden Media and Kentucky Department of Travel for Kentucky Cooperative Rich Media Online Campaign (Best of Show Rich media Online campaign)

Top Agency Winners

Biggs|Gilmore of Kalamazoo, MI was recognized for the third year in a row with the 2011 Top Agency Award, winning 23 IAC Awards. Their awards include 11 Best of Industry awards and 12 Outstanding awards.

A dozen additional organizations were recognized as Outstanding Advertising Developers in the 2011 IAC Awards for winning 6 or more awards. They are:

AGENCY (number of awards)

Biggs|Gilmore (22)
Saatchi & Saatchi LA (19)
BlueRush (14)
VML (14)
IQ (10)
BGT Partners (9)
Carlson Marketing (9)
TMP Worldwide (9)
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Online (8)
Y&R New York (7)
HBO (6)
Organic, Inc. (6)
TBWA/Tequila (6)


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

Web Marketing Association Looking For Internet Experts To Judge WebAwards

The Web Marketing Association is expecting a record number of participants in its 15th annual international WebAward competition,and we looking for experienced Internet professionals who can help judge the Website that are entered. Interested individuals can submit their names for consideration using the WebAward Judges Nomination Form.

The 2011 WebAward Competition for Website development is currently accepting entries until May 27, 2001. Judging will begin in mid-June.

IAC Award Winners to be Announced

The Web Marketing Association will announce the winners of the 9th annual Internet Advertising Competition on Tuesday, March 29th. Participants should look for an email announcement and visit there nominator account to see the results. Good luck to everyone who has entered.

15th Annual WebAward Competition Kicks Off Call For Entries

The Web Marketing Association is pleased to announce the call for entries for its 15th annual international WebAward competition. The WebAwards are the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks based on the seven criteria of a successful Web site. It recognizes the individual and team achievements of Web professionals who create and maintain outstanding Web sites. The deadline for entry in the 2001 WebAwards is May 27, 2011. A complete list of past winners and this year’s entry form can be found at www.webaward.org.

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.

This year’s top awards will include:

• A “Best of Industry” WebAward will be given in each of the 96 industry categories, including financial services, medical, small business, travel, advertising, transportation and government.

• The competition’s highest honor, the 2011 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 Hitchcock Fleming & Associates Inc. for its outstanding work on the "Glidden Website." The site was also recognized as Best Manufacturing Website.

• The Web Marketing Association will also recognize the interactive agency winning the most awards in the competition with the “Top Interactive Agency” WebAward. For the second year in a row, the Top Agency award was awarded to the Bay Area interactive agency Extractable taking home 27 WebAwards.

There is one significant change in this year's WebAwards. The much coveted Top Agency WebAward is given to the organization who wins the most total WebAwards in a single competition. However each year many agencies and some corporations win multiple awards and deserve additional recognition. This year, we will recognize each organization that wins 10 or more WebAwards with an Outstanding Interactive Developer trophy.

Check out our Web Marketing Association Facebook Page and be sure to like us as we will be providing hints and tips on how to improve your chances on winning a top award though out April and May.

The 2011 WebAwards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: BGT Partners, PR Newswire, Burst Media, AllBusiness.com, ExactTarget, ad:tech conferences, Internet World UK, SES Conferences, Webmaster Radio, and Website Magazine. The Web Marketing Association thanks these companies for their commitment to the entire online marketing community.

SES Conference & Expo

In the March issue of Interactive Briefing, the link to SES Conference & Expo contained a typo and was not functioning. The correct information is below:

SES Conference & Expo
March 21-25
Hilton New York

Learn to become an indispensable source of insight for your firm by making the most of the data at your finger tips. At SES, we're thrilled to tell you about the latest in our training programs for marketers, site owners, and managers. SES New York is bringing the latest in marketing analytics training, identifying the seven steps for building and maintaining a great analytics infrastructure.

You'll learn about: * Analyzing patterns of user behaviors, Connecting analytics to design for identifying obstacles/opportunities, Attributing site traffic by sources, Measuring ROI of specific marketing efforts.

Sessions and forums we recommend include: IAB Local Advertising Forum; PPC Beyond Search: New Ad Formats, Display & Social; RTB, DSP, ATD, WTF: Finding Quality is a Sea of Solutions; Analytics RX: Diagnosis and Recovery; Reaching Latinos through SEO; Conversion Tools of the Master Craftsman.

Web Marketing Association Members: SAVE 20% when you enter priority code: 20WMA Look for us at booth #2502 at the show.

Online and on Target

William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association was quoted in an article in the February 14, 2011 issue of the magazine Modern Healthcare by Andis Robeznieks entitled "Online and on Target:
Hospitals add sophistication to their websites, improving value to patients."

Bill discusses the evolution of healthcare websites and current bast practices based on results from the annual WebAward program, now in its 15th year.

SES Conference Drawing Winner

Congratulations to Steve Schwalb of Digital Eel in St. Petersburg, FL for being chosen as the winner of a full conference pass to Search Engine Strategies conference in New York March 21-25, 2011.

This year SES is taking the lead in dissecting the new online marketing landscape and figuring out what it means for you. SES continues to be the industry's leading forum, delivering marketers the broadest scope from which to view the industry and learn to fully integrate all the dimensions of search, taking advantage of all the possibilities.

There is still time to sign up to attend this top conference for Internet marketers. Go to http://www.sesnewyork.com for complete details.

Free Full Conference Pass to Search Engine Strategies

Today is the last day to sign-up to win a free full conference pass to Search Engine Strategies in New York on March 22-26. If you would like a chance to attend this conference for free, send your contact information, including name, title, company, and address to SES@WebAward.org by February 28th to enter our drawing. Learn more about the conference at http://www.sesnewyork.com/

IAC Award Final Deadline is Today - Feb 11

This is it! Today is the final day to enter the Web Marketing Association's Internet Advertising Competition for 2011. Judging starts Monday, so don't be left out and enter right now!

If you are already entered, this is the final day to edit your entry before it is sent to the judges. The judging will begin on Monday.

Good luck to everyone participating.

Internet Advertising Competition Awards Deadline Extended

The Web Marketing Association has extended the deadline to enter the 9th annual Internet Advertising Competition Awards. The new deadline is now February 11th at midnight EST. This will be the only extension as the judging will begin the following Monday.

All existing entries can be edited until the new deadline date as well.

Entering is easy. Entries are submitted online by logging in to your existing Nominator Account. If you are new to the IAC Awards, you can create a New Nominator Account here. Upload your creative onto a html page and you are ready to win. Entries will be judged on creativity, innovation, impact, design, copywriting, and use of the medium.

Awards will be presented within each of the industry categories and advertising formats such as:

Social Media Campaign (NEW for 2011)

Online Ad (including banner, pop-up or interstitial)

Rich Media Online Ad

Email Message

Online Newsletter Campaign

Website (including microsites and landing pages)

Integrated Ad Campaign

Moble Apps

Online video

Ads The Client Did Not Choose

Best of Show awards for each format will be selected from among the industry winners. Ads eligible for entry in the competition must have run during the period from January 1, 2010 through January 28, 2010, except for the Ads The Client Did Not Choose which do not have to have run.

IAC Best of Industry winners will receive a new custom-made IAC Award that uses high quality clear and black crystal, with a custom geometric hand cut shape, and the pieces of black and clear crystal seamlessly fused and polished together by hand. In between the clear and black, the IAC logo is etched on the bottom of the clear piece, creating a beautiful unique design. Personalization is added with a steel plate on the base. It will be an impressive addition to any display case and will make an extraordinary client gift.

Winning an Internet Advertising Competition award is a great way to show clients and senior management the excellence of your work - and it won't hurt the moral in the office either!

Don't wait! Enter your best online advertising and win the recognition you deserve! Enter today at www.IACAward.org

Internet Advertising Competition Awards Deadline Extended

The Web Marketing Association has extended the deadline to enter the 9th annual Internet Advertising Competition Awards. The new deadline is now February 11th at midnight EST. This will be the only extension as the judging will begin the following Monday.

All existing entries can be edited until the new deadline date as well.

Entering is easy. Entries are submitted online by logging in to your existing Nominator Account. If you are new to the IAC Awards, you can create a New Nominator Account here. Upload your creative onto a html page and you are ready to win. Entries will be judged on creativity, innovation, impact, design, copywriting, and use of the medium.

Awards will be presented within each of the industry categories and advertising formats such as:

Social Media Campaign (NEW for 2011)

Online Ad (including banner, pop-up or interstitial)

Rich Media Online Ad

Email Message

Online Newsletter Campaign

Website (including microsites and landing pages)

Integrated Ad Campaign

Moble Apps

Online video

Ads The Client Did Not Choose

Best of Show awards for each format will be selected from among the industry winners. Ads eligible for entry in the competition must have run during the period from January 1, 2010 through January 28, 2010, except for the Ads The Client Did Not Choose which do not have to have run.

IAC Best of Industry winners will receive a new custom-made IAC Award that uses high quality clear and black crystal, with a custom geometric hand cut shape, and the pieces of black and clear crystal seamlessly fused and polished together by hand. In between the clear and black, the IAC logo is etched on the bottom of the clear piece, creating a beautiful unique design. Personalization is added with a steel plate on the base. It will be an impressive addition to any display case and will make an extraordinary client gift.

Winning an Internet Advertising Competition award is a great way to show clients and senior management the excellence of your work - and it won't hurt the moral in the office either!

Don't wait! Enter your best online advertising and win the recognition you deserve! Enter today at www.IACAward.org

The New Rules of Selling Consulting Services in 2011 Whitepaper

The New Rules of Selling Consulting Services in 2011 - The economy ups and downs and ups, changes in buyer behavior, the web, social media, sales enablement tools, and increased competition have transformed how and why clients buy. Register and receive a free whitepaper to help you better understand the changing dynamics of selling consulting services.

Blogging Success Summit 2011: The Web's Largest Online Business Blogging Conference

Blogging Success Summit 2011 is a live online conference designed to help you master blogging for business, empowering you to quickly attract and connect with customers (and prospects). The industry's leading blogging pros will show you how.

This fully online conference starts Tuesday, February 1, and runs through February 22. It's comfortably spread over four weeks (and recorded for later playback) to accommodate your schedule. There's no travel! You simply attend from the comfort of your home or office.

REGISTER TODAY and SAVE 50% PLUS GET $794 IN FREE BONUSES!

Internet Advertising Competition's New Award

The Web Marketing Association is please to announce that the Best of Industry winners in the 2011 Internet Advertising Competition will receive a newly updated award from Society Awards in NYC.

This custom made award uses high quality clear and black crystal, with a custom geometric hand cut shape, and the pieces of black and clear crystal seamlessly fused and polished together by hand. In between the clear and black, the IAC logo is etched on the bottom of the clear piece, creating a beautiful unique design. Personalization is added with a steel plate on the base. It will be an impressive addition to any display case and will make an extraordinary client gift.

The deadline to enter the 2011 Internet Advertising Competition Awards in now less than a month away. Banner ads, email ads, rich media, online newsletters, online video, mobile and online apps, websites and now social media campaigns can be entered in 86 industry categories at www.IACAward.org. 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 28, 2011. Don't miss out!

SES Free Conference Pass Drawing

Search Engine Strategies will be held in New York on March 22-26. Our friends at SES are offering a no-cost full conference pass to one member of the Web Marketing Association. If you would like a chance to attend this conference for free, send your contact information, including name, title, company, and address to SES@WebAward.org by February 28th to enter our drawing.

Learn more about the conference at http://www.sesnewyork.com/

Increase your Chances of Winning an IAC Award!

Throughout January, we will be publishing insiders hints for increasing your chances to win a IAC Award. Each weekday during January the Web Marketing Association Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/WebMarketingAssoc will feature ideas to improve your chances to win the recognition you deserve. Be sure to like the page so updates will show up in your news feed.

Technology For Marketing & Advertising Conference

TFM&A, to be held 1-2 March, 2011 at Earls Court 2, London, is the UK's only truly integrated marketing, and advertising, event, with an attendance of over 10,000. TFM&A delivers the latest industry insight, trends and developments as well as leading suppliers of digital, direct, data and CRM solutions. Add to this, unrivalled networking opportunities for marketing, advertising & media professionals. For more information & to register for FREE entry visit www..t-f-m.co.uk