The Web Marketing Association invites entries for its 17th annual international WebAward competition. The WebAwards are the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks based on the seven criteria of a successful Web site. It recognizes the individual and team achievements of Web professionals all over the world who create and maintain outstanding Web sites. The deadline for entry for the 2013 WebAwards is May 31, 2013. A complete list of past winners and this year's entry form can be found at www.webaward.org.
"The WebAwards look into all aspects of website development. It's not just a beauty contest for Websites," said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. "Our expert judges evaluate the entire interactive experience and reward those sites that are best in their industry. The goal of the WebAwards is to both recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing some of the most effective Web sites on the Internet today and also provide valuable feedback to entrants on how their sites stack up against their peers and their industry's standards of excellence."
Websites are judged on seven criteria, including design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, copy writing and ease of use and receive a numeric score. Each WebAward entry is judged against other entries in its industry category and then against an overall standard of excellence. Entrants also benefit from receiving valuable feedback from the WebAwards professional judging panel on their Web site development efforts.
This year's top awards will include:
A "Best of Industry" WebAward will be given in each of the 96 industry categories, including financial services, medical, small business, travel, advertising, transportation and government. The competition's highest honor, the 2013 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 UrbanDaddy for the "UrbanDaddy + Herradura Mixology Battle Royale" website. The site was also recognized as Best Marketing Website. The Web Marketing Association will also recognize the interactive agency winning the most awards in the competition with the "Top Interactive Agency" WebAward. For the third time, the Top Agency award was awarded to Biggs|Gilmore.
The WebAward Top Agency award recognizes consistency of effort and is given to the interactive agency that wins the most WebAwards in a given year. All locations and offices of a specific agency will be consolidated for the purpose of determining the winner of this award.
Each year, many agencies and some corporations win multiple awards and deserve additional recognition. This year, each organization that wins six or more WebAwards will be recognized with an Outstanding Interactive Developer trophy. In 2012, there were 19 agencies recognized with this award.
Judging for the 2013 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, all 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, BGT Partners, Blattner Brunner, Bridge Worldwide, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Comedy Central, Disney, Euro RSCG, Ion Global, VML, 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 Website Magazine.
