Best Advertising Website Trends Detailed in New Report from the Web Marketing Association

Updated 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 Advocacy Web Design

West Simsbury, CT (PRWEB) March 26, 2008 — WebAward08.org- The Web Marketing Association, host of leading website awards competition WebAwards, released the Internet Standards Assessment Report (ISAR) to help the advertising industry learn to create more effective and engaging websites.

“The advertising industry is very competitive when it comes to Web development and companies can benefit from the independent evaluation of their online efforts,” said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. “Advertising websites need to balance their wish to show off creativity and capability via their webs design with the equally important need to inform prospects.”

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

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

Advertising Web sites have generally been in line with the ISAR index. They have met or exceeded the index in eight of the past eleven years, but underperformed in 2006. Advertising sites are continuously strong in design and content due to their goal to display a firm’s best work. Advertising sites also show increasing scores and strength in innovation and technology. In prior years, advertising sites have historically scored lowest in interactivity; however, in 2007 these scores have caught up with the other criteria areas.

For the second year in a row, the 2007 WebAward for Best Advertising website went to Spot Runner for the Spot Runner Website.

Other past winners include:
2006 - SpotRunner for SpotRunner Website
2005 - Young & Rubicam Brands/Wunderman, Detroit for Meet the Lucky Ones
2004 - Hanon McKendry/The Brand Consultants for Lake Effect Website
2004 - Oasis for Toyota Scion
2003 - Google for Google AdWords
2002 - Fusebox, Inc for JCDecaux Airport US

Companies and organizations wishing to have their advocacy 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 WebAward08.org.

To request your copy of the 2008 WebAward ISAR report, please visit: WebAward08.org and click on the ISAR text link.

The Internet Standards Assessment report and the 2008 WebAwards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: Burst Media, PRWeb, AllBusiness, Misukanis & Odden, Small Army, ExactTarget, ad:tech conferences, NewsUSA, MediaPost’s OMMA conference, TopRank Online Marketing, Creative Chocolate Printing Company, PhizzPop, Internet World UK, Search Engine Strategies, Webmaster Radio, Rovion’s InPerson, Snap Shots and Website Magazine.

2008 WebAward Call for Entries

The Web Marketing Association is now accepting entries into its 12th 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 advocacy industry represents an important category in the WebAward competition, and the Web Marketing Association will again be honoring the Best Advocacy Web site of 2008. The deadline for entry is May 31, 2008 and the WebAward Web site is located at WebAward08.org.

About the 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 WebAward08.org.