Website Awards

Once a month we like to highlight apps, blogs, and websites in our Stevie® Awards Update Email Newsletter to help make your day a bit more productive. Here are this month's "Apps, Websites and Blogs of Note:"    

1. AT&T Translator               
   AT&T Translator--a Stevie Award Finalist in The 2012 American Business Awards--provides real-time, accurate translations of the spoken or written language in English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, French, German and Italian. AT&T Translator is an iOS and Android-based free app.
   
   
2. SlideShark          
   SlideShark is a free app used to view and share PowerPoint presentations on an iPad. Users can play PowerPoints properly with animations, fonts, colors and graphics intact. Simply upload a PPT file to a secure online account, where it’s automatically converted and then downloaded to the iPad for viewing.
   
   
3. AutoMD Mobile            
   AutoMD Mobile provides fair auto repair information that can help car owners save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on repairs--anywhere, anytime. This free app is available on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.
   
   
4. SugarSync                          
   SugarSync puts data from ALL computers right at your fingertips ... from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. With SugarSync, you get cloud backup that you can use to sync files, share folders, and access your data directly from your device, all for free.
   
   
5. Adobe EchoSign
   The Adobe EchoSign mobile application for iOS allows users to securely sign electronic documents directly on their iOS devices--reducing the electronic signatures process from days and months to just minutes. You can download this app on the iPhone and iPad for free.

Have a favorite app, blog, or website? Nominate it for one of our app awards, blog awards, or website awards in the Stevie Awards for Women in Business. (The entry deadline for the 2012 Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the world's premier business awards for women executives, entrepreneurs, and the organizations they run, is August 29. Request your entry kit here.)

Once a month we like to highlight websites, apps, and blogs in our Stevie® Awards Update Email Newsletter to help make your day a bit more enjoyable. Here are this month's "Apps, Websites and Blogs of Note:"                         

1. GateGuru                           
   GateGuru is an app that transforms any airport environment into a more satisfying experience before and after flights, or during layovers, by locating the best food, shopping, and service options. The app is available for the iPhone and Android for free.
2. Todo
   Todo® Task Manager is a powerful set of tools that makes task management simple and fun. Use Todoon your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to keep tasks synchronized using Todo Online, a cloud sync service for tasks, or access tasks on your desktop in iCal or Outlook. The app is available for $2.99.
3. Urbanspoon                      
   All The News That's Fit to Eat, blog and website Urbanspoon describes itself as the world's leading provider of time-critical dining data, and a player in the multi-billion dollar restaurant information industry.
4. OmniGraffle
   With OmniGraffle, an iPad touch screen becomes a canvas, graph paper, whiteboard, or beer mat, allowing users to draw shapes, drag in objects, and style using simple multi-touch gestures. The finished creations can be shared via PDF export, or opened in OmniGraffle for Mac. The app is available for $34.99.

Have a favorite app, blog or website? Nominate it in The 2012 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition. (The extended final entry deadline is 18 July, request your entry kit here.)

The Stevie® Awards don't just confer blog awards, website awards, and app awards; we also like to highlight apps, blogs, and websites once a month in our Stevie Awards Update email newsletter that we think will help make your work day more interesting and enjoyable. Our latest "Blogs & Web Sites of Note" include:

• The Audacity of Despair                               
  The blog of David Simon, creator of TV series "The Wire."
• ScoutMob          
  ScoutMob puts the power of local discovery in the palm of your hand.  A free app available for iPhone, Android & Blackberry.
• Smashing Magazine                       
  An online magazine for professional Web designers and developers, with a focus on useful techniques, best practices, and more.
• Word Lens                         
  Translate foreign signs from your iPhone.  Coming soon to other platforms.

Have a favorite app, blog or website? Nominate it for a Stevie!  The 2012 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition, are now accepting entries. (The final entry deadline is 27 June, request your entry kit here.)

LifeLock of Tempe, AZ, U.S.A. won a Stevie® Award for Best Website in the website awards categories of The 2011 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards program. (The 2012 IBA entry deadline is 16 May, you can download your entry kit today.) Here we look at LifeLock's successful use of emerging technology.

In 2010, LifeLock was tasked with using innovative technology to redesign their website. This project was initiated to:

• Align with new branding principles,
• Educate consumers on identity theft and LifeLock services, and
• Demonstrate value and provide self-service to members.

The website award winner's redesign helped the organization achieve many successes including:

LifeLock.com: From Jan 19, 2011 through April 13, 2011 (vs. 12 weeks prior)

• Visits up +95.22%
• Pageviews up +128.33%
• Average Pageviews up +16.96%
• Mobile Visits up +153.47%

Member Portal: From Feb 1, 2011 through April 10, 2011 (vs. 10 weeks prior):

• Visits up +36%
• Average Time on Site up +43% (increase of 3.5 minutes)

Read LifeLock's winning entry and check out the award winning website, here.  

About LifeLock:
LifeLock helps consumers to render their personal information useless to thieves, backing it up with a one million-dollar service guarantee. Unlike other security services, LifeLock specializes in the prevention of identity theft rather than the reporting of it, providing customers with the tools to proactively protect their personal information. For more information, visit www.lifelock.com.

The Stevie® Awards don't just confer blog awards, website awards, and app awards; we also like to highlight blogs and websites once a month in our Stevie Awards Update email newsletter that we think will help make your work day more interesting and enjoyable. Here are this month's "Apps, Websites, and Blogs of Note:"

• Buzzword Bingo            
  Take one of this site's bingo cards with you to your next meeting.  Five in a row wins!
• Grumpy Old Accountants                            
  Blog on corporate finance from two college professors.
• GlobalPost                         
  This Boston-based international news website recently won a Peabody Award for its "On Location " videos.
• The Cool Hunter                              
  A global hub for culture and design since 2004.

Have a favorite blog or website? Nominate it for a web site award. Wednesday, April 25, is the final entry deadline for The 2012 (10th Annual) American Business Awards, the top business awards competition in the U.S.A. If you haven't yet received your 2012 entry kit, you can download it online here and you will receive it right away. 

There are 48 website awards categories in The 2012 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition, to highlight your organization's best websites. (We invite all individuals and organizations worldwide to submit entries to the 2012 IBAs. The entry deadline is 16 May; request your entry kit here.)

Categories for industries that want to highlight best website design include:

• Accounting
• Advertising, Marketing, & Public Relations
• Aerospace & Defense
• Automotive & Transport Equipment
• Banking
• Business Services
• Chemicals
• Computer Hardware
• Computer Software
• Computer Services
• Conglomerates
• Consumer Products - Durables
• Consumer Products - Non-Durables
• Diversified Services
• Electronics
• Energy
• Financial Services
• Food & Beverage
• Health Products & Services
• Hospitality & Leisure
• Insurance
• Legal
• Manufacturing
• Materials & Construction
• Media & Entertainment
• Metals & Mining
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Real Estate
• Retail
• Pharmaceuticals
• Telecommunications
• Transportation
• Utilities

Our best website specialty categories include:

• Best Interface Design
• Best Software Programming/Design
• Best Writing/Content
• Best E-commerce Site
• Best Home Page
• Best Investor Relations Site
• Best Overall Web Design
• Best Online Press Room
• Best Training Site
• Best Video Site
• Best Mobile Site
• Best Facebook Fanpage or Group
• Best LinkedIn Group
• Best Google +1 Group (new category for 2012)
• Best Twitter Feed (new category for 2012)

Award winning websites honored at The 8th Annual International Business Awards presented in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates include Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Garanti Mortgage, GuestCentric Systems, Investis Ltd, PT Comunicações, TelecityGroup, and YOOX Spa among others.

Which websites will your organization showcase in the 2012 IBAs?

Rethink Autism, Inc. of New York, New York, USA won a Stevie® Award  for Best Website - Health Products & Services in the website awards categories of The 2011 American Business Awards, the premiere business awards program in the U.S.A. (The 2012 ABAs are accepting entries. Request your entry kit here and submit by the April 25 final entry deadline.) Here we look at Rethink Autism’s award-winning online services.

Rethink Autism uses technology to deliver autism treatment programs worldwide. The website award winner provides several services including:

• Implementation training for parents and teachers,
• Comprehensive educational lessons,
• Tools for evaluating needs and tracking student progress, and
• An online professional support system.

Rethink Autism also provides an online community for families and teachers to connect with professionals.  Rethink Autism's site offers several resources, including:

• Message boards,
• Q&A forums,
• Free webinars,
• Weekly tips, and
• Seminars

Rethink Autism uses a variety of techniques that allow users to easily navigate the site, connect with others, and find desired information.

Read Rethink Autism's winning entry and check out the award winning website here.  
About Rethink Autism
Launched in 2009, Rethink Autism is an online website service that provides clinical best practice autism treatment programs worldwide. Rethink Autism's online services provide training to families and teachers for implementing treatment, tools for evaluating needs of the students and tracking their progress, a complete video-based curriculum with over 1,200 teaching steps, and an online professional networking support system.  Rethink Autism is based in New York City and has 10 employees.

As the entry deadline for The 2012 American Business Awards, the premier business awards program in the U.S.A. approaches on March 28, we'd like to highlight 47 website awards categories that may be of interest to website design professionals and industry leaders. If you haven't already received your 2012 entry kit, you can download it here.

Categories for industry best websites include:

• Accounting
• Advertising, Marketing, & Public Relations
• Aerospace & Defense
• Automotive & Transport Equipment
• Banking
• Business Services
• Chemicals
• Computer Hardware
• Computer Software
• Computer Services
• Conglomerates
• Consumer Products - Durables
• Consumer Products - Non-Durables
• Diversified Services
• Electronics
• Energy
• Financial Services
• Food & Beverage
• Health Products & Services
• Hospitality & Leisure
• Insurance
• Legal
• Manufacturing
• Materials & Construction
• Media
• Metals & Mining
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Real Estate
• Retail
• Pharmaceuticals
• Telecommunications
• Transportation
• Utilities

Our specialty web site awards categories include:

• Best Interface Design
• Best Software Programming/Design
• Best Writing/Content
• Best E-commerce Site
• Best Home Page
• Best Investor Relations Site
• Best Overall Web Design
• Best Online Press Room
• Best Training Site
• Best Video Site
• Best Facebook Page
• Best Google +1 Group
• Best LinkedIn Group or Page
• Best Twitter Feed

There is no eligibility timeframe for the best website categories - it does not matter when the site or page was first published.

Entries for these web awards should include:

• An essay of up to 100 words describing the site's purpose and achievements.
• A link to your social media site or a video of up to three (3) minutes that demonstrates the features and functions of your site if it is password protected.
• Optionally, you may list creative and production credits for your site - a list of the people and organizations that contribute to its development.

Here are some resources to help you submit your best of the web entries:

• Download our 10 Tips for Winning Web Awards in the Stevie® Awards tipsheet for tips and tools.
• Read past winners' entries for inspiration.  
• Watch How to Enter The 2012 American Business Awards  for step-by-step instruction.

Which of your favorite websites will you submit entries for?

Once a month we like to highlight websites, apps, and blogs in our  Stevie® Awards Update Email Newsletter to help make your day a bit more interesting and enjoyable. Here are this month's "Apps, Websites and Blogs of Note:"

• Image App Store                             
  A store that enables app users to interact directly with images, from Luminate.
• brainpickings                     
  A site that styles itself as "a modest, curiosity-driven exercise in vision- and mind-expansion."
• ImageThief                        
  A blog on life and business in China from Will Moss, Director of Communications Asia-Pacific, Motorola Mobility.
• Quora                  
  An information network that delivers answers and content from people and professionals who share interests or have first-hand knowledge of a topic.

Know of other great websites, apps, or blogs? Nominate them for one of our blog awards, website awards, or app awards. The 2012 American Business Awards, the premier business awards program in the U.S.A., are now accepting entries. (The entry deadline for the corporate awards program is March 28, download your entry kit here.)

The Stevie Awards don't just confer blog awards, website awards, and app awards; we also like to highlight blogs and websites once a month in our Stevie Awards Update email newsletter that we think will help make your work day more interesting. Our latest "Blogs & Web Sites of Note" include:

• Brazen Careerist              
  Advice at the intersection of work and life from entrepreneur and career guidance counselor Penelope Trunk.
• Drew's Marketing Minute                           
  How to create a happy customer, from marketing agency veteran Drew McLellan.
• Gist                       
  Gist brings your contacts into one place, allowing you a full view of your network and making it easy to find anyone, anytime.  They even offer FREE Blackberry Smartphones.
• MyLeadResponder                        
  MyLeadResponder makes it fast and easy to close more leads quickly by combining the flexibility of email with the immediacy of a phone call. MyLeadResponder even gives you instant, organized lead response that you can access anywhere. From $49.95 per month.

Have a favorite website? Nominate it for a website award! The 2012 American Business Awards, the premier business awards program in the U.S.A. are now accepting entries. (The entry deadline for the business awards program is March 28, you can download your entry kit here.)