Trends for Best Sports Website Detailed in New Report from Web Marketing Association

West Simsbury, CT (PRWEB) March 23, 2009

WebAward.org - The Web Marketing Association, host of leading website awards competition WebAwards, released the 2009 Internet Standards Assessment Report (ISAR) to help the sports industry create more effective and engaging websites.

"As the standard of excellence for websites continues to increase, consumers (and WebAward judges) are increasingly picky about what they consider to be an effective website," said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association, Inc. "Sports websites have become an essential part of supplying fanatic fans with the most up-to-date sports information. The sites have done well expanding to offer retail items as well."

The WebAwards competition judges sports websites on seven criteria that combined create award-winning websites:

•     Design
•     Innovation
•     Content
•     Technology
•     Interactivity
•     Copywriting
•     Ease of use

Sports Web sites have significantly outperformed the ISAR index in each of the last seven years. Content is the driving force behind most sports Web sites. They also score well in design, copywriting, and ease of use. Sports sites are one of the few Web sites that outperformed the 5-year criteria benchmark averages in every category.

The 2008 WebAward for Best Sports website went to Zugara for RBK DGK 2007.

Other past winners include:

•     2007 bbdigital (Blattner Brunner) for the Golf Pride Website
•     2006 The Overland Agency for Soloflex, Inc Microsite
•     2005 R/GA for Nike Basketball
•     2004 Zugara and Reebok for RBK Sound and Rythm
•     2003 Refinery, Inc for Prince Tennis Website
•     2002 SportsLine.com for CBS Sportsline.com

A complete list of past winners can be found at sports.webaward.org

Companies and organizations wishing to have their sports Web site evaluated against the ISAR Index and be considered for a WebAward, which can help boost a Website's credibility and marketing efforts, can learn more at WebAward.org.

To request your copy of the 2009 WebAward ISAR report, please visit: WebAward.org

The Internet Standards Assessment report and the 2009 WebAwards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: Burst Media, B2B Magazine, BGT Partners, PRWeb, AllBusiness, ExactTarget, ad:tech conferences, NewsUSA, Microsoft PhizzPop, Internet World, AllBusiness, Search Engine Strategies, Webmaster Radio, Rovion, and Website Magazine.

2009 WebAward Call for Entries
The Web Marketing Association will soon be accepting entries into its 13th 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 sports industry represents an important category in the WebAward competition, and the Web Marketing Association will again be honoring the Best Sports Web site of 2009. The deadline for entry is May 29, 2009 and the WebAward Web site is located at WebAward.org.

About the WebAwards
Now in its 13th 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 WebAward.org.

# # #