OMMA Hollywood Conference and Expo

The Web Marketing Association will be appearing at several leading conferences this Spring to support the launch of the 2007 WebAward Competition. The WMA is a association sponsor of this event.

OMMA Hollywood Conference and Expo
March 19-20, 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, making it the perfect opportunity to get your company message and sales executives in front of the online agency and marketing community in Hollywood for two full days.

The New Rules of PR

The Web Marketing Association's WebAward Competition is pleased to recommend the e-book authored by marketing strategist and online expert David Meerman Scott and presented by WebAward sponsor PRWeb, Keep your PR team one step ahead of the competition and extend the reach of your news, make sure your organization leverages `The New Rules of PR'. (PDF)

MarketingSherpa's Email Marketing Summit '07 + Bootcamp, Awards & Expo

The Web Marketing Association will be appearing at several leading conferences this Spring. The WMA is a big supporter of MarketingSherpa's efforts across the board.

MarketingSherpa's Email Marketing Summit '07 + Bootcamp, Awards & Expo
March 4-6, 2007
Miami Hotel, Miami, FL

Join 650 Email Marketers in Miami for advanced bootcamp training, 4 interactive labs (including live ON-SITE Eyetracking Lab), inspirational Case Studies, peer panels and loads of networking. Reserve your ticket at MarketingSherpa's Website

New WebAward Sponsor Opportunity

The Web Marketing Association will be offering sponsorships of specific industries within the WebAward competition for the first time in 2007. Industry sponsors will receive visibility and links to their Website within the WebAward competition Website with regards to the industry they sponsor.

If your company or organization is interested in participating as an industry sponsor, please contact Web Marketing Association President William Rice at wrice@webaward.org to learn more.

Web Marketing Association will be exhibiting at these leading Internet conferences

Trade show and conferences are one of the best places to learn about what is happening in the industry and to meet with Internet professionals who are judges and/or participants in our award programs. This spring we will be traveling to all of the major Internet-oriented conferences increasing the awareness of the Web Marketing Association and the WebAward Competition. Many times we are able to get valuable discounts and offer free conference passes the readers of this newsletter.

Right now, you will find us at MediaPost's OMMA Hollywood March 19 & 20, Search Engine Strategies New York April 10-13, eComXpo, March 20 & 22, ad:tech San Francisco April 25 & 26, and then we go international at Internet World London May 1-3, and finally Search Engine Strategies Toronto June 12 & 13. You will find contact information for all of these conferences on their Website and in our Interactive Briefing newsletter.

Return on Marketing Investment Conference

The Web Marketing Association will be appearing at several leading conferences this Spring. The WMA is a association sponsor of this event.

The 10th Annual Return on Marketing Investment Conference
February 26-28, 2007
Trump International Sonesta Beach Resort, Miami, FL

Where is your $$$ most valuable? Register today to find out! Leading organizations, across industries, will show you how to correlate your marketing spend to business results. You will hear from: NBC Universal, Wachovia, Best Buy, Scottrade, Food Network, Forbes.com, Duke University, Motorola, Wells Fargo, Nissan North America, Hilton Hotels, Sony Ericsson and many others.

Mention the code XM1921WMA and receive a complimentary white paper. Learn more and sign up at www.iirusa.com/romi

Cramer-Krasselt Wins Best of Show for AirTran Airways 2005 Annual Report Interactive Investor Relations Awards Competition

The Web Marketing Association is pleased to announce the winners of the 2006 Interactive Investor Relations Awards Competition (IIR Awards) for investor relations Web site development. Entries competed with peers within more than 50 industry categories as well as against an overall standard of excellence. Sites were judged on design, navigation, ease of use and use of technology to enhance the investor's experience as well as specific content criteria relating to investor and financial communication.

The 2006 Best of Show IIR Award is presented to Cramer-Krasselt for AirTran Airways 2005 Annual Report (NYSE: AAI) for their outstanding investor Web site. In the opinion of the competition judges, the site went beyond all others entered in the IIR Awards to provide investors and the financial community an interesting and compelling review of why investors should continue to invest in AirTran.

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

Other companies recognized for their industry leading investor relations Web sites are:

Site (Exchange:Ticker) - Award
Abbott (NYSE: ABT), Best Pharmaceuticals IR Site:
ABN AMRO (NYSE: ABN), Best Financial Services IR Site:
Advanced Growing Systems, Inc. (AGWS),Best Agriculture IR Site:
AirTran Airways (NYSE: AAI), Best Airline IR Site:
Allis-Chalmers Energy, Inc. (AMEX: ALY), Best Industrial Services IR Site:
Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO), Best Consumer Goods IR Site:
Answers Corporation (NASDAQ: ANSW), Best Interactive Services/e-Commerce IR Site:
Blockbuster, Inc. (NYSE: BBI), Best Entertainment IR Site:
Central European Media Enterprises (NASDAQ: CETV), Best Broadcasting IR Site:
China Telecom Corporation Limited (NYSE: CHA), Best Conglomerates IR Site, Best Information Services IR Site:
ClearOne (OTCBB: CLRO), Best Office Equipment IR Site:
Danske Bank (OMX: DANSKE), Best Banking IR Site:
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: Dell), Best Computer Hardware IR Site:
Duke Realty Corporation (NYSE: DRE), Best Real Estate IR Site:
FEMSA (NYSE: FMX), Best Beverage IR Site:
Genentech (NYSE: DNA), Best Biotechnology IR Site:
Healthstream (NASDAQ: HSTM), Best Education IR Site:
IMS Health (NYSE: RX), Best Health Care Service IR Site:
Interlink Global Corporation (OTCBB: ILKG), Best International Business IR Site:
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Best Health Care Products IR Site:
Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), Best Food Industry IR Site:
Kyphon Inc. (NASDAQ: KYPH), Best Medical IR Site:
Legacy Communications Corporation (OTCBB: LGCC), Best Radio IR Site:
Marine Products Corporation (NYSE: MPX), Best Leisure IR Site:
Neste Oil (Helsinki: NES1V), Best Oil and Gas IR Site:
NetSol Technologies (NASDAQ: NTWK), Best Professional Services IR Site:
Nortech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSYS), Best Aerospace and Defense IR Site:
Pall Corporation (NYSE: PLL), Best Manufacturing IR Site:
Park Ohio Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: PKOH), Best Diversified Business IR Site:
PotashCorp (NYSE: POT), Best Metals and Mining IR Site:
Promana Solutions (PLSU), Best Employment IR Site:
Publicis Groupe (NYSE: ), Best Advertising/Marketing Services IR Site:
Silverleaf Resorts, Inc. (AMEX: SVL), Best Hotel and Lodging IR Site:
Southern Company (NYSE: SO), Best Energy IR Site:
Stoneridge, Inc. (NYSE: SRI), Best Automotive IR Site:
Symantec Corporation (NASDAQ: SYMC), Best Computer Software IR Site, Best Technology IR Site:
Tejas Incorporated (OTCBB: TEJS), Best Brokerage IR Site:
The Asia Pacific Fund (NYSE: APB), Best Mutual Funds IR Site:
The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW), Best Chemicals IR Site:
The Home Depot (NYSE: HD), Best Retail IR Site:
The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG), Best Personal Care Products IR Site:
TrygVesta (OMX:TRYG), Best Insurance IR Site:
WCI Communities, Inc. (NYSE: WCI), Best Home Builders/Building Products IR Site:
Williams Partners, L.P. (NYSE: WPZ), Best Natural Resources IR Site:
Yahoo! (NYSE: YHOO), Best Media IR Site:
Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM), Best Restaurant IR Site:

Additional sites were also recognized as Outstanding Websites. They are: Avaya Inc. (NYSE: AV), Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE: DVN), Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: ARW), eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY), CVS Corporation (NYSE: CVS),EDS (NYSE: EDS),Life Time Fitness, Inc.(NYSE: LTM), Haemonetics (NYSE: HAE), Catena Fastigheter AB (NYSE: NO), ERA Real Estate (NYSE: H), Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL), Metso Corporation (NYSE), Finnvera (NYSE), SAP AG (NYSE: SAP), Time Warner (NYSE: TWX), SI International (NASDAQ: SINT), Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF), PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM), Air Products (NYSE: APD), Fremont General Corporation (NYSE: FMT), DWS Scudder, Qualcomm Inc. (NYSE: QCOM), Smithfield Foods, Inc. (NYSE: SFD), ANSYS, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANSS), Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Edison International (NYSE: EIX), Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), Bank of Montreal (TOR:BMO), EnPro Industries (NYSE: NPO), Air France-KLM (NYSE: AKH), Colony Capital Inc., Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER), Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE), Siemens AG (NYE: SI), Northern Trust Corporation (NASDAQ: NTRS), Aspreva Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ASPV), Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE: PNW), Global Sources Ltd. (NASDAQ: GSOL), Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT), W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW), Warner Music Group (NYSE :WMG), Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ: HBAN), Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDNS), EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC), Deutsche Telekom, Inc. (NYSE: DT), Adstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADST), Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: KAL), Titan Global Holdings (OTCBB: TTGL), Crown Crafts, Inc. (OTCBB: CRWS), Smart & Final, Inc. (NYSE: SMF), EDAP TMS S.A. (NASDAQ: EDAP), Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. (NYSE: CLF), TODCO (NYSE: THE), Intervoice (NASDAQ: INTV), General Motors (NYSE: GM), and BASF AG (NYSE: BF)

Special recognition is also given to b2i Technologies, Inc. of Richardson Texas. For the second year in a row, B2i won more awards than any other participant, taking home 26 awards in the 2005 IIR Awards for their clients, including 17 Best of Industry Awards and 9 Outstanding IR Website Awards.

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

The Web Marketing Association (WMA) was founded in Boston in 1997 as an organization dedicated to upholding professional standards of excellence in Web development. Members are advertising, marketing, public relations and Web professionals who share an interest in improving the quality of Web communications. Since its inception, the WMA has set the standard of excellence for overall Web site development with the annual WebAward Competition, a premier annual event for Web developers and marketers.

Internet Advertising Competition Awards Deadline Extended

The Web Marketing Association announces the deadline for the 2007 Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards as been extended until Febrary 15th, 9:00p.M. EST. 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.

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 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 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. Ads eligible for entry in the competition must have run during the period from January 1, 2006 through January 31, 2007.

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.

The 2007 Internet Advertising Competition Awards are sponsored by BURST!Media, ad:tech, ExactTarget, Small Army, OMMA, PR Web, NewsUSA, , Misukanis & Odden, Top Rank Online Marketing, SimpleFeed, WebSite Services Magazine and www.YourPhotoOnChocolate.com.

Today is the deadline for the IAC Awards

The deadline for the Web Marketing Association's fifth annual Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards is today, January 31, 2007. The IAC Awards are the first and only industry-based advertising award competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising.

Please make every effort to get your entry submitted by today. You will still be able to edit your entry until February 15th.

Web Marketing Association is a W3C Supporter

The Web Marketing Association is pleased to be a finanical supporter of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), an international consortium where Member organizations, a full-time staff, and the public work together to develop Web standards. W3C's mission is to lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing protocols and guidelines that ensure long-term growth for the Web.

The mission of the Web Marketing Association has away been to help set the standard of excellence for web site development. This is just one way we help support our mission. Another way we support it with our WebAward and Internet Advertising Competition(IAC) Award programs.


http://www.w3.org/Consortium/sup

2006 WebAward Surveys Sent

Each year, we conclude the annual WebAwards with a survey sent to all participants and judges. Those surveys went out last week and if you were involved in this year’s WebAwards and did not receive one, or the regular nominator is no longer with your organization, please contact the Web Marketing Association.

If you did receive it, please complete your short survey. We truly do use the data from these surveys to shape the future award competitions.

Problem with Ordered Certificates

We would like to apologize for the delays in getting awards to people who ordered them from our online Recognition Center. We recently changed printers and experienced problems in getting the correct certificates to those who ordered them – not once but twice.

This problem has been corrected and the certificates are once again being sent out to their rightful owners.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Award Winning Sites Embrace Total User Experience in 2006

The end of the year is often a good time to take a look back on the major trends of 2006 in website development and look ahead for 2007 and beyond.

The Web Marketing Association will be releasing its 2007 Internet Standards Assessment Report, an industry by industry assessment of current standards of excellence, in February, in the mean time, I thought it would be a value to our readers to give a heads up for what to expect.

At the Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association summit, a few months ago, I discussed the concept of Total User Experience. This is how I best sum up what made some Websites stand out above the rest in the 10th annual WebAward Competition for Website development.

I define total user experience as a Web site that combines text, sound, animation and video within its pages to deliver an informative and entertaining experience. Today a website should not require users to download a plug in, or click a link to have a video player pop up. Rather today’s award winning sites are integrating video and audio and graphics directly into the page. Users do not want to be interrupted; they want a seamless integrated experience. A Web page is more than just text and graphics, it needs to come alive to compete with the other media outlets available to consumers today. A good example of this is the 2006 WebAward Best of Show winning Website "TBS: Department of Humor Analysis" at www.tbshumorstudy.com, which also won Best TV Website. This flash based Website creates a total user experience to highlight the funny TV shows on TBS.

In the ISAR study, we will be releasing specific data relating to a decade of Website evaluations. If you are interested in receiving a free copy when it is published and download a copy of the 2006 report, add your name to the ISAR Study page.

Happy holidays to all and a very merry new year!

Bill Rice
President
Web Marketing Association

Internet Advertising Competition Awards 2007 Call for Entries is Now Open

The Web Marketing Association announces the launched of its fifth 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, 2007

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 http://www.iacaward.org. The deadline for entry is January 31, 2007 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, interactive application, 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. Ads eligible for entry in the competition must have run during the period from January 1, 2006 through January 31, 2007.

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, 2007. 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.

The 2007 Internet Advertising Competition Awards are sponsored by Burst Media, AdRants, ad:tech, ExactTarget, Small Army, OMMA, PR Web, NewsUSA, , Misukanis & Odden, Top Rank Online Marketing, SimpleFeed, WebSite Services Magazine and www.YourPhotoOnChocolate.com.

Come see the Web Marketing Association at ad:tech New York

ad:tech
Hilton New York
November 6-8, 2006

Join the Web Marketing Association at THE Event for Interactive Marketing. ad:tech New York blends relevant speakers, topic driven panels and interactive workshops, providing attendees with the tools and techniques needed to compete in today’s digital world. Stop by and visit us at our booth in the exhibit hall. Register now at http://www.ad-tech.com/ny.asp

Interactive Briefing Featured Articles

The October issue of Interactive Briefing, the newsletter of the Web Marketing Association, featured two articles of interest.

What do you stand on? – Mannington Floors used rich media banner ads and effective landing pages to engage online users and lower cost per click using this award winning online ad campaign.


Internet cited as best place to get info on political candidates – Burstmedia’s new study looks at the effect the Internet is placing on the election process. (PDF)

To sign up for the Web Marketing Association mailing list, including the monthly Interactive Briefing Newsletter, go to http://www.webmarketingassociation.org/subscribe.asp

eComXpo Opens today

eComXpo, The Virtual Tradeshow for eCommerce Marketers, is the largest number of eCommerce marketers in one place at one time, ever! And you don’t have to fly to New York to experience it. Stop by and check out the vendors, including the Web Marketing Association.

Enrolling in the eComXpo University gives you full access from October 24 to February 23, 2007 to over 160 on-demand presentations from industry experts. Enjoy and learn from industry heavyweights like: Seth Godin, Shawn Collins, Declan Dunn, Paul Colligan and Chris Pirillo! Go to www.ecomxpo.com for complete information.

Search Marketing Study

We at the Web Marketing Assocaition are big fans of MarketingSherpa’s newsletters and reports. Their new MarketingSherpa Search Marketing Benchmark Guide is a great help to anyone who thinks SEO is an important aspect of Web marketing. We have been given access to an executive summary of the study that you can download free-of-charge. You can purchase the entire report from the MarketingSherpa’s Website. While you’re their, sign up for some of their excellent case study newsletters!

Web Marketing Association drawing for ad:tech Conference pass

ad:tech is one of the top conferences in the online marketing space and its next event will be held November 6-8th in New York at the New York Hilton. 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.

The Web Marketing Association will be exhibiting at the show - stop by and say hello.

If you would like to enter our drawing for a full conference pass to ad:tech New York, simply email your contact information to adtech@webaward.org before Friday, October 20th. One winner will be selected from the entries received and notified by email. This is a $1,695 value that should not be missed.

Web Marketing Association Support eComXpo

eComXpo conference is an online conference to be held October 24-26 2006 at
www.ecomxpo.com. This virtual tradeshow for eCommerce Marketers is a great way to hear interesting speakers and meet new vendors without the expense and time away from the office.

Send your contact information to ecomxpo@webaward.org to be entered into a drawing for free access to the eComXpo University with access to 160 on-demand presentations from industry experts. Deadline is Friday, October 20th.