New 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 mutual fund web design.
West Simsbury, CT (PRWeb) March 30, 2007 --
mutual fund industry learn to create more effective and engaging web sites.
"As the standard of excellence for web sites continues to increase, consumers (and WebAward judges) are increasingly picky about what they consider to be an effective web site," said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association, Inc. "Mutual fund Web sites tend to cater more to the financial advisor community than to the end investor. It is surprising that with so much investment talent and wisdom, more fund companies don't provide current market commentary."
The WebAwards competition judges mutual fund web sites on seven criteria that combined create award-winning web sites:
• Design
• Innovation
• Content
• Technology
• Interactivity
• Copywriting
• Ease of use
Mutual fund web sites are generally in line with overall Web Development.
According to the ISAR study, content and design are education web site's strong points and they have beaten the three-year criteria average for the copywriting criteria. They tend to have the lowest scores for innovation and use of technology, due to the conservative nature of the fund companies and the strict regulatory environment in which they operate.
The 2006 WebAward for Best Mutual Fund web site went to Cohen & Steers for the Cohen & Steers web site.
Other past winners include:
- 2005 Cohen & Steers for Cohen & Steers for the Cohen & Steers web site.
- 2004 bbdigital/SEI Investments for HighMark Funds web site
- 2003 Barclays Global Investors for iShares.com
- 2002 Pioneer Investments pioneerfunds.com
A complete list of past winners can be found at mutualfund.webaward.org.
Companies and organizations wishing to have their mutual fund web site evaluated against the ISAR Index and be considered for a WebAward, which can help boost a Web site'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.aspThe Internet Standards Assessment report and the 2007 WebAwards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: Burst Media, PRWeb, Misukanis & Odden, Small Army, SimpleFeed, ExactTarget, ad:tech conferences, NewsUSA, eComXpo, MediaPost's OMMA conference, TopRank Online Marketing, Creative Chocolate Printing Company, OTOlabs, Internet World UK, Search Engine Strategies, Webmaster Radio, Rovion's InPerson and eMarketer.
2007 WebAward Call for Entries
The Web Marketing Association is now 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 mutual fund industry represents an important category in the WebAward competition, and the Web Marketing Association will again be honoring the Best Mutual Fund 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.07webaward.org.
Press Contact: WILLIAM RICE
Company Name: WebAward
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 860-558-5423
Website: www.07webaward.org
Press Release Source: EMediaWire
