PIA Announces web2awards Contest

Printing Industries of America (PIA) Vice President of Digital Technologies, Julie Shaffer, announced the first annual web2awards competition, the industry’s first and only contest established for printing industry Web sites worldwide.

The deadline to submit entries in this premier year is July 31. Awards will be presented at the 2009 Converge Conference, Nov. 8-10, in Orlando, Fla.

“Printing Web sites have reached a level of sophistication and adoption that makes it imperative for the industry to recognize, honor and elevate printers achieving excellence with their online presence,” Shaffer said. “To that end, the Digital Printing Council is proud to debut a comprehensive yearly competition that will foster prosperity for the industry.”

The mission of the web2awards judging body—consisting of educators, designers, Web programmers, e-commerce experts, marketers and industry consultants,—is to honor excellence in the various categories of print-related Web sites.

Although there are limited numbers of winners, every entry will receive criteria scoring (overall design, structure and navigation, content, technology, ease of use and innovation), score comparisons to other entrants, placement in a booklet recognizing all entrants, and in pertinent cases, specific judges’ comments. Winners additionally receive a physical award statue, a digital version of the award they can place on their Web site, and each will be featured in a published case study.

“The industry holds Printing Industries’ awards, such as the InterTech Technology Award, in very high regard,” said Michael Makin, president and CEO of PIA. “We will hold the web2awards to the same standards, giving vendors, printers and their clients the opportunity to create, promote and share the very best in class solutions.”

The web2awards competition is open to all organizations and individuals involved in designing, managing or implementing Web sites that are “print-centric,” meaning the site’s focus must include sale/exchange of printed material and/or promote a printer’s capabilities on the Internet or an Intranet.

To read a full list of eligibility requirements and enter the contest, visit the web2awards submission site at (www.printing.org/web2awards).

The Process

Each judge will visit the nominated site and evaluate the entire Web site experience. All judges will evaluate each entry on six scoring criteria, earning an averaged score between 0 and 60 points.

The scores and any comments will be recorded. Any site that receives an averaged score of 48 or above will receive an Exceptional Web site Award certificate.

For each company sales range, the highest score in a given category wins Best of Category. All Best of Category winners will be evaluated, and one will be selected to receive the Best of Show award.

Companies may also enter for Most Unique Product. An award will be given to the entry that demonstrates the most original, innovative printed product offered through a Web-to-print site. To view an example of what the judges are looking for, visit www.mykleenextissue.com.

The categories for sites are:

• Static company site. This site is used to promote your company with no Web-to-print component, except for FTP or generic file delivery/acceptance.
• Web-to-print homegrown. This site is largely developed in-house, and may contain components augmented from various applications.
• Web-to-print licensed. This site is largely based on a licensed product from a Web-to-print vendor.
• Most unique product-specific site. An award will be given to the most unique and innovative printed product offered through a dedicated Web-to-print site.

Awards within category include:

• Best of Show: one will be selected from the Best of Category winners.
• Best of Category: one for each category, within each company size for a total of nine awards to be given.
• Exceptional Web site: each Web site that achieves a combined judges score averaging above 48 will receive this distinction.
• Most Unique Product: one entry will be selected from all entries for this award.
• The entry fee is $99 for PIA members, and $199 for non-members. Entries that are not accompanied by payment cannot be processed.