Best Public Interest Websites of 2013 to be named by Web Marketing Association in 17th Annual WebAward Competition

HARTFORD, Conn., April 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Web Marketing Association is looking for the best public interest and advocacy Websites in the world as part of their 17th annual international WebAward Competition for Web site development at www.webaward.org. The WebAwards is the standards-defining competition that sets benchmarks for 96 industries, including advocacy, arts and non-profit websites, based on the seven criteria of a successful web site. The deadline for websites to enter is May 31, 2013.

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"Advocacy and non-profit websites are very competitive when it comes to Web development and organizations can benefit from the independent evaluation of their online efforts," said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association.  "Advocacy sites tend to be very good a pulling at the heart strings to sway visitors to their particular point of view. Strong writing and good use of images make many of these sites successful. Sites entered into the non-profit category also benefit from a reduced entry fee which is our way of recognizing the budget constraints at many of these organizations."

There is also a reduced entry fee for sites entering the Non-profit industry category.

Web sites are judged on seven criteria including design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, copy writing and ease of use. Each year the Web Marketing Association names the Best Advocacy Website based on the scores submitted by the competition judges.

Recent winners of the Best Advocacy Web site include:

2012 - Biggs|Gilmore for Kellogg's Share Your Breakfast
2011 – IQ for American Cancer Society
2010 – Forum One Communications for County Sin Rankings
2009 - Clarity Coverdale Fury for We All Pay the Price for Tobacco
2008 - Clarity Coverdale for Fury Are You Ok With That?

Recent winners of the Best Non-Profit Web site include:
2012 – Mineral for Casa Pacifica Website
2011 – agency for National Cherry Blossom Festival
2010 – I-SITE for Anacostia Watershed Society
2009 – Arnold Worldwide for Tough Love 2 Game - Cupid's Revenge
2008 - Reading Is Fundamental for Leading to Reading

Non-Profit and Advocacy Websites can be entered into consideration for the 2013 Best Advocacy Website WebAward at the WebAward Website.

The 2013 WebAwards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: BGT Partners, PR Newswire, Burst Media, EContent Magazine, ExactTarget, ad:tech conferences, Internet World UK, SES Conferences, Webmaster Radio, and Website Magazine. The Web Marketing Association thanks these companies for their commitment to the entire online marketing community.

About the WebAwards

The Web Marketing Association was founded in 1997 to help define the standard of excellence for online marketing. Our internationally known award programs, such as WebAward Competition for Website Development, Internet Advertising Competition and the MobileWebAwards, recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing the most effective online marketing programs on the Internet today.  Entrants benefit from assessment of their marketing efforts by a professional judging panel and the marketing opportunities presented by being recognized as an award-winning web developer.

SOURCE Web Marketing Association