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

March 15, 2007; 05:34 AM

The Web Marketing Association, host of leading website awards competition WebAwards, released the Internet Standards Assessment Report (ISAR) to help the small business industry create more effective websites.

"As the standard of excellence for websites continues to increase, consumers are increasingly picky about what they consider to be an effective website," said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association, Inc. "The Internet has given small businesses the opportunity to sell globally and to do so, they need to have a site that meets and exceeds visitor expectations."

The WebAwards competition judges small business websites on seven criteria that combined help create award-winning websites:
•   Design
•   Innovation
•   Content
•   Technology
•   Interactivity
•   Copywriting
•   Ease of use

Small Business Websites joined the WebAwards as an industry category in 2003 and have lagged below the index for the past 3 years.

The latest ISAR Index indicates that small business web sites perform above average in interactivity and at average in innovation, content and ease of use compared to overall web development.

According to the ISAR Study, the small business industry needs to focus on technology and innovation in the near future, as they scored lowest in these two areas.

The 2006 WebAward for Best Small Business Web site went to Business Week Online - Small Biz.

Other past winners include:
- 2005 Mediapulse for Stuart Row Landscapes, Inc.
- 2004 Gerard Konars for Bride and Formal, Inc.
- 2003 Byte Interactive for its website - Byte Interactive

Companies and organizations wishing to have their small business 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 www.07webaward.org.

To request your copy of the 2007 WebAward ISAR report, please visit: http://www.webaward.org/isar_report.asp

2007 WebAward Call for Entries

The Web Marketing Association will soon be 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 small business industry represents an important category in the WebAward competition, and the Web Marketing Association will again be honoring the Best Small Business 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.webaward.org.