Month: March 2022

The Web Marketing Association is looking for the best Financial Services websites in the world as part of their 26th annual international WebAward Competition for Web site developmentat www.webaward.org. The WebAwards is the standards-defining competition that sets benchmarks for 96 industries, including banking, credit union, insurance, investment, mutual funds, financial services and for the first time cryptocurrency and blockchain websites, based on the seven criteria of a successful web site. The deadline for Financial-related web sites to enter to be judged is May 31, 2022.

“The financial services 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. “Financial websites going forward will need to find a balance between what the web visitor craves in terms of innovation and technology and what the industry demands in terms of regulation.”

Websites are judged on seven criteria including design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, copy writing and ease of use. Each WebAward entry in the Financial Services category is judged against other financial services entries and then against an overall standard of excellence.

All financial services entrants benefit from receiving valuable feedback in terms of their specific criteria scores compared against the average scores for their industry. They also may receive specific comments from the WebAward’s professional judging panel on their Web site development efforts.

Winners of a WebAward in the financial services categories will also receive:

• Handsome statue or certificate of achievement
• Increased visibility for their company
• Marketing opportunity to promote the company website to the media
• Links to your site from the highly ranked WebAward site to help SEO
• A highlight for your resume.
• Admiration of peers, friends and co-workers

Each year, the Web Marketing Association names the Best of Industry for the various financial services categories based on the score they receive from the WebAward judges.

 
Recent winners of the Best Financial Services Website include:

• 2021- MBC Strategic for ANGEL OAK CAPITAL ADVISORS
• 2020 – Mastercard for MASTERCARD.COM WEBSITE DESIGN
• 2019 – Conceptual Minds, Inc. for ClienTax, Inc.
• 2018 – Small Army for Country Bank Website
• 2017 – Great-West Life, London Life, Canada Life for HelloLife Consumer Site
• 2016 – Edward Jones for Edward Jones Website
• 2015 – Prudential Financial for Sponsor Center – Supporting Retirement Security Plan Participants
• 2014 – Nimble for Nimble Website
• 2013 – Nimble for Nimble Website
• 2012 – InvestLab & Comrade for InvestLab Tradepop Branding & Design
• 2011 – Brightworks Interactive Marketing & RBC for RBC Better Student Life
• 2010 – Standard Chartered Bank and TBWA\TEQUILA\Hong Kong for The Standard Chartered Bank Homepage
• 2009 Standard Chartered Bank and TBWA\TEQUILA\Hong Kong for The Standard Chartered Private Bank Global Website
• 2008 Organic Inc for Bank of America Fees & Processes
• 2007 John Hancock Funds, LLC for Financial Professional Website
• 2006 T3 (The Think Tank) for Chase Card with Blink
• 2005 Merrill Lynch for Merrill Lynch Gateway Website
• 2004 Moving Minds, LLC for Trancentrix Corporate Payment Solutions Website
• 2003 Weber Shandwick Worldwide for CNBC on MSN Money

Recent winners of the Best Bank Website include:

• 2021 – Jack Henry Digital – Banno for THE BANK OF PRINCETON
• 2020 – Jack Henry & Associates / Banno Group for THINK BANK
• 2019 – ZAG Interactive for Berkshire Bank
• 2018 – Mirum (Thailand) Co., Ltd. For Krungthai Bank Website
• 2017 – Reichl und Partner eMarketing for DADAT Direct Bank
• 2016 – Western Alliance Bancorporation for Western Alliance Bancorporation Website Redesign
• 2015 – TURKIYE IS BANKASI (ISBANK) for Turkiye Is Bankasi New Privia Website
• 2014 – Ally Bank for Ally Bank Product Pages
• 2013 – Group Digital Banking for The New Standard Chartered Bank India Website
• 2012 – Cleartag SAL for Audi Card Artist Website
• 2011 – Finn Digital on behalf of Johnson Financial Group for Johnson Bank Website Redesign
• 2010 – Standard Chartered Bank and TBWA\TEQUILA\Hong Kong for The Standard Chartered Bank Homepage
• 2009 – Organic, Inc. for Bank of America – Morris on Campus (2009 Best of Show Winner)
• 2008 – TBWA\TEQUILA\ HK for Standard Chartered Bank/People in Action
• 2007 – Organic, Inc. for Bank of America No Fee Mortgage Plus
• 2006 – Carat Fusion for Wachovia Championship 17
• 2005 – Agency.com for Sainsburysbank.co.uk
• 2004 – Ion Global Limited for HSBC Card Services HK

Recent winners of the Best Credit Union Website include:

• 2021 – Sundin Marketing for ST. JEAN’S CREDIT UNION
• 2020 – ZAG Interactive for Andrews Federal Credit Union
• 2019 – ZAG Interactive for University Credit Union
• 2018 – ZAG Interactive for Coastal Credit Union
• 2017 – ZAG Interactive for Black Hills Federal Credit Union
• 2016 – America First Credit Union for America First Credit Union Website
• 2015 – CU Solutions Group for Water & Power Community Credit Union
• 2014 – ZAG Interactive for SF Police Credit Union
• 2013 – Extractable for Logix Federal Credit Union Website
• 2012 – Boston Interactive for IC Federal Credit Union
• 2011 – Extractable for Security Service Federal Credit Union
• 2010 – Extractable for Citizen’s Equity
• 2009 – America First Credit Union for www.americafirst.com
• 2008 – Delta Community for CU Delta Community Credit Union
• 2007 – Extractable for SAFE credit union
• 2006 – Webnbeyond for Union America Mortgage
• 2005 – America First Credit Union for www.americafirst.com
• 2004 – Imirage, Inc for APCI Federal Credit Union

Recent winners of the Best Insurance Web site include:

• 2021 – The Zebra for THE ZEBRA 2021
• 2020 – TrustedChoice.com for TrustedChoice.com
• 2019 – 90 Degree Design for Brentwood Services Website
• 2018 – Antyra Solutions (Private) Limited for Fairfirst Insurance
• 2017 – TribalVision for Falvey Yacht Insurance
• 2016 – Insurify for Insurify Website
• 2015 – GEICO for GEICO Website
• 2014 – TIAA-CREF Life Insurance Co. for Life Wizard
• 2013 – Cigna for Health Care Reform for YOU Infographic
• 2012 – The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies for The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, Agency
• 2011 – American Family Insurance for www.amfam.com
• 2010 – Liberty Mutual, Hill Holiday, and RED Interactive Agency for 2099 Online Racing Game, Presented by Liberty Mutual
• 2009 – AXA Equitable for www.axa-equitable.com
• 2008 – Blue Shield of California for blueshieldcachatbox.com
• 2007 – Progressive Insurance for Progressive Corp.
• 2006 – Blue Shield of California
• 2005 – Internet Communications for Medical Mutual – Ohio’s Get-Well Card TM
• 2004 – Graficalnter.active for Horizon Empire Blue Cross BlueShield
• 2003 – Empire BlueCross BlueShield for Empire BlueCross BlueShield web site
• 2002 – Progressive Insurance for progressive.com

Recent winners of the Best Investment Web site include:

• 2021 – Sondhelm Partners for CHASE INVESTMENTS
• 2020 – Cloud Construct for RA Capital
• 2019 – MBC Strategic for Domos
• 2018 – PaperStreet Web Design for Aviator Capital
• 2017 – John Hancock Investments for John Hancock Investments Website
• 2016 – Boston Interactive for Standish Mellon
• 2015 – Orbis Investments for Orbis Access
• 2014 – Behringer for BehringerInvestments.com
• 2013 – Behringer Harvard for Behringer Harvard.com
• 2012 – Extractable for Motif Investing Website Redesign
• 2011 – John Hancock Funds, LLC for John Hancock Funds Financial Professional Website
• 2010 – Lending Club Corporation for Lending Club
• 2009 – Razorfish for Investor’s Business Daily
• 2008 – John Hancock Annuities for jhannuities.com
• 2007 – Frank Worldwide Inc. for 55 West Wacker- Cape Horn Group
• 2006 – i33 communications LLC for BetterInvesting web site redesign
• 2005 – BusinessWeek Online for BusinessWeek Online web site
• 2004 – Alliet Capital Corporation for Allied Capital Corporation web site
• 2003 – Summit Partners for Summit Partners web site
• 2002 – Frank Russell Company for Russell.com
  

Recent winners of the Best Mutual Fund Web site include:

• 2020 – Mairs & Power / SunStar Strategic for Mairs & Power Website
• 2017 – Pacific Life for Pacific Funds Web Site
• 2015 – Aston Asset Management for Aston Funds Website
• 2014 – Aston Asset Management for Aston Funds Website
• 2013 – John Hancock Investments for John Hancock Investments Advisor Site
• 2012 – John Hancock Funds, LLC for John Hancock Funds Public Website
• 2011 – John Hancock Funds, LLC for John Hancock Funds Financial Professional Website
• 2010 – John Hancock Funds, LLC for Mutual Fund Financial Professional Website
• 2009 – John Hancock Funds, LLC for John Hancock Funds Financial Professional Website
• 2008 – John Hancock Funds John for Hancock Funds Public Website
• 2007 – John Hancock Funds, LLC for John Hancock Funds Financial Professional Website
• 2006 – Cohen & Steers for Cohen & Steers website
• 2005 – Cohen & Steers for Cohen & Steers website
• 2004 – bbdigital/SEI Investments for HighMark Funds web site
• 2003 – Barclays Global Investors for iShares.com
• 2002 – Pioneer Investments for pioneerfunds.com
  
  

Financial Services Websites can be entered into consideration for the 2022 Best Financial Services Website and other financial related WebAward at the WebAward Website.

The 2022 WebAwards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: PR.com, iContact, and Webmaster Radio. The Web Marketing Association thanks these companies for their commitment to the entire online marketing community.

The Web Marketing Association is pleased to announce the call for entries for its 26th 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.  This esteemed award program recognizes the individual and team achievements of Web professionals in 90 industries all over the world who create and maintain outstanding Web sites.  The deadline for entry for the 2022 WebAwards is May 31, 2022.  A complete list of past winners and this year’s entry form can be found at www.webaward.org.

“Website development is constantly evolving to take advantage of new technology and better meet the needs of the online audiences,” said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association.  “Excellence deserves recognition and the WebAwards look into all aspects of website development, It’s not just a beauty contest for Websites. 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. 

CHANGES FOR 2022

This year, the Web Marketing Association has updated its industry list and added new emerging industries while eliminating others. See the WebAwards website for a complete list of industry categories.

New industries added include: Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, Health and Wellness and NFTs.

Several industries have been renamed to reflect changes in the marketplace, including: SAAS (formally Application Service Provider), Recreation (formally Toy & Hobby), Online Community (formally Social Network) and Television and Film (formally TV, Broadcast and movie).

Nine industries have been excluded from the competition staring this year: Portal, Newspaper, Magazine, Investor Relations, Internet Service Provider, Game Site, Email, Diversified Business and Airline.

TOP AWARDS

This year’s top awards will include:

A “Best of Industry” WebAward will be given in each of the 90 industry categories, including financial services, medical, small business, travel, advertising, transportation and government.  

The competition’s highest honor, the 2022 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 presented to Appnovation for their outstanding work on Visit California – Full Website Redesign.  The site was also recognized as Best Leisure Website and Best Regional Website. 

The Web Marketing Association will also recognize the interactive agency winning the most awards in the competition with the “Top Interactive Agency” WebAward. Vital Design was named Top Agency at the 2021 WebAward Competition, taking home 10 WebAwards. The Top Agency Award is given to recognize the consistently outstanding development going on at interactive firms.

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 entrant will be awarded points based on the level of award for each award received. A Best of Show will be worth 10 points, Best of Industry 5 points and each Outstanding award 3 points and a Standard of Excellence 1 point. The agency with the most points will be awarded the Top Agency Award for 2022.

Each year, many agencies and some corporations win multiple awards and deserve additional recognition. This year, we will recognize each organization that wins 6 or more WebAwards with an Outstanding Interactive Developer trophy. In 2021, there were 5 agencies/companies recognized with this prestigious award: Radancy, WSI, Forum One, MHP and Digital Operative.

Judging for the 26^th annual 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 –including members of the media, interactive creative directors, site designers, content providers and webmasters – 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 Universal McCann, SapientNitro, T Rowe Price, Bridge Worldwide, Disney, Euro RSCG, Boeing, Huge, ING Direct, IBM, VML, Facebook, J. Walter Thompson, Gartner, Possible Worldwide, YUM!, Cuker Interactive, PayPal, Razorfish, Munich Re, Refinery, Ernst & Young, Magellan Health Service, Microsoft, R/GA, Family Cookbook Project, Saatchi & Saatchi, SAP, Starwood Hotel, and Website Magazine.

The 2022 WebAwards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: iContact, PR.com, eTailConferences, and WMR.FM. The Web Marketing Association thanks these companies for their commitment to the entire online marketing community.

To enter the 26th annual WebAward Competition for Website Development, please visit our website and create a nominator account.