West Simsbury, CT (PRWEB) April 2, 2008 -- WebAward08.org (http://www.webaward.org/bestwebsites.asp?gad=CLuN0dkDEgiWfXzHcjWjThi6nML_AyC33JU2) -- The Web Marketing Association, host of leading website awards competition WebAwards, recently released the Internet Standards Assessment Report (ISAR), which includes specific benchmarking data to help the energy industry create more award-winning websites.

"As the standard of excellence for websites continues to increase, web visitors are increasingly picky about what they consider to be an effective website," said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association. "The best Energy Websites, both consumer and B2B, are true e-commerce sites designed to build a long term relationship with users and key constituencies, including government regulators and shareholders."

The WebAwards competition evaluates energy websites on seven criteria that combined create effective websites:

?    Design

?    Innovation

?    Content

?    Technology

?    Interactivity

?    Copywriting

?    Ease of use

Energy Web sites have underperformed the ISAR index since 2001, although the past four years they have underperformed the index by only a slight margin. Energy Web sites are strong in content, copywriting, and ease of use. They matched the 5-year criteria benchmark in the ease of use area and narrowly missed the benchmark in copywriting. According to the study, Energy Web sites tend to lag in innovation and technology.

The 2007 WebAward for Best Energy Web site went to Dell Global Site Design for Dell Earth.

Other past winners include:

- 2006 Edison International for Edison International's website

- 2005 Macquarium for AGL Resources

- 2004 Abengoa Bioenergy for Abengoa Bioenergy Corp.

- 2003 APS for aps.com E-care

- 2002 Rhino Internet Solutions for Arizona Public Service

- 2001 TXU Global and AGENCY.COM for TXU Global Internet's website

- 2000 Cole & Weber for betterbricks.com

- 1999 CITGO Petroleum Group for CITGO.com

- 1998 Yankee Energy System, Inc. for YES Corporate Site

- 1997 Yankee Energy System, Inc. for yankeegas.com

Companies and organizations wishing to have their energy 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 (http://www.webaward.org/bestwebsites.asp?gad=CLuN0dkDEgiWfXzHcjWjThi6nML_AyC33JU2).

To request your copy of the 2008 WebAward ISAR report, please visit: WebAward08.org (http://www.webaward.org/bestwebsites.asp?gad=CLuN0dkDEgiWfXzHcjWjThi6nML_AyC33JU2) 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 will soon be 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 energy industry represents an important category in the WebAward competition, and the Web Marketing Association will again be honoring the Best Energy Web site of 2008. Participants will receive valuable feedback and the opportunity to earn peer recognition. The deadline for entry is May 31, 2008 and the WebAward Web site is located at WebAward08.org (http://www.webaward.org/bestwebsites.asp?gad=CLuN0dkDEgiWfXzHcjWjThi6nML_AyC33JU2).

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 (http://www.webaward.org/bestwebsites.asp?gad=CLuN0dkDEgiWfXzHcjWjThi6nML_AyC33JU2).

# # #