Comments from the judges on Senators Clinton and Obama Websites

The Web Marketing Association asked past WebAward judges to review both www.hillaryclinton.com and www.barackobama.com using the same criteria used in the annual WebAwards program. The sites were judged side by side on seven criteria of a successful Website. More than 100 Judges responded on short notice and named Senator Obama's Website as the Best Websites in head to head competition against Senator Clinton's Website.

One of the main benefits of participating in the annual WebAward competition is the feedback participants receive regarding their Websites. Below are some of the comments from the WebAward judges regarding the two sites being evaluated. They are the personal opinions of the specific judge who made them and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Web Marketing Association. Attribution is given where available.

For compete information on the Clinton Obama Website Challange, please visit our Website at www.TheWebAwards.org.


I think both designs and architectures were well planned. But on the user experience side, both the Clinton and Obama sites initially forced a sign up page, requesting my email and contact info on my first visit. When I landed on Hilary’s site, I thought I had received a link in error to some landing page see http://hillaryclinton.com/splash/. Both sites request this ahead being allowed in the main area but it went away on a browser refresh, so while I did not study the code, I assumed it was a basic use of a cookie. Overall, I thought this was a poor treatment of the first time visitor by forcing the desire of the campaign to gather information without having served the user. Both sites did offer a “skip this” choice to proceed to the main site but it took some review time to even find that. I tested this with others on my staff and got the same reaction about the treatment of the 1st time visitor. For the record I also checked and McCain’s site did not currently use the same information gathering tactic which may only relate to where he is in the primary cycle. With so many undecided voters, I thought this was a clear cut example of not putting the user first and designing the experience for them rather than forcing them into a model that worked for the campaigns.
Bo Simmons, President, Cool Blue Interactive

Barack's website has a more calming effect and eases you into the different topics on the site. Hillary's feels more clutters and pushy. As far as web design goes Barack's website has a more current web 2.0 look and feel. Both websites are very impressive and the technology used is equally so.
Jon Harrison, Webavt.com

The navigation of the site appear the same -- even the DONATE NOW/CONTRIBUTE button is the same color and placement. Even the language of video (candidateTV) is the same! In the end, Barack seems to be doing a better job visually. There is much more use of white space, which results in homepage scrolling, but this works better than cramming all the content into the homepage like the Hillary site. Content-wise the websites appear similiar just with a different candidate. Obama does seem to make more use of social media, but one has to wonder if it a case of name-dropping ("hey, I represent on MyBatanga!"). Interestingly, Hillary's "bilingual" page keeps navigation and a lot of the call to actions in English. No bueno.
David Felfoldi, Sherpa! Web Studios

I found the design of Barack Obama's site to be lively, consistent and professional and the messaging to be positive and engaging. Every element was handled with finesse and the flow of information invited exploration. The site definitely conveyed "possibilities." If I lived in bubble and this was the only exposure I had to the candidate and his campaign, I would be very impressed. On the other hand, I found Hillary Clinton's site to be uninspiring in both its design and its tone. The site appeared overly conventional and cluttered, the messaging came across as harsh and needy, and the overall experience felt stale. I think the site might actually do the candidate some disservice because it lacked warmth, vision and personality. If I were to vote for a candidate based solely on the merits of his or her Website, Barack Obama would win by a landslide.
Sherry Bastion, ARCHESITE.

Both sites are almost complete copies of the other. The differences are so minor that I believe they are very evenly matched with Hillary's site being more compact and Obama's site is more iconic. The Hillary site is more pure CSS than Obama's but both function nicely. One cool thing that the Obama site has is ring-tones and more focus on the mobile user. Also his layout of the video channel is nicer although her's loads much faster.
Bruce Baughman, President, Design Monkey Artists Domain Inc.

Overall, it was tough to determine a clear winner because both sites were very similar. What made BarackObama.com stand out for me was that through the use of color and his photography, it made the experience more inviting and personable. HillaryClinton.com felt a bit stale and cold, not engaging enough. I did prefer Hillary's story though with the timeline and photography. Another great element was 'The Hillary I Know' microsite that featured video of those closest to her - nice touch.
Jeannie Metz-Fratoni, Creative Director, Red Door Interactive

While both candidate web sites are superb on their own, when judging them side by side, Barack Obama's web site has the edge on every available metric -- from the initial look and feel of the splash page to the way the interior of the site is structured and dressed to communicate effectively. As one example, the Barack Obama web site is much more effective in its use of white space to make each area of the page stand out whereas the Hillary Clinton web site feels more crammed -- with lots of bold colors competing for attention.
Raymond Pirouz raymondpirouz.com/

It is very hard for me to distinguish between the 2 of these sites. if you took the name and photos off, they would look almost exactly the same- color palette, font, layout, menu headings, they have nearly the same content in the same order.

In this campaign Hillary Clinton appears to be trailing in every aspect, including online campaigning. While her campaign has made an effort to include references and connections to most social networking tools, they clearly lack the commitment and resources to make the most of their online opportunities. As a result her Website presents Hillary Clinton as a fairly scattershot candidate. Barack Obama's campaign, on the other hand, clearly started with a strong commitment to using design and online campaigning to engage the public in their campaign story. As with his speeches and other communications, every element of Obama's Website is meticulously crafted. Typography is impeccable, graphics are gorgeous, and his message of hope, community, and vision for a positive future are unmissable.

As an objective judge for the WebAwards for the last 4 years, as well as dealing with web design and communication issues daily in my business, the Clinton site was by far more professional and intuitive than the Obama site. As an Obama supporter I felt quite disappointed in the disparity. Perhaps the answer lies in the financial resource that Clinton has over Obama in hiring the right web and communication managers.
Brian Bickford, President, Strategic Productions

I think Obama's site is much more contemporary, and will appeal to more technically savvy viewers, while Clinton's is not as innovative in structure, technology, etc. As a designer I'd rather be taking credit for Obama's site, although I'm a Clinton supporter.

Both candidates have loaded their sites with the latest media tools and are nearly identical in form and function. They have nailed the technology, but they are missing the human element. Neither Clinton nor Obama have a personal blog where they could connect with voters in their own words and share their daily experiences. Everyone from Moms to CEOs are blogging today, why not the candidates? It's a real chance to make a competitive difference on the web and build a personal connection with voters.
Bob Gilbreath, Chief Marketing Strategist, Bridge Worldwide

Most annoying on both sites was seeing a sign up form very prominent on the page. I almost thought that's all there was until I saw the "Enter site" button. This would turn off a lot of people I think and is almost the same as the annoying "Skip Intro" Flash sites. Clinton's site was more straightforward HTML so it was a little easier to use and the contribution form looked and worked cleaner. However overall Obama's site was better especially in the copywriting it was clearer where he stood on positions or at least was able to find his positions better. Probably the biggest piece of cheese on his site was the "Powered by Hope" emblem on the bottom. It almost felt jokey and if it wasn't, it's taking the "hope" theme too far and making it meaningless. (I hope his t-shirts aren't "built by hope") Overall there's not much differentiation between the sites, it's almost like they bought the same template and went from there. Especially when they aren't going for politics as usual, their sites certainly are.

"The websites of the 3 leading U.S. Presidential contenders reflect, not surprisingly, their various personalities and agendas. The design, contents and use of technologies vary from conservative to very progressive. A look at all three websites gives insight into how modern media planners can integrate technology tools to promote their message and their brand strategy.
Ric Shreves, http://RicShreves.net

While many of the details of their platforms are informed by similar values and proposals, the vitality of Obama's site is inspiring and engaging (even the backgrounds of the Obama site have a vitality lacking in the Hillary site's drab gradients). Will a site change the minds of visitors? I found that it effectively drew me closer to the candidate; in fact I might just go back and volunteer.
Jamie Leo, Creative Director, The Monday Campaigns

In the battle for popularity, the ability to use the Web and Social Media effectively can be a critical determinant of success. The Hillary Clinton campaign has put together a cogent, persuasive website with sophisticated use of technology, including social media. The Barack Obama website however has an earthy appeal to it, and perfectly reinforces the message that the Obama campaign has consistently sought to convey. The Obama site thus strongly resonates with it's target audience.
Dr. V P Kochikar, Assc Vice President and Principal Consultant, Infosys Technologies

It's clear that the Obama website has embraced all that is new about the web. An indication of what he stands for and what he's aiming to achieve. It is clear, concise and beautifully designed. Although not a poor site in many ways, the first impression of Clinton's is of desperation. It is loaded with colours and content that can confuse the user. Being from the UK, I can judge these sites with little affiliation to a candidate, and I would say Obama's site is by far the most appealing.
Nic Sheppard, eBusiness Manager, iShares Europe

Barack Obama needs to make it clear to the user that visitors do not have to provide their name and email information in order to view the site. Currently, you can only use the logo to access the site. Hillary Clinton clearly states it on the home page.
Linda Girard, Pure Visibility

Both sites were slick, but I would have to give a narrow edge to Sen. Clinton. The design was denser, the content seemed richer and the video streaming was clearer on the Clinton page. Both sites reflected the personalities of the candidates -- Clinton's site had more detail (and threw more punches); Obama's site was more inspiring. Both candidates emphasized money raising, no surprise there.
Rob Wray, Rob Wray Marketing

The Clinton site whilst looking very basic on entering it is really full of technology but not in an "in your face" kind of way. Subtle, good copy, nice graphics.
Nic Carter-Jones, New Millennium Internet UK

Internet Industry Conferences

If you are attending ad:tech, April 15&17 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, please stop by and see us in the exhibit hall in booth 6381. Also look for Dennis Franczak, of FUSE/ideas who was the winner of the conference pass drawing we held in the last issue of Interactive Briefing.

Speaking of winners, congratulations also goes out to Susan Prater, Interactive Marketing Manager at Owens Corning who was selected to receive an iTouch by stopping by our booth at Search Engine Strategies New York Conference (another outstanding industry event)

We are giving away several copies of Seth Godin’s newest book Meatball Sundae: Is your marketing out of sync. Please email your contact information to (meatball at webaward.org)
and if you’re selected, we will mail you a copy of this interesting book courtesy of our friends at Search Engine Strategies.

Manufacturing Web sites Highlighted in Podcast

Bill Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association was recently interviewed on PodcasterNews about the state of excellence in manufacturing Websites. The interview also discussed the seven criteria for a successful Website and what a Website needs to be successful in today's online environment.

Based in Colorado and across the US via Skype, the Better Process Podcast interviews small and mid-sized manufacturing companies, and the companies that service these companies. Shows are free to download from iTunes (search for Better Process Podcast in iTunes music store) and are available most business days. More information on the show can be found at http://www.BetterProcess.com. The Better Process Podcast is the voice of the small and mid-sized manufacturing firm.

The interview can be listened to online at PodCasterNews, or you can download the mp3 file here.

We Need Your Help

The Web Marketing Association is a volunteer organization that each year produces the WebAward program. We need your help in spreading the news about our call for entry to other Internet Professionals. Our greatest marketing asset is you our newsletter readers.

You can help by:

Emailing other professionals or site owners and ask them to participate in the WebAwards.

Blog about the WebAwards. Either on your blog or industry blogs, write about our call for entry or your experiences with the WebAwards. You can point them to our blog posting for the Call for Entry.

Tell others within your organization. It is difficult to maintain contact with past participants via email. People change responsibilities, email addresses change and companies get merged. Make sure the correct people within your organization, including offices in other cities know about the WebAwards. The more awards your organization wins, the more recognition you will receive.

With your help we can have the most successful WebAward competition ever!

Call for WebAward Judges

Each year, we look to add experienced Internet professionals to the ranks of our WebAward Judging Panel. We select new judges based on the number of returning judges, the number of entries and the number of qualified applicants. Being a WebAward judge is a valuable experience that helps the individual better understand overall Web development and of course looks impressive on a resume or corporate bio.

"The WebAwards is different from other Web site award programs because we're not just a beauty pageant focused on name recognition and design," said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association. "Our judges are handed picked experts who have hands on experience either leading or developing some of today's top Websites. These individuals understand that participating as a judge in the WebAwards is one excellent way to give back to the online marketing community and help it to grow and evolve."

Judges will consist of a select group of Internet professionals who have direct experience designing and managing Web sites,–including members of the media, interactive creative directors, site designers, content providers and webmasters – with an in-depth understanding of the current state-of-the-art in Web site development and technology. Past judges have included top executives from leading organizations such as A&E Television Networks, Agency.com, Blattner Brunner, Bridge Worldwide, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Comedy Central, Disney, Euro RSCG, Ion Global, J. Walter Thompson, John Deere Company, New York Post Interactive, Organic, Inc., Refinery, R/GA, Saatchi & Saatchi, SAP, Starwood Hotels, Sun Microsystems, Warner Bros. Online, Xerox and Zugara.

If you or someone some one in your organization would make a good judge, they can learn more and enter their name for consideration on the WebAward Judges Nomination Form

SES returns to the San Jose Convention Center August 18-21, 2008

Early Bird Special: SAVE $600 on a Platinum Passport now through Tuesday, April 29.

San Jose in the summer is the place to be. Not only is it the center of the famed Silicon Valley, home to the largest concentration of successful internet and high-tech companies in the world, it is also the location for this year's Search Engine Strategies summer event!

There's no debating it, while SES NY is the agency conference, SES SJ is the high-tech and internet company event of the year! If you missed last year's Search Engine Strategies Summer in San Jose, you must be in attendance this August 18-21.

Saving $600 on a Platinum Passport now through Tuesday, April 29th Web Marketing Association members and friends can save more with their discount code – SJ10WMA

Register today for this outstanding event!

ad:tech Awards judging

Choose the best interactive ads and websites for the ad:tech People's Choice Awards! You have until April 4th to vote and winners will be announced at ad:tech San Francisco.

Click here to vote

Web Marketing Association's 12th Annual WebAwards to Honor World’s Best Web Sites

The Web Marketing Association is pleased to announce the call for entries for its 12th annual international WebAward competition. The WebAwards is the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks based on the seven criteria of a successful Web site. It recognizes the individual and team achievements of Web professionals who create and maintain outstanding Web sites. The deadline for entry in the 2008 WebAwards is May 31, 2008. A complete list of past winners and this year’s entry form can be found at www.webaward.org.

“The WebAwards is different from other Web site award programs because we’re not just a beauty pageant focused on name recognition and design,” said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association. “The goal of the WebAwards is to not only recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing some of the most effective Web sites on the Internet today, but also provide valuable feedback to entrants on how their sites stack up against their peers and industry standards of excellence. For that reason, we see ourselves more like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval than the Academy Awards.”

Web sites are judged on seven criteria, including design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, copy writing and ease of use and receive a numeric score. Each WebAward entry is judged against other entries in its industry category and then against an overall standard of excellence. Entrants also benefit from receiving valuable feedback from the WebAwards professional judging panel on their Web site development efforts.

Using the quantifiable data collected from nearly 18,000 Web site evaluations over the past decade, the WebAwards has defined and recognized industry-specific benchmarks for successful Web sites in each of these areas and release a the Internet Standards Assessment Report to communicate the findings of the study. A copy of the study is available at www.webaward.org.

This year’s top awards will include:

• A “Best of Industry” WebAward, a handsome plaque with the image of the winning site embossed, will be given in each of the 96 industry categories, including financial services, medical, small business, travel, advertising, transportation and government.

• The competition’s highest honor, the 2008 WebAward “Best of Show,” will be given to the one site that the judges believe represents the pinnacle of outstanding achievement in Web development. Last year’s Best of Show winner was Walt Disney Internet Group for its outstanding work on Disney XD web site, which also won Best Design Website. Best of show runner up submitted by Atlanta-based IQ Interactive is UPS Whiteboard.

• The Web Marketing Association will also recognize the interactive agency winning the most awards in the competition with the “Top Interactive Agency” WebAward. The 2007 Top Agency award was Biggs/Gilmore taking home 20 WebAwards. Biggs/Gilmore is headquartered in Kalamazoo, MI and took home Best Food Website, Best Pharmaceutical Website and 8 Outstanding WebAwards and 11 Standard of Excellence WebAwards.

Judging for the 2008 WebAwards will take place in June through August and winners will be announced in September. Judges will consist of a select group of Internet professionals who have direct experience designing and managing Web sites,–including members of the media, interactive creative directors, site designers, content providers and webmasters – with an in-depth understanding of the current state-of-the-art in Web site development and technology. Past judges have included top executives from leading organizations such as A&E Television Networks, Agency.com, Blattner Brunner, Bridge Worldwide, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Comedy Central, Disney, Euro RSCG, Ion Global, J. Walter Thompson, John Deere Company, New York Post Interactive, Organic, Inc., Refinery, R/GA, Saatchi & Saatchi, SAP, Starwood Hotels, Sun Microsystems, Warner Bros. Online, Xerox and Zugara.

About the WebAwards

The 12th annual international WebAwards competition sets the standard of excellence in 96 industry categories by evaluating Web sites and defining benchmarks based on the seven essential criteria of successful Web site development. The goal of the Web Marketing Association, sponsor of the WebAwards, is to provide a forum to recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing some of the most effective Web sites on the Internet today. Entrants benefit from a Web site assessment by a professional judging panel and the marketing opportunities presented to an award-winning Web site. For more information, visit www.webaward.org.

WebmasterRadio.FM presents The Web Marketing Awards Special, Airing April 4, 2008

WebmasterRadio.FM, the premier free, 24/7 Internet business radio network focused on the B2B marketplace and the official radio network of the 12th Annual WebAwards is pleased to announce The Web Marketing Awards Special airing April 4, 2008 on WebmasterRadio.FM

On the WebmasterRadio.FM Web Marketing Awards Special, host William Rice from the Web Marketing Association will speak with Josh Webb, Associate Creative Director and Rocky Hunter, Account Supervisor from IQ Interactive, the Atlanta-based interactive firm that won Best of Show Runner Up in the 2007 WebAwards for their outstanding work on the UPS Whiteboard Website. “The whiteboard ad campaign has been used by UPS to successfully each its target audience across many media platforms, says William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. “Josh and Rocky will walk us through the concepts and technology that make the UPS Whiteboard Website so innovating and award winning”.

The show will also discuss how Web marketing professionals and Webmasters can win recognition for their own efforts by participating in the 2008 WebAward competition. Websites can be entered into 96 industries, including financial services, medical, small business, travel, advertising, transportation and government The Web Marketing Association’s independent expert judges will visit each site entered and evaluate it based on seven criteria of a successful Website. Sites earning the highest score in their industry will receive the Best of Industry WebAward. Sites not receiving the top award will be eligible to receive Outstanding Website and Standard of Excellence WebAwards.

Webmaster Radio
Web Marketing Awards Radio Special Bill Rice interviews representatives of Interactive on their winning campaign UPS WhiteBoard In this Web Marketing Awards Radio Special Show: Specials Channel: Specials

The deadline for entering the 2008 WebAwards is May 31st and you can learn more and enter at www.webaward.org. WebmasterRadio.FM is the official radio network of The 12th annual WebAwards competition, the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks based on the seven criteria of a successful Web site.

ExactTarget eMarketing Essentials Seminar Hits The Road

Route 1 to 1: The New eMarketing Essentials seminar from long time Web Marketing Association supporter ExactTarget is heading your way. ExactTarget’s one-day seminar is coming to a town near you and will help you improve your email marketing program. You’ll learn how to:

Engage your prospects
Maximize your marketing ROI
Drive higher sales
Increase return on customer
Build brand loyalty

In other words, Route 1 to 1 is the fast track to email marketing success!

They’ve gathered the industry’s best and brightest to bring you the latest news in digital communications. In addition to informative ExactTarget presentations, top industry experts and analysts will provide one-to-one marketing technology insight, and ExactTarget clients will share real-life examples of B2B and B2C email marketing success.

As a leading provider of on-demand email marketing software, ExactTarget is committed to delivering results. Take a field trip from the office and join us for Route 1 to 1. You’ll walk away with an arsenal of actionable strategies to power your email marketing program down the road to success.

Here are the dates and locations:

April 22 - Atlanta, GA
April 24 - New York City, NY
May 13 - Cincinnati, OH
May 15 - Chicago, IL
May 20 - Toronto, ON
May 22 - Minneapolis, MN
June 10 - Dallas, TX
June 12 - Denver, CO
June 17 - Orange County, CA
June 24 - Seattle, WA
June 26 - San Francisco, CA
July 22 - Miami, FL
July 24 - Boston, MA

ExactTarget is the email provider for the Web Marketing Association. We hope you attend this exciting and beneficial program. For more information, go to the ExactTaget Website.

B@B Magazine NetMarketing Breakfast Series

Join interactive experts and your marketing peers for the B@B Magazine NetMarketing Breakfast Series, a networking breakfast and lively panel discussion a on cutting edge technologies for b-to-b marketers. From video and mobile marketing to social media and widgets, you'll gain insight into the most effective digital strategies as our panelists share those that have - and have not - worked for them. BtoB's editor, Ellis Booker, will moderate.

Remaining Spring 2008 dates and locations:
Atlanta: April 23
San Francisco: May 8
Chicago: May 20

Interactive Briefing Feature Articles

In this month's Web Marketing Association Interactive Briefing Newsletter, there are two articles you might find interesting:

Pull PR: Combining SEO and Public Relations - Giving to get, transparency, conversation and participation are key concepts when it comes to an online PR program that involves not only blogger relations but also the search engines.

http://www.webmarketingassociation.org/wma_newsletter08_03_widget.htm- Letting your customers consume content on their own terms.

Conference Drawings

The last issue we offered a change to receive a chance to attend Search Engine Strategies in New York, March 17-19. Congratulations to Lori Keith, E-Marketing Manager at Strategic Diagnostics, Inc. in Newark, Delaware. Her name was selected and she is attending the conference on us!

This month we have a full conference pass to ad:tech San Francisco April 15-16 to offer to readers of Interactive Briefing. This is always one of the most impressive Internet conferences of the year. If you are interested in being entered, simply email your contact info to adtech at webaward.org and you'll be entered into the drawing. Deadline to enter is Thursday, March 27th and we'll contact the winner on the 28th.

Web Marketing Association Announces the Winners of the 2008 Internet Advertising Competition Awards

The Web Marketing Association announces the winners of its annual Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards, an effort to honor excellence in online advertising and to recognize the individuals and organizations responsible for the best in Internet marketing. The IAC Awards are the first and only industry-based advertising award competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising. The Competition web site with a complete list of winners is located at www.IACAward.org
“Online advertising is finally getting the recognition it deserves and The Web Marketing Association is pleased to help set the standard for Internet excellence,” said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association, Inc. “Spending for online advertising continues to grow rapidly and the IAC Awards highlight the best in this unique advertising medium by industry.”

2008 Best of Show Awards were awarded in each of the online medium categories. This year's winners include:

Smashing Ideas for Picross Evolution (Best Ads the Client Did Not Pick)
Xylem CCI for Jack Link's Warm Wishes Email (Best of Show Email Message)
Spy Publishing for Get A Room (Best of Show Email Message Campaign)
Critical Mass for SUPERVALU's Selection '07 Interactive Campaign (Best of Show Integrated ad campaign)
Texturemedia for PENTAX Photo Gallery (Best of Show Interactive Application)
McKinney for Wakey'z (Best of Show Microsite/Landing Page)
JWT INSIDE for Make a Visible Difference (Best of Show Online ad)
RDA International for NIVEA FOR MEN Up 4 Anything Dream Week Contest (Best of Show Online Campaign)
BGT Partners for FedEx LAC Sales Team Intranet Redesign (Best of Show Online Newsletter Campaign)
Mullen for Mobile Nuance Type Test Banner (Best of Show Rich Media Online Ad)
Profero for Mess With Your Mind (Best of Show Rich Media Online Campaign)

For the fourth year in a row, TMX Communications of Conshohocken, PA was recognized with the 2008 Top Agency Award, winning 17 IAC Awards. Their awards included 12 Best of Industry awards and five Outstanding awards.


Other IAC Award winners who received multiple awards included:

AGENCY (number of awards)
TMX Communications 17
Bridge Worldwide 13
BGT Partners 11
Critical Mass 11
VML 11
Biggs|Gilmore 9
Creative I Advertising 9
Agency.com 8
USDM.net 8
AngelVision Technologies 7
Cheil Communications America 7
Atmosphere BBDO 6
Avenue A | Razorfish 6
Hitchcock Fleming & Associates 6
McCann Worldgroup Hong Kong 6
Palm Communication 6
Euro RSCG 4D 5
OTOlabs 5
Peter A Mayer Adv 5
Wunderman Team Detroit 5
Mullen 4
MRM Worldwide 4
Text 100 4
Young & Rubicam Brands 4
LBi 4
JWT INSIDE 4
Idea Integration 4
AKQA 4


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



The Web Marketing Association are now accepting entries for the 12th annual WebAward Competition for Web site development at www.webaward.org. Deadline for entry is May 31st 2008.

The Internet Standards Assessment Report updated by the Web Marketing Association for 2008

The Web Marketing Association, today released its Internet Standards Assessment Report (ISAR), which provides industry-specific benchmarking data for web development. The ISAR Index reversed a downward trend and the overall standard of excellence in Web development rose across 96 industries.

The ISAR index is an average of all scores in the Web Marketing Association’s WebAward competition sine 1997. Index rose from 50.7 in 2005 to 51.8 in 2007, an increase of 2%.

“The ISAR Index is the benchmark that many organizations use to compare their Web development efforts to’, said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. “Web standards move as the technology and consumer trends push companies to upgrade their Web efforts and are reflected in the judges scores. Web sites that can create a total user experience that both informs and entertains the visitors who reach their sites will be most successful.”

The ISAR report includes the following just-released information:
1 Detailed Industry findings as compared to historical trends
2 Best and Worst Industries in Web Development
3 Best and Worst Industries as they compare to the 7 criteria for a successful Website
4 Award-wining sites for each industry
5 Commentary for each industry as compared to the overall competition in 2007

Information within the report is derived form the Web Marketing Association’s annual WebAward competition (www.webaward.org) which judges websites in 96 industries based on the seven criteria that combined help create award-winning websites.

The WebAward’s seven criteria for a successful Website include:
1 Design
2 Innovation
3 Content
4 Technology
5 Interactivity
6 Copywriting
7 Ease of Use

The ISAR report also includes an index with a running benchmark of web development to which each industry can draw comparisons. Drawing off information found in the ISAR report, web developers and others within organizations responsible for web design, can leverage statistical data to make more informed decisions in an effort to create more effect websites.

“The most successful award-winning websites develop the correct balance of design, innovation and technology to create a total user experience,” said Rice. “Once the total user experience is attained, the site becomes a sales tool itself because it has captured the visitor and the winners of the WebAward do this especially well.”

According to the ISAR report, the five best industries for Website development in 2007 were:
1. Toy & Hobby Web sites
2. Television Web sites
3. Airline Web sites
4. Arts Websites
5. Broadcasting Web sites

The worst overall industry websites included those such as Regional, Consulting and Investment websites.

To request your copy of the 2008 WebAward ISAR report, please visit the WebAward Website.

Web Developers anxious to see how their site compares with the ISAR Index can enter the 2008 WebAward competition in April and receive valuable feedback regarding their web development efforts. Learn more at www.webaward.org

About WebAwards

Now in its 12th year, the annual international WebAwards competition sets the standard of excellence in 96 industry categories by evaluating Web sites and defining benchmarks based on the seven essential criteria of successful Web site development. The goal of the Web Marketing Association, sponsor of the WebAwards, is to provide a forum to recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing some of the most effective Web sites on the Internet today. Entrants benefit from a Web site assessment by a professional judging panel and the marketing opportunities presented to an award-winning Web site. For more information, visit www.webaward.org.

IAC Award Results To Be Announced

The results of the Web Marketing Association's 2008 Internet Advertising Competition Awards will be announce publicaly on Tuesday, March 18th online at www.advertisingcompetition.org and at Search Engine Strategies New York.

Participants who wish to see the results for their entries can log in to their nominator account and review the results and update entry information prior to the public release.

Thank you to everyone who participated this year, especially out team of expert judges to volunteered their time and expertise to help select the winners.

B@B Magazine NetMarketing Breakfast Series

B@B Magazine NetMarketing Breakfast Series - Join interactive experts and your marketing peers for a networking breakfast and lively panel discussion a on cutting edge technologies for b-to-b marketers. From video and mobile marketing to social media and widgets, you'll gain insight into the most effective digital strategies as our panelists share those that have - and have not - worked for them. BtoB's editor, Ellis Booker, will moderate.

Spring 2008 Dates:
New York: March 12, May 14
Atlanta: April 23
San Francisco: May 8
Chicago: May 20

Search Engine Strategies Toronto

Search Engine Strategies Toronto, June 17&18 -- Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Totonto, Canada

Organized by world-renowned search authority Chris Sherman, SES Toronto delivers real-time actionable information you need to grow your business through search engine marketing; Search Engine Strategies Conference & Expo Toronto 2008 features presentations and panel discussions that cover all aspects of search engine-related promotion.

Take an extra 10% off when you use priority code 10WMA.

ad:tech San Francisco

ad:tech San Francisco, April 15&17 -- Moscone Center, San Francisco

ad:tech is an interactive advertising and technology conference dedicated to connecting all sides of today’s brand marketing landscape. Worldwide shows blend keynote speakers, topic driven panels and interactive workshops to provide attendees with the tools and techniques they need to compete in a changing world. We’re committed to bringing you the now and the next of modern marketing.

Use the promotional code of SFEM20 for 20% off the current price for a Full Conference Pass.

The Web Marketing Association will be a sponsor of this event and participating in the exhibit hall. So please make sure to stop by and say hello.

Website Magazine

If your not already getting Website Magazine, you should be. There's no charge within the US and available for a small fee outside the U.S.(covers the extra shipping). Great in depth articles that are helpful and well written. If you are an Internet Marketing professional or Web developer, you should be receiving this free publication. Use this link to sign up to receive the next issue.

MarketingSherpa Landing Page Teleseminar

The Web Marketing Association would like to thank Tim McAtee and Jim Ellis for joining us on the MarketingSherpa teleseminar on Landing Page Design in January. This practical and tip-filled session was very helpful and well attended. If you were unable to join us at the event, you can download the audio file and slides and re-live the event.

This presentation was based on new data from the report,
MarketingSherpa Landing Page Handbook (2008 edition), I have found this guide extremely helpful and full of useful and easy to implement suggestions on improving landing page design. Download your copy today.

Search Engine Strategies New York

Search Engine Strategies New York, March 17-20 -- Hilton New York, NYC

SES returns to New York for its 9th year with a new focus on the interactive marketplace and new format. Program has been reformatted to include strategies that surround and include search engine marketing. Keynote speakers from around the industry to help facilitate the overall integration of traditional search marketing and new players in the space. Lastly, we’re introducing the Orion panels. These primary sessions include industry thought leaders who will discuss the hottest topics we face today and this will drive the tactical content for the rest of your week. In short we want to create a learning environment that welcomes the new breed of search marketing along with the experts who have defined the space as we know it today.

Featured Speakers include
Nicholas Carr - Author of The Big Switch: Rewiring the World from Edison to Google
Gordon McLeod – President, The Wall Street Journal Digital Network
Jason Calacanis - Founder & CEO, Mahalo.com, Inc.
Andrew Tomkins - Chief Scientist, Yahoo! Research
John Battelle - Founder/Chairman/CEO, Federated Media

Sessions include
The Human Equation: Giving Back Internet Style »
Mobile Local Search: Finding the Way »
Web Analytics: Measuring Success »
Searcher Behavior Research Update »
Ad Copy & Landing Page Clinic »


Early Bird Special: Register by February 29th and receive a $150 discount. Take an extra 10% off when you use priority code 10WMA.

The Web Marketing Association will be a sponsor of this event and participating in the exhibit hall. So please make sure to stop by and say hello.

CMO Council Survey

The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council’s new Coalition to Leverage and Optimize Sales Effectiveness (CLOSE) is undertaking a major study to understand where and how greater efficiencies and cooperation between departments can drive sales. Marketing executives are being called on to integrate ever more closely with sales, and switch their focus from branding to lead generation and business closing activities. Please take approximately 15 minutes to provide the CMO Council with important feedback on this critical need. They will share aggregated findings with you and your individual responses will be kept strictly confidential.

The CLOSE survey is available in 5 languages:
English,
Spanish,
Portuguese,
Dutch and
French.

IAC Award Judges Alert

If you were selected as an Internet Advertising Competition Awards judge for 2008, you should have received your judges instructions by email.

If you have not received them, please log in to your judges homepage and you can review the judging guidelines from within your judges account.

OMMA Hollywood Conference and Expo

OMMA Hollywood Conference and Expo, March 17-18, 2007 -- Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, Hollywood, CA

OMMA is the hottest conference and trade show for the business of Online Media, Marketing and Advertising. Programmed by the editors of OMMA magazine, this conference delivers outstanding main-stage sessions, keynotes, workshops, VIP lunches, special events, cocktail parties, panels, breakouts, research presentations, forecasts, and a busy trade show floor. The show is filled with marketers and agency executives who want to learn and know more about leading edge advertising and marketing solutions and network with the online agency and marketing community in Hollywood for two full days.

Last day to enter the 2008 Internet Advertising Competition Awards

February 15th is the final day to enter your best online advertising into the the Web Marketing Association's 2008 IAC Awards. After today, the entry form will be taken off the server and your opportunity to win recognition for yourself and your work will be gone.

If you have already enter the program, today is the last day you can edit your entries. Log into your nominator account and make sure your entry is ready for the judges.

PPC Summit, Boston

PPC Summit, Boston, March 3&4 - The Westin Copley Place, Boston

Get Better Pay Per Click Results in Two Days at PPC Summit Boston an exclusive how-to workshop where you'll work directly with the experts to learn the skills you need to maximize your Pay Per Click opportunities, outperform your competitors, and increase your ROI. Learn about tools to Improve Your Online Pay Per Click Marketing Results, keyword tactics to drive conversions and lower cost per click, search engine marketing copywriting techniques, landing page development skills to convert visitors to buyers and strategies and competitive advantages that only the insiders know!

HURRY, REGISTER TODAY for the PPC Summit, Boston(Mar. 3 & 4) to get your 10% discount (use code: WMA10) before the early bird deadline Feb. 22, plus bonus $200 savings!

PPC Summit Is Coming To a City Near You: Vancouver Mar. 31 & April 1 > London April 14 & 15 > San Francisco May 19 & 20 > Los Angeles TBD. Enter the Code WMA10 in the invitation code field on the registration form. This code will be good for all PPC Summits.

WebAward Industry Sponsor Opportunity

The Web Marketing Association will again be offering sponsorships of specific industries within the WebAward competition for 2008. If your company or organization is interested in participating as an industry sponsor, please contact Bill Rice at the email address wrice at webaward.org to learn more.

eMarketing Association's eM8-West

eM8-West provides the forum for the very latest trends, best practices, processes and ideas that are transforming the future of marketing. This conference will give you practical ideas and tools for significantly improving your marketing programs. 15 focused sessions contain so much new content and cutting edge actionable ideas and processes you should bring your entire team. This conference covers it all, email, mobile, search, website, online and social marketing, it will provide you with the knowledge to move your programs forward in a synergistic process.

eM8 - West
April 15-16, 2008
San Francisco Hilton

Agencies that win the most awards are the most profitable

According to January, 2008 O'Dwyers PR Report, WPP Group,one of the world's largest communications services groups, said that ad agencies that win the most awards are the most profitable. Agencies now publicize themselves by promoting their awards instead of advertising in Ad Age and adweek said marketing guru Al Ries.

Ad Agencies' Obsession With Winning Awards

An article in the New York Times by Randall Rothenberg entitled Ad Agencies' Obsession With Winning Awards holds true today as well as when the article was published.

The article reported that few in advertising question the importance of these honors to agency creative people and that although major advertisers routinely deny concern with awards, agency executives overwhelmingly affirm their importance in luring new business.

The Web Marketing Association is proud of it two award program's the WebAwards and the Internet Advertising Competition Awards

Internet Advertising Awards deadline this Friday

Just a final quick reminder that this Friday, February 15, 2008 is the last day you can enter the Web Marketing Association's 2008 Internet Advertising Competition awards. The judging starts Monday so don't be left out in the cold and get your entries in before Friday.

If you are already entered, Friday is the last day you can edit your entry.

MIX08 – The Next Web Now

MIX08 – The Next Web Now, March 5 - 7, 2008, The Venetian Resort Hotel, Las Vegas

Now in its third year, MIX is an intimate opportunity for cutting-edge technical, creative and business strategists to engage Microsoft in a conversation about the future of the web. Come explore the latest wave of opportunities and help redefine the boundaries between: content and commerce, PC and TV, Windows and the Web.

Keynote presentations delivered by Steve Ballmer, Scott Guthrie, Guy Kawasaki and other distinguished speakers unveiling the latest web-oriented products and technologies. Benefit from a comprehensive program of sessions for designers, developers and business strategists led by industry experts and hands-on labs and workshops for developers and designers.

Interactive Briefing Articles for February

Here are the articles that appeared in the February issue of the Web Marketing Association's Interactive Briefing Newsletter.

Beware the Trend Bandwagon - Which trends were all hype and which ones got it right? More importantly, what looks to be hot in 2008? Read what imc² has to say about strategically incorporating the appropriate trends into your marketing plan.

Consumers Shout “I Want My Online Video”- Video content, once reserved to restricted distribution and corporate scheduling, is now readily available on demand at your favorite Internet web site. The torrent of available video content online has been met with near insatiable consumer demand and intense advertiser interest. Burst recently surveyed more than 2,600 online respondents to get a better idea of how they consume online video, and their perception of advertising placements within it. (PDF).

Internet World UK

Internet World is the leading event for decision-makers responsible for their organisation's digital
marketing and Internet presence taking place in Earls Court, London from the 29
Apr -1 May 2008. It is the UK's largest B2B
Internet event. Recently winning two highly acclaimed awards from Event
Magazine – Best Business Exhibition and
Most Improved Established Exhibition. The 2008 Keynote Programme features BBC,
Microsoft, Intel, Habbo Hotel, Sony, Thomas Cook, Blinkx, IAB, T-Mobile,
McKinsey and Company amongst many others. You will hear from over 300 speakers giving you the chance to
master or introduce yourself to Digital Marketing and the Business Internet technologies
ranging from IPTV, Mobile Internet, Web 2.0/3.0, Search/Behavioural Targeting, Online
Advertising, Hosting/Connectivity, Content Management, Email Marketing, Ecommerce,
Analytics/Measurement and much more.

Internet World 2008

Business for the Digital Age

29 Apr-1 May 2008,
Earls Court, London

Register for FREE entry at www.internetworld.co.uk

 

Search Engine Strategies conference and Expo London

Search Engine Strategies conference and Expo London, February 19-21, 2008 - Business Design Centre, London UK

Last year's event in London was another smashing success! Once again all U.K. attendance records were broken as industry professionals packed the session rooms and hung onto every word looking for ways to improve their business.

MarketingTech: Tailormade Conference

From mobile to digital, retail to e-tail, MarketingTech: Tailormade is a chance for marketers to pick and choose across 16 training clinics, so that the one-day event will provide a personalised hands-on, experiential 'one-stop shop', to gain updates on the latest developments and how to practically use these technologies to enhance customer engagement.

New technology: what's out there?
What is a flash in the pan and what will shape the future?
How can it be practically applied to your business and how can you prove return?

Hear from 16 brand speakers including Yell.com, Cadbury-Schweppes, Times Online, Disney and more… Learn more about: Mobile Marketing | Web 2.0, Blogs, Social Networking| Search | Digital's Latest Developments | Irresistible Email Campaigns| Consumer Behaviour| Winning Websites| Innovative In-Store

MarketingTech: Tailormade
The Grange City Hotel, London
31 March 2008
www.marketingtech.co.uk

*BOOK BEFORE 7 February & Save £50*

Internet Advertising Awards Deadline Extended

The Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards call for entry deadline has been extended until February 15th. This will be the only deadline extension as the judging will begin on Feb. 18th. 

The IAC awards honor individuals and organizations across the globe for their contribution to online advertising excellence. Entries will be judged on creativity, innovation, impact, design, copywriting, and use of the medium.

If you've waited until the last minute to enter - that last minute is here! Enter the IAC Awards today!

Internet Advertising Competition Awards Entry Deadline Today

Today, January 31st, is the deadline to enter the Web Marketing Association's 2008 Internet Advertising Competition Awards. If you are like most people, you waited until the last minute to enter - well that last minute it here!

The IAC Awards are the first and only industry-based advertising award competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising. Awards will be presented within each of the 86 industry categories and advertising formats such as online ad (including banner, pop-up or interstitial), rich media online ad, email message, online newsletter campaign, microsite/landing page and integrated ad campaign and ads the client did not choose. Best of show award for each medium will be selected from among the industry winners. We will also present the Top Agency Award to the organization who wins the most awards in 2008.

PhizzPop Design Challenge

Congratulations to the winnners of the regional PhizzPop Design Challenge competitions! These winners brought some serious smackdown in Round 1 and are chomping at the bit for the next design problem.

San Francisco - AKQA
New York - CreateThe Group
Chicago - Clarity Consulting
Austin - Thirteen23
Los Angeles - Cynergy Systems
Boston - Outsight Interactive

Microsoft revealed the design problem for the finale of the PhizzPop Design Challenge. Each team will be building an application to solve this problem over the next month in preparation for final delivery on March 10th at SXSW interactive conference in Austin, Texas.

The design problem, called "Citizenship in the 21st Century," is a challenge to create an engagement spanning multiple platforms including Mobile, Web, Desktop, Media Center, Portable, and Kiosk that harnesses the power of social media and other Web 2.0 philosophies to help people get engaged and help them collect and evaluate information about relevant issues (be they social, political etc.). Online identity, privacy, authority of online sources, and self-regulating community are all issues that will need to be addressed by the challenge. Pulling directly from the Problem Statement: “We devote so much design energy to creating an iPod, or a BMW, why not do the same for our democracy?” Look forward to more updates on the progress of the teams and check out their bios & information at http://designchallenge.phizzpop.com/finale.aspx .

Each of these winning agency teams of 2-3 people will go onto South by Southwest Interactive Conference in Austin, Texas, March 7 - 11. They will have approximately 90 days to complete their solutions to be showcased on Monday, March 10th in Austin.

IAC Awards down to the wire

Time is running out if you want to participate in this year's Internet Advertising Competition Awards. The deadline for entry is Thursday, January 31st. The IAC Awards highlight the best in online advertising and you can't win if you don't enter.

To enter your best work, go to www.iacaward.org before it is too late.

How do we reach our target market?

Shara Rutberg of Fortune Small Business needed and expert to help a business owner connect with customers through search engine optimization and other web strategies. She looked to William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association.

Read the full article here.

Keeping Up with the Web Marketing Association

If you are interested in keeping up to date with the Internet Advertising Competition and the WebAwards call for entry and winners announcement as well as receive our monthly newsletter Interactive Briefing, you need to be on our mailing list. Click here to subscribe.

If you are on our mailing list, but are not getting our emails, please white list our email address, or add it to your addressbook: news@webmarketingassociation.org and our mailing IP address 71.16.87.242.

As per our privacy policy, we will never sell your name or use it except for its intended purpose.

Landing Page Design: What's Working

Recently the Web Marketing Association and MarketingShepa held a Teleconference on landing page design that was extremely well attended.

In the teleconference we:

• Discussed five types of Landing Page Tests that work best for increasing conversion rates
• Examined real creative samples and their results
• Covered examples of increased conversions for PPC dynamic search, registration forms, creative elements, SEO landings, and mobile email
• Revealed biggest tips on measuring landing pages

If you're interested in giving your conversions up to a 48% lift, increasing your average shopping cart, and making your job easier with proven guidelines on what really works, you can download the slides here and then listen to the Landing page design seminar recording here.

Please note: This presentation was based on new data from the report, "MarketingSherpa Landing Page Handbook (2008 edition)". If you are serious about creating better landing pages and improving conversions, then this report is a must read.

The Internet Advertising Competition Awards also has a category for microsites and landing pages. This is a great way to have other experts judge the effectiveness of your work and get recognized for your achievement.

How do you avoid the meatball sundae?

How do you avoid the meatball sundae?
Wednesday, January 23 at 2:00PM EST

Speaker: Seth Godin, Entrepreneur, Agent of Change and Author of Meatball Sundae

In this brand new presentation, bestselling author Seth Godin outlines 14 trends that are changing businesses forever. He talks about how the new marketing landscape represents nothing short of an industrial revolution, and highlights the organizations and brands and products that are taking this new world by storm. By the end of an hour, Godin will have you looking at the world you live in very differently... the new rules create new winners (and losers) and there's no time to waste.

Register here>>

Presented by Search Engine Strategies and ClickZ Network.

Web Marketing Association and MarketingSherpa Host Landing Page Teleseminar

"Landing Page Design: What's Working"
Tuesday, January 15
2:00 - 3:00 pm EST
Register now -it's free - at WMA MarketingSherpa Teleconference Invite page

Learn proven ways that you can raise your landing page conversion rates. Based on information from the new MarketingSherpa Landing Page Handbook (2008 edition), this teleseminar will:

• Discuss five types of Landing Page Tests that work best for increasing conversion rates
• Examine real creative samples and their results
• Cover examples of increased conversions for PPC dynamic search, registration forms, creative elements, SEO landings, and mobile email
• Reveal biggest tips on measuring landing pages
• Justify budgeting for analytics and testing

If you’re interested in giving your conversions up to a 48% lift, increasing your average shopping cart, and making your job easier with proven guidelines on what really works, sign up for this free teleseminar at WMA MarketingSherpa Teleconference Invite page

You'll receive a comprehensive set of speaker handouts/presentation slides and teleseminar access information by e-mail on the morning of the program. Gather around a speaker phone and train your staff!

Please join us on January 15th for this informative session!

Technology For Marketing & Advertising 2008 Conference

Technology For Marketing & Advertising 2008
Earls Court 2, London
12-13 February 2008

The UK's only dedicated event delivering data, digital and CRM solutions for marketing, media and advertising professionals.
40 Free Seminars in 4 themed Theatres
• Database Marketing & Marketing Analytics Theatre
• CRM & Customer Experience Theatre
• Digital: Email, Mobile & Web 2.0 Theatre
• Digital: Online Advertising & Affiliate Marketing Theatre

For more information go to http://www.t-f-m.co.uk/

WebAwards Featured in Website Magazine

We just received our November 2007 issue of Website Magazine: The Magazine for Website Success. In the issue on page 9 is an article entitled “Bravo! Boost your recognition amongst your competitors by winning Web awards" by Mike Phillips.

The article features the Web Marketing Association’s WebAwards. It reports our scoring report is “a nice way to see how your site measures up, even if you don’t win.”

William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association is also quoted, saying “By far the most overwhelming reason to participate is for the marketing benefits – for both you as an individual, the site itself and the company. Winning the award creates a newsworthy event in and of itself”.

Create Magazine Promotes Internet Advertising competition

Create Magazine provides creative professionals with an insider's perspective on the people, news, trends and events that influence the local advertising and creative production industries. Articles and features, written by local creative leaders and influencers, keep Create readers well-informed about the changing climate of business and competition.

It ran an article Internet Advertising Competition Awards 2008 Call for Entries is Now Open in its creative new section.

Thanks for the help in spreading the word about the Web Marketing Association's IAC Awards.

WebAward Judges Certificates

The judges of the 2007 WebAward Competition for Website Development once again did an outstanding job at reviewing more than 2,500 web sites on seven criteria and helping to set the highest standards of excellence on the Internet. These Internet Professionals are leaders within their industries and take the time out of their busy schedules to participate in this worthwhile event. The Web Marketing Association and all of the WebAward participants thank you for your efforts.

For those who qualified, a Certificate of Appreciation is being sent to the address we have on record. You should be receiving them within the next week.

Search Engine Strategies in Chicago

If you are not at the Search Engine Strategies Conference in Chicago this week, you are missing out on a great educational and networking event. The Hilton Chicago is a wonderful location for the conference and by all reports the sessions have been outstanding.

The Web Marketing Association has a booth in the Exhibit Hall. Stop by if you are attending to say hello, grab a free chocolate from the Creative Chocolate Printing Company and enter to win a new Apple iTouch. We are booth 424, on the back wall, you can't miss us - We are the ones talking about the Internet Advertising Competition and the WebAwards with the iPod cranked!

PPC Summit

PPC Summit
Marriott Dallas/Addison Quorum by the Galleria, Dallas, TX
February 4 - 5, 2008

Make More Money with Pay Per Click (PPC). Find out how the experts run campaigns on Google Adwords, Yahoo! Search Marketing, Microsoft adCenter (MSN), and all the smaller Pay Per Click Engines! PPC Summits are designed as How To workshops that teach you how to better manage your PPC campaigns. The focus is solidly on advertiser education: how to spend less money, more effectively, with better results.

Use code WMA10 and receive a 10% off the Pay-Per-Click workshops. Also coming to Boston, Vancouver, London, San Francisco and LA. For more info go to www.ppcsummit.com.

Internet Advertising Competition Call for judges

As always, one of the main reasons the IAC Awards have been the high quality of our volunteer judges. As in past years, we need to recruit some new judges to replace our existing judges that are not available this year. If you are a senior Internet advertising professional and would like to be considered as a judge for the 2008 IAC Awards, please complete the judges nomination form.

If you were an IAC Judge in the past, you will receive an email to activate yourself for this year. Please do not re-nominate yourself.

Best Email Advertising of 2008 to Be Named by Web Marketing Association

The Web Marketing Association judges will select the best email advertising of 2008 in 86 industries as part of their sixth annual Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards. The IAC Awards are the first and only industry-based advertising award competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising. Companies or agencies wishing to nominate their work for consideration may do so at www.IACAward.org before the deadline of January 31, 2008.

“Email marketing is the workhorse of online marketing for many companies trying to maintain an ongoing relationship with customers and prospects,” said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association. “The creative used in an email marketing campaign has gone from text only to highly personalized ads targeting highly segmented lists. Each email advertisement and campaign will be judged on creativity, innovation, impact, design, copywriting, and use of the medium. The IAC Awards provides an opportunity to find out who is doing an outstanding job creating email advertising. It’s also a great marketing opportunity for the winners to promote to senior management, customers and prospects their outstanding work”.

The 2008 Internet Advertising Competition Awards will accept entries from 86 industries, including airline, biotech, B2B, consumer goods, education, health care, financial services, professional services, technology and travel just to name a few. Entries judged to be outstanding will receive an IAC Award. The entry receiving the highest score in each industry will be recognized as the best email advertisement for that industry.

“We believe that winning an industry specific award is more valuable to the participant. It allows the participants to be judges against their peers, just like in the marketplace,” said Rice.

The 2007 Best of Show winner for Email Message was IQ Interactive for "Explorer" Video Newsletter. The entry was also recognized as the Best Travel Email Message. Other Top Email Advertisements for 2007 included:

Goodyear Garage January Enthusiast Email Best Automobile Email message submitted by Hitchcock Fleming & Associates

Money Laundering International Conference and Exhibition Best B2B Email message submitted by Creative Direct Marketing Group

Landor Associates Best Consulting Email message submitted by Landor Associates

NMFN News Brief Best Financial Services Email message submitted by TMX Communications

SeaBear Wild Salmon Best Food Industry Email message submitted by Tellus, LLC

U.S. Department of State - "Today I will help a local government" Best Government Email message submitted by JWT Employment Communications

The Rittenhouse - Email Message Best Hotel and Lodging Email message submitted by TIG Global

MetLife Quarterly Service e-Mail Best Insurance Email message campaign Steven Paraboschi

TMX Holiday Cheers Email 2006 Best Interactive Services Email message submitted by TMX Communications

Hispanic Email Best Marketing Email message submitted by CRN International, Inc. Hispanic Email

TAMIFLU Email Best Pharmaceuticals Email message submitted by TMX Communications

Coast Sweetest Day HTML Email Best Restaurant Email message submitted by Mark Roller, Coast Restaurant

Donald Haack Diamonds - Holiday Treasures Best Retail Email message submitted by CC Communications, Inc.

I've been everywhere - eDM Best Telecommunication Email message submitted by The white agency

The 2007 Best of Show winner for Email Message Campaign was NASCAR.com/Datran Media for NASCAR.com Revs Up Fans with Email Marketing. The newsletter was also recognized as the Best Real Estate Email Message. Other best email ad campaigns included:

Driven to Succeed: Mercedes & Aeroplan Best Automobile Email message submitted by ThinData, Inc.

BankAtlantic Upromise Email Offer Best Bank Email message campaign submitted by BankAtlantic Marketing Department

Divide and Conquer Best Consumer Goods Email message campaign submitted by Mark Roller, Ascedia. Inc & Kohler Co.

Key Sector Marketing Campaign Best Employment Email message campaign submitted by AndersElite

Georgia.org Email Newsletters Best Government Email message campaign submitted by Spunlogic

Bariatric Edge Email Best Health Care Email message campaign submitted by Bridge Worldwide

MetLife Quarterly Service e-Mail Best Insurance Email message campaign submitted by Steven Paraboschi

TAMIFLU Email Campaign Best Pharmaceuticals Email message campaign submitted by TMX Communications

Perfect Home Email Campaign Best Retail Email message campaign submitted by nurun | ant farm interactive

SeaBear Wild Salmon Best Small Business Email message campaign submitted by Tellus, LLC

Miami, FL - Festival Season Campaign Best Travel Email message campaign submitted by USDM.net

The 2008 Internet Advertising Competition Awards are open to all organizations and individuals (advertising and interactive agencies, corporate marketing departments, etc.) involved in the process of developing Internet advertising. Entries may be submitted online at www.iacaward.org. The deadline for entry is January 31, 2008 and will be judged on creativity, innovation, impact, design, copywriting, and use of the medium.

In addition to email advertisements and campaigns, Awards will be presented within each of the industry categories and advertising formats such as:
Online ad (including banner, pop-up or interstitial)
Online ad campaign
Rich media online ad
Rich Media ad campaign
Email message
Email campaign
Online newsletter campaign
Microsite/Landing page
Integrated ad campaign
Ads the client did not choose

Best of show award 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, 2007 through January 31, 2008 (except for the Ads the client did not choose format which do not have to have run.)

Judging for the IAC Awards will take place in February, 2008, and winners will be notified by e-mail one week prior to the general announcement of winners in March, 2008. Judges will consist of a select group of Internet advertising professionals with an in-depth understanding of the current state-of-the-art in Web advertising. Past competition judges have included top executives from leading corporations, institutions and media organizations such as Ogilvy Interactive, Blattner Brunner, Comedy Central, Sun Microsystems, National Cable & Telecom Association, Refinery, Euro RSCG, EPB Interactive, New York Post Interactive, The Cincinnati Enquirer, J. Walter Thompson, Xerox, Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Modem Media, and Answerthink.

The 2008 Internet Advertising Competition Awards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: BGT Partners, Burst Media, PRWeb, Misukanis & Odden, SimpleFeed, ExactTarget, ad:tech conferences, NewsUSA, eComXpo, MediaPost’s OMMA conference, TopRank Online Marketing, Creative Chocolate Printing Company, Search Engine Strategies, Webmaster Radio, Rovion, AllBusiness.com and eMarketer. The Web Marketing Association thanks all of its sponsors for helping to make this annual competition possible.

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 Association’s annual WebAward Competition has been helping interactive professionals promote themselves, their companies, and their best work to the outside world. Now in its 11th year, the WebAward Competition has become the premier industry-based site recognition program for online advertisers, Web developers and marketers worldwide.

Entering the Internet Advertising Competition Awards is easy

The first thing you’ll notice when to visit the IAC Awards website www.iacaward.org is the new design. Special thanks to David Clarke and his team of expert Web developers and designers at BGT Partners, Florida’s Oldest and Most Award Winning Interactive Agency, for the wonderful design work on the new site. It has been a pleasure to work with them to create and implement the new site and supporting marketing materials. And particular credit goes to Vanessa Gelman at BGT Partners for running point on the project and making sure everything went smoothly.

Entering the IAC Awards is easy. Simply go to the new IAC Awards website at www.iacaward.org and select “Submit an Entry”. If you have a nominator account from last year, you can simply log in. If you did not create a free nominator account, providing some basic contact information is all you need to do. Once in, you can start submitting your entries.

One thing to remember is you can not use your WebAward username and password on the IAC Award site. You’ll need to have a separate account to submit your IAC Entries. If you need your password to an existing account, just enter your email address and click on the “Email password to me” button.

Sites are back up

Apparently, our ISP Web.com decided to decommission the server which hosted the Web Marketing Association database and thought that an email message sent three years ago about the possibility was sufficient notice. Without the database, both WebAward.org and IACAward.org websites were down.

Thanks to the hard work and dogged determination of our head programmer, Chip Lowell. Web.com finally agreed to move the data from the old server to the new. The sites are back up and we apologize for any inconveniences you may experienced.

Awards sites are down

Due to an problem at our ISP Web.com, the database that drives our WebAward and IAC Award websites is currently down. We are working with Web.com to get the site up and running as soon as possible.

Articles from November Interactive Briefing

Power of Two - IQ Interactive shows us that UPS Whiteboard is a great example of how the combination of the web and traditional advertising is dramatically more powerful and effective than traditional alone

Outstanding Drive – THINK, Inc. drives the Windstream Truck Tour microsite to win the Outstanding Website award at the 2007 WebAwards.

Best Online Newsletter of 2008 to Be Named by Web Marketing Association

The Web Marketing Association judges will select the best online newsletters of 2008 in 86 industries as part of their sixth annual Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards. The IAC Awards are the first and only industry-based advertising award competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising. Companies or agencies wishing to nominate their work for consideration may do so at www.IACAward.org before the deadline of January 31, 2008.

“Online newsletters are a critical marketing tool for many companies trying to maintain an ongoing relationship with customers and prospects,” said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association. “Each Online newsletter will be judged on creativity, innovation, impact, design, copywriting, and use of the medium. The IAC Awards provides an opportunity to find out who is doing an outstanding job creating online newsletters. It’s also a great marketing opportunity for the winners to promote to senior management, customers and prospects”.

The 2008 Internet Advertising Competition Awards will accept entries from 86 industries, including airline, biotech, B2B, consumer goods, education, health care, financial services, professional services, technology and travel just to name a few. Entries judged to be outstanding will receive an IAC Award. The entry receiving the highest score in each industry will be recognized as the best online newsletter for that industry.

“We believe that winning an industry specific award is more valuable to the participant. It allows the participants to be judges against their peers, just like in the marketplace,” said Rice.

The 2007 Best of Show winner for Online Newsletter was Coldwell Banker Barbara Sue Seal Properties for CBSeal eNews. The newsletter was also recognized as the Best Real Estate Online Newsletter. Other Top Online Newsletters for 2007 included:

Snowbound Imaging News Best Computer: Software Online Newsletter submitted by Snowbound Software

The Diabetes Control for Life e-Newsletter Best Consumer Goods Online Newsletter submitted by Bridge Worldwide

frog Design Mind newsletter Best Design Online Newsletter submitted by frog design, inc.

The Intevation Report Best Email Online Newsletter submitted by EmailLabs Marketing Team

Horizons Newsletter Best Financial Services Online Newsletter and Best Investor Relations Newsletter submitted by DWS Scudder Retirement Services

Cafe Britt e-Newsletters Best Food Industry Online Newsletter submitted by Cafe Britt

Discover Rush Online Best Health Care Online Newsletter submitted by Marie Mahoney and Brian Pace, Internet Communications

DWS Scudder Retirement Matters Newsletter Best Investment Online Newsletter and Best Mutual Fund Newsletter submitted by DWS Scudder Retirement Services

Mohegan Sun Insider Newsletter Best Leisure Online Newsletter submitted by Mohegan Sun

DMN eTips Drip Online Newsletter Best Marketing Online Newsletter submitted by Direct Marketing Network

BigPond Movies -Downloads newsletter Best Movie Online Newsletter submitted by The White Agency

George Mark Children's House Bulletin Best Non-Profit Online Newsletter submitted by Northridge Interactive

SIRIUS Music Weekly Best Radio Online Newsletter submitted by SIRIUS Satellite Radio / Modus Associates

BigPond Sport - V8 supercars newsletter Best Sports Online Newsletter submitted by The White Agency

Great Florida Getaways e-Magazines Best Travel Online Newsletter submitted by VISIT FLORIDA & Miles Media Group

The 2008 Internet Advertising Competition Awards are open to all organizations and individuals (advertising and interactive agencies, corporate marketing departments, etc.) involved in the process of developing Internet advertising. Entries may be submitted online at http://www.iacaward.org. The deadline for entry is January 31, 2008 and will be judged on creativity, innovation, impact, design, copywriting, and use of the medium.

In addition to online newsletters, Awards will be presented within each of the industry categories and advertising formats such as:
Online ad (including banner, pop-up or interstitial)
Online ad campaign
Rich media online ad
Rich Media ad campaign
Email message
Online newsletter campaign
Microsite/Landing page
Integrated ad campaign
Ads the client did not choose

Best of show award 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, 2007 through January 31, 2008 (except for the Ads the client did not choose format which do not have to have run.)

Judging for the IAC Awards will take place in February, 2008, and winners will be notified by e-mail one week prior to the general announcement of winners in March, 2008. Judges will consist of a select group of Internet advertising professionals with an in-depth understanding of the current state-of-the-art in Web advertising. Past competition judges have included top executives from leading corporations, institutions and media organizations such as Ogilvy Interactive, Blattner Brunner, Comedy Central, Sun Microsystems, National Cable & Telecom Association, Refinery, Euro RSCG, EPB Interactive, New York Post Interactive, The Cincinnati Enquirer, J. Walter Thompson, Xerox, Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Modem Media, and Answerthink.

The 2008 Internet Advertising Competition Awards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: BGT Partners, Burst Media, PRWeb, Misukanis & Odden, SimpleFeed, ExactTarget, ad:tech conferences, NewsUSA, eComXpo, MediaPost’s OMMA conference, TopRank Online Marketing, Creative Chocolate Printing Company, Search Engine Strategies, Webmaster Radio, Rovion, AllBusiness.com and eMarketer. The Web Marketing Association thanks all of its sponsors for helping to make this annual competition possible.

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 Association’s annual WebAward Competition has been helping interactive professionals promote themselves, their companies, and their best work to the outside world. Now in its 11th year, the WebAward Competition has become the premier industry-based site recognition program for online advertisers, Web developers and marketers worldwide.

2008 IAC Awards Call for Entries

The Web Marketing Association announces the launched of its sixth annual Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards. 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, 2008

The Internet Advertising Competition Awards are open to all organizations and individuals (advertising and interactive agencies, corporate marketing departments, etc.) involved in the process of developing Internet advertising. Entries may be submitted online at www.iacaward.org. The deadline for entry is January 31, 2008 and 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:

online ad (including banner, pop-up or interstitial)
rich media online ad
email message
online newsletter campaign
microsite/landing page
integrated ad campaign
ads the client did not choose


Best of show award for each medium will be selected from among the industry winners. Ads eligible for entry in the competition must have run during the period from January 1, 2007 through January 31, 2008.

Judging for the IAC Awards will take place in February, 2007, and winners will be notified by e-mail one week prior to the general announcement of winners in March, 2008. Judges will consist of a select group of Internet advertising professionals with an in-depth understanding of the current state-of-the-art in Web advertising. Past competition judges have included top executives from leading corporations, institutions and media organizations such as Ogilvy Interactive, Saatchi & Saatchi, Blattner Brunner, Comedy Central, Sun Microsystems, National Cable & Telecom Association, Refinery, Euro RSCG, EPB Interactive, New York Post Interactive, The Cincinnati Enquirer, J. Walter Thompson, Xerox, Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Modem Media, and Answerthink.

2007 Results

2007 Best of Show Awards were awarded in each of the online medium categories. Last year's winners include:

Fishbowl Marketing for Shamrock The Vote (Best Ads the Client Did Not Pick)

IQ Interactive for "Explorer" Video Newsletter (Best of Show Email Message)

blast! PR for NASCAR.com Revs Up Fans with Email Marketing (Best of Show Email Message Campaign)

TMX Communications for Find the Time Capsule Campaign (Best of Show Integrated ad campaign)

Hornall Anderson Design Works for My Family (Best of Show Interactive Application)

Wunderman Team Detroit for My Dream (Best of Show Microsite/Landing Page)

Idea Integration for Sony Noise Canceling Headphones (Best of Show Online ad)

Palm Communication for Oryctolagus cuniculus (Best of Show Online Campaign)

Coldwell Banker for Coldwell Banker Barbara Sue Seal eNews (Best of Show Online Newsletter Campaign)

Ayzenberg Group for Mobile Suite GUNDAM Crossfire rich media creative (Best of Show Rich Media Online Ad)

Profero for Mess With Your Mind (Best of Show Rich Media Online Campaign)

For the third year in a row, TMX Communications of Conshohocken, PA was recognized with the 2007 Top Agency Award, winning 15 IAC Awards. Their awards included 1 Best of show, 13 Best of Industry awards and two Outstanding awards.

For a complete list of past wiiners, please go to www.iacaward.org.

Are you going to be the next winner? Now is the time to find out. Enter your best online advertising into the 2008 IAC Awards and win the recognition you deserve! Enter today at www.iacaward.org.

2007 WebAward plaques, trophies and certificates

Due to a database error, we have send individuals who have ordered additional certificates awards with incorrect information. We have corrected this and new certificates are in production. This problem has also effected the trophy and image plaque orders as we have been double checking all of the information manually and this has slowed down the production process considerably.

All orders should be completed by the end of the month.

Content Week 2008

The Web Marketing Association is one of the sponsors of Content Week 2008 at the Westgate Hotel in San Diego, CA
Jan 28-Feb 1, 2008.

IQPC’s Content Week 2008 is your gateway to effective Content Management strategy. This unique event offers creative solutions and best practices in all areas of Content Management. Ensuring usability, flexibility, localization and globalization of content to meet bottom line business objectives is today the ultimate priority.
To learn more and register, go to www.iqpc.com/us/cw08

Search Engine Strategies – Chicago

Search Engine Strategies is a sponsor of the Web Marketing Association and their next conference will be at the Chicago Hilton December 3-7.

SES returns to Chicago for it's ninth year bringing back your favorite sessions, with fresh content, in addition to many new and exciting ones. If you haven't experienced an SES event this is the one to do it. This 5-day, multi-track event features presentations and panel discussions from industry experts including representatives from the search engines themselves; interactive and in-depth sessions & workshops; and an exclusive look at the latest search trends & developments for 2008.

Register by Friday, November 16 and save $150. Web Marketing Association members save a little more when they register with priority code *10WMA.* Learn more and register at the Search Engine Strategies Website

ad:tech New York

ad:tech conferences are a sponsor of the Web Marketing Association and we support their conferences and award program as being an outstanding way for Internet professionals to network and keep up to date.

The next conference is ad:tech New York on November 5-8 at the New York Hilton.

Are you engaged in conversations with your customers? Are you leveraging those results to learn more about your customers? Are you optimizing your message and delivery in order to drive brand preference? These topics, along with other brand-building methods and digital media technologies and platforms will be discussed at ad:tech New York. From the high level overview keynotes to the performance focused workshops to the technologies showcased on the show floor – it's all here, under one roof. ad:tech... the business of modern marketing.

For more information and to register go to http://www.ad-tech.com/ny/