RISMEDIA, March 21, 2007-The Web Marketing Association, host of leading Web site awards competition WebAwards, released the Internet Standards Assessment Report (ISAR) to help the real estate industry 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. "Real Estate Web sites often focus too much on listings and not enough on the other additional factors that influence purchasing decisions like community, schools and local offerings. Those who do, are ahead of the curve."
The WebAwards competition judges real estate Web sites on seven criteria that combined create award-winning Web sites:
• Design
• Innovation
• Content
• Technology
• Interactivity
• Copywriting
• Ease of use
Real estate Web sites have underperformed the ISAR Index for the past four years. Prior to 2003, their performance has been mixed with a see-saw like over and under performance.
According to the ISAR Study, real estate Web sites are strongest in content and ease of use while being weakest in innovation. Real estate Web sites need to focus on providing a total user experience, giving the visitor all information they need to take the next step in the sales cycle whether it's requesting a showing or purchasing.
Leveraging technology, animation and videos would upgrade real estate Web sites and provide the user with the information he or she craves.
The 2006 WebAward for Best Real Estate Web site went to Kinesis Marketing for coldwellbanker.com
Other past winners include:
– 2005 Coldwell Banker Real Estate for www.coldwellbankerpreviews.com
– 2004 The Wall Street Journal for RealEstateJournal.com
– 2003 The Corcoran Group for Corcoran.com
– 2002 Wall Street Journal for RealEstateJournal.com
A complete list of past winners can be found at realestate.webaward.org
Companies and organizations wishing to have their real estate 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.
The 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 real estate industry represents an important category in the WebAward competition, and the Web Marketing Association will again be honoring the Best Real Estate Web site of 2007. The deadline for entry is May 31, 2007.
