I have a love/hate relationship with website awards.
Prevailing Hate
I hate awards for two reasons. First, aiming to win awards is a terrible incentive. I mean, do you want your website developer to say, “We’re going to build you a website that will win you some really great awards!” Or would you rather they say, “We’re going to build you a website that is going to achieve your business objectives!” Can you do both? Maybe. But which fence is that web developer swinging for? Your needs? Or more plaques on their wall? Why should there be any distraction from the obvious objective.
Second, most web award programs suck. Quite simply, they often reward pretty websites. Rarely is there any serious lifting of the hood to find out how robust the site is. Criteria such as interaction, information architecture, usability, content quality, search optimization, engagement, goal and conversion orientation are rarely part of the evaluation. That’s because these essential requirements are also the hardest to judge. But everybody has an opinion about pretty. Web awards often reward pretty junk.
Embraceable Love
I love website awards almost as passionately as I hate them. Usually so much effort goes into the creation of a good website that it’s wonderful to see these business solutions recognized. Moreover, the site development is generally driven by internal client staff who sweat bullets producing their online presence. When their site is recognized with an award, it’s just great seeing them and their organizations get the recognition they deserve
And don’t think those acrylic and lacquered wood awards don’t mean something. I closed an award winning computer business in 1993 and among the last things I tossed out – 16 years later – were some of the award plaques this business had won. Even after the business is toast, the awards validated a lot of the effort.
And the Winners Are……
Today, the Web Marketing Association announced their WebAwards for 2009. And I have no ambivalence in celebrating the winners. Duo is one of a handful of companies worldwide that won 5 or more web awards. Our client sites that 
received recognition include:
A tip of the hat to these organizations. I want to believe that in all cases their business objectives were paramount on our development agenda and the sites are now meetings these performance objectives.
Of course, the award plaques won’t look too bad on our wall.
Last night, the Chicago Chapter of the Legal Marketing Association held their annual “Your Honor Awards” recognition dinner. Like every event the Chicago LMA Chapter conducts, this event, held at Scoozi in Chicago, was top flight. Megan McKeon of McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP made organizing the well-produced awards presentations and dinner appear effortless. And the Wall Street Journal footed the bill for this private party whose bar never closed. I was there to confirm it.
Chicago LMA Awards Judges' Innovation Award to Valorem Law website
What really made the evening special for us was the recognition of our client, Valorem Law. Valorem, a one-year-old firm, is comprised of expatriates (yes, I once spelled this ex-patriots) of BigLaw. These thought leaders long ago recognized the sea change occurring in the legal industry and founded their firm on the premise of, among other innovative factors, the “billable hour is dead.”
Recognizing the firm’s innovative culture and business proposition, the LMA honored Valorem’s website with the Judges’ Innovation Award, unique recognition issued at the discretion of LMA. Innovation. It’s great to hear that term in the legal market. While we are thrilled to share in some of the glow cast by Valorem’s achievement, more importantly, this Innovation Award illuminates how lawyers who have worked hard to understand the Internet leveraged it in pursuit of their business.
The Valorem Law website has also been recognized by the Web Marketing Association with a 2008 Legal Standard of Excellence WebAward.
Today, the Web Marketing Association announced the winners in its annual design and development competition. Duo congratulates 5 clients who are the recipients of this international website recognition:
The common thread among these projects and our clients is their engagement and active collaboration with us to manage their content so they would realize meaningful business objectives. Our clients put a lot of effort into their projects and, in addition to gaining organizational benefit it is wonderful to see them be publicly recognized for their achievement. Congratulations.
Winning a Web Marketing Association WebAward competition, now in its 12th year, is particularly noteworthy. A panel of international judges applies a 10-point scale to 7 criteria for evaluating websites, recognizing the interplay of multiple factors for determining what works online. These criteria are:
- Design
- Innovation
- Content
- Technology
- Interactivity
- Copywriting
- Ease of use
Additionally, judges offered constructive criticism and emotional context to overcome the limitations of their numeric judging scale. Noting the interaction design of the Ziegler website one judge wrote, “You have done a great job of anticipating your audience.” A tip of the hat was extended to the complex underlying technology of the Chicago Public Library site with, “”This is a strong interactive site. It allows the users to interact with the site provider, allowing them to save time by doing research online…”
Reaffirming what many of us have felt about Chicago Public Schools Alumni website, “”This site is fantastic. Really impressive interactivity. Excellent work!” Our content-rich law firm clients’ sites were singled out as well regarding the rich content of Bracewell Giuliani, “The content is compelling.” and the positioning of Valorem, “”Great copy and distinct style and messaging. Sets it apart from the others without undermining credibility.”
