Best Regional Web Site Trends Detailed in New Report from the Web Marketing Association
New Web Marketing Association' Internet Standards Assessment Report includes historical data derived from a decade of hosting Internet award competition, WebAwards, and provides best practices for regional Web design.
West Simsbury, CT (PRWEB) April 9, 2007 -- The Web Marketing Association, host of leading web site awards competition WebAwards, released the Internet Standards Assessment Report (ISAR) to help the regional industry learn to create more effective and engaging web sites.
"As the standard of excellence for web sites continues to increase, consumers (and WebAward judges) are increasingly picky about what they consider to be an effective web site," said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association, Inc. "With travelers use of the Internet to plan vacations, regional Web sites have been very successful in creating portals to bring together attractions, lodging and events for specific areas. This is a benefit for travelers to have all information aggregated in one spot. Many regional Web sites can benefit from the Web 2.0 consumer generated content."
The WebAwards competition judges regional web sites on seven criteria that combined create award-winning web sites:
| | - Design
- Innovation
- Content
- Technology
- Interactivity
- Copywriting
- Ease of use
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Regional Web sites have been generally in line with the ISAR index over the past 4 years, despite erratic performance prior to 2003.
According to the ISAR study, design, ease of use, content and copywriting are regional web sites' strong points and they have beaten the 3-year criteria average for the design and copywriting criteria. They tend to have the lowest scores for innovation and interactivity.
The 2006 WebAward for Best Regional Web site went to Mercury Web Solutions for New York's Tech Valley.
Other past winners include:
| | - 2005 Mediapulse, Inc. for Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corp
- 2004 Ministry of Tourism of Valencia for Land of Valencia
- 2003 USDM.net for Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau web site
- 2002 Buffalo Niagara CVB for Buffalo Niagara CVB web site
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A complete list of past winners can be found at regional.webaward.org.
Companies and organizations wishing to have their regional Web site evaluated against the ISAR Index and be considered for a WebAward, which can help boost a Web site's credibility and marketing efforts, can learn more at www.07webaward.org.
To request your copy of the 2007 WebAward ISAR report, please visit: http://www.webaward.org/isar_report.asp
The Internet Standards Assessment report and the 2007 WebAwards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: Burst Media, PRWeb, Misukanis & Odden, Small Army, SimpleFeed, ExactTarget, ad:tech conferences, NewsUSA, eComXpo, MediaPost's OMMA conference, TopRank Online Marketing, Creative Chocolate Printing Company, OTOlabs, Internet World UK, Search Engine Strategies, Webmaster Regional, Rovion's InPerson and eMarketer.
2007 WebAward Call for Entries
The Web Marketing Association is now accepting entries into its 11th annual international WebAward Competition. The WebAwards is the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks that the Internet Standards Assessment report is based upon. The regional industry represents an important category in the WebAward competition, and the Web Marketing Association will again be honoring the Best Regional Web site of 2007. The deadline for entry is May 31, 2007 and the WebAward Web site is located at www.07webaward.org.
About the WebAwards
Now in its 11th 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.07webaward.org.
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