2003

Click here to subscribe to the Web Awards mailing list for information on the 2004 Call for Entries.

The rules below applied to the 2003 contest. We will be revising the Rules for the 2004 contest. Please subscribe to the Web Awards mailing list to stay on top of information for next year's contest.

Eligibility

Any Web site that meets the following guidelines and that will be live during the entire judging period is eligible. For The 2004 Bahamas Web Awards that period will be May 1, 2004 — August 31, 2004. Sites that cease to be permanently live at any time during the judging process will be disqualified.

The Web site's domain name must be registered by a Bahamian entity (or a member of the Bahamian community living abroad) and the site has to have Bahamian oriented content. The site could be created anywhere, by anyone, as long as it was done for a Bahamian community-based company or individual. Only companies or persons with a physical presence in The Bahamas may receive the top awards. The site could be hosted anywhere.

The Designer's Award and the Programmer's Award will only be given to designers and programmers who are residents of The Bahamas.

A Web site must fall into one of the Bahamas Web Awards 4 categories for consideration. Sites may be submitted in multiple categories, but a separate entry form must be submitted for each category. Sites may enter a single category only one time.

There is no limit to the number of entries that may be submitted by any entrant. A complete entry form must accompany each submission. The Bahamas Web Awards reserves the right to re-categorize the entries and to create new categories if appropriate.

The Bahamas Web Awards honor Web sites that excel at achieving their goals. Awards recognize creative and strategic excellence, as well as impact and measurable success.

Sponsors of The Bahamas Web Awards may submit their own Web sites, though the judging process ensures that such sites receive no special treatment.

Password protected sites, pay sites and sites that require registration are eligible if they provide a free, working username and password. This username and password will be used by The Web Awards judges evaluating the site during the judging period.

Sites that showcase live events may enter, though The Bahamas Web Awards can not ensure that the live portions of the site will be seen at any point in the judging process.

Sites that are password protected and not accessible to the general public are not eligible.

Sites that require a fee are eligible if they offer a free trial period. The Bahamas Web Awards will review the site via this trial period. Sites requiring registration are permitted.

There is no limit to the number of entries that may be submitted by any entrant. The Bahamas Web Awards reserves the right to re-categorize the entries and to create new categories if appropriate.

Language Limitation
While non-English speaking Web sites are not explicitly ineligible, all answers to questions posed in the entry form must be submitted in English and sites will be evaluated by predominantly English-speaking judges

Unacceptable Material
Sites that contain illicit material, engage in illegal activity, propagate "hate" messages, make defamatory statements, or which are otherwise extraordinarily offensive are not eligible.

Disqualification
Ineligible entries may be disqualified at any phase of the competition without notification.

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Category Definitions

Note: Additional categories will be added for the 2004 contest.
Subscribe to the Web Awards Newsletter to receive information on the Call for Entries.

Tourist Related
non-Tourist Related
Personal Pages
Amateur Designed Pages

Tourism Related: Sites dedicated to enhancing the promotion, sale or operational activities of companies that provide tourism related services, information or products. This includes hotels, resorts, tourist attractions, tourism organisations, restaurants, tour operators and other tourism related companies, travel agencies and tourism service providers. Sites can represent a corporate or product brand.

non-Tourism Related: Sites that promote individuals, boutiques or firms specializing in non-tourism related products or services. This includes banks and financial institutions, manufacturers, service companies, retailers and wholesalers, churches, civic organisations, government sites, advertising and publishing companies, and all other entities that are not considered tourism oriented. Sites can represent a company or specific product or service.

Personal Pages: Sites designed and created as personal home pages with no commercial goals. The site could be designed and created by a professional or an amateur, but must be considered a home page with no connection to any business, government or civic organisations.

Amateur Designed Pages: Sites that are designed and produced by persons who are not involved in the web industry and who do not make a living creating Web sites or Web graphics. The web site must have been created by an amateur although the use of web building programmes is allowed.

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Entry Forms and Deadlines

The Bahamas Web Awards
Call for Entries
P.O. Box N-405
Nassau, Bahamas

Deadline
The final deadline for all entries is May 30, 2003. Complete entries must be received by this date to be considered. Entry is required for nomination.

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Acknowledgement of Entries

Entrants will receive an email acknowledgement when an order has been received. Only nominated entries will be notified beyond that.

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Judging and Criteria

Review of Entries
Bahamas Web Awards nominees and winners are selected by judges from both the Bahamas and the International community. All entries accepted through the Call for Entries will first be reviewed for completeness and eligibility. Qualified entries will be submitted to a panel of judges for evaluation. Judges will nominate up to three (3) sites per each category, from which a final winner per each category will be selected.

Criteria
Judges will evaluate sites submitted for The Bahamas Web Awards on the basis of five “strategic” criteria and five “creative” criteria.

Strategic criteria focus on the objective behind a website, taking into account the larger market forces that impact its success and its significance on the whole.

Creative criteria* focus on the execution of the online initiative. They concern key elements of Web design and development the nuts and bolts of what makes a website succeed in the “real world.”

Objective: Objective defines what the website is aiming to achieve. A strong Objective is clearly defined, significant, and achievable. It identifies a challenge, explains the significance of that challenge to the Web site’s success, and outlines relevant and achievable outcomes. A strong Objective demonstrates an extraordinary understanding of the challenge and presents a solid roadmap for surmounting that hurdle. It is simultaneously courageous and practical. It emphasizes quality in execution and results. It adds value to the person, organisation or company.

Innovation: Innovation abounds on the Web and we are here to recognize the companies writing the future. True Innovation reveals a new approach, a gem of an idea, a breakthrough in the way a website operates, communicates, succeeds in meeting its objective. Innovation makes heads turn and forces competitors to follow. It makes a significant impact on the success of the Web site and the market at large.

Market Situation: Market Situation evaluates whether a Web site faced any particular market challenges in developing a site. Did it make it more difficult for you to succeed? Did it make the significance of your work more important to the person or company? If forces in the broader market posed significant challenges, we want to know!

Resources: Resources evaluates the material assets available to the company or developer. Did a site achieve extraordinary results despite significant limitations? With exceptional resources, did a site achieve exceptionally extraordinary results? Here, judges examine the success of a site relative to the resources available, to ensure fairness for all regardless of budget size..

Success: Success evaluates the ROI of a site in relation to the strategy and objectives it aims to achieve. Success is demonstrated through quantitative and/or anecdotal evidence that reveal the effectiveness of your website and how these results relate back to the stated objective. We understand that this may include sensitive or classified information; thus we ask for a summary of the results you have seen. You may be as detailed or general as you like, based on your level of comfort, although the more information provided the better able the judges will be to evaluate your success. Note that all information will be kept secure and confidential.

Creative Criteria

Content
Structure and Navigation
Visual Design/Branding
Functionality
Interactivity

Content: Content is the information provided on the site. It is not just text, but music, sound, animation, or video -- anything that communicates a site’s body of knowledge. Good content should be engaging, relevant, and appropriate for the audience. You can tell it's been developed for the Web because it's clear and concise and it works in the medium. Good content takes a stand. It has a voice, a point of view. It may be informative, useful, or entertaining but it always leaves you wanting more.

Structure and Navigation: Structure and navigation refers to the framework of a site, the organization of content, the prioritization of information, and the method in which you move through the site. Sites with good structure and navigation are consistent, intuitive and transparent. They allow you to form a mental model of the information provided, where to find things, and what to expect when you click. Good navigation gets you where you want to go quickly and offers easy access to the breadth and depth of the site's content.

Visual Design/Branding: Visual Design is the appearance of the site. It's more than just a pretty homepage and it doesn't have to be cutting edge or trendy. Good visual design is high quality, appropriate, and relevant for the audience and the message it is supporting. It communicates the core values, benefits, character, and personality of a company or product. It reflects the values, interests and character of the target audience. Through good visual design, the site generates loyalty and increases the perceived value of the brand beyond the tangible product or service.

Functionality: Functionality is the use of technology on the site. Good functionality means the site works well. It loads quickly, has live links, and any new technology used is functional and relevant for the intended audience. The site should work cross-platform and be browser independent. Highly functional sites anticipate the diversity of user requirements from file size, to file format and download speed. The most functional sites also take into consideration those with special access needs. Good functionality makes the experience center stage and the technology invisible.

Interactivity: Interactivity is the way that a site facilitates communication and allows users to get things done more quickly and easily. Good interactivity makes a site more efficient by leveraging multiple activities in a single user session: input/output, as in searches, email and instant messaging, e-commerce, notification agents, and real-time feedback. Interactive elements are what separate the Web from other media.

*Certain Creative Criteria may be more or less relevant to certain sites and business initiatives. Interactivity, for example, might be less relevant if a sites intention is improving operational efficiency. Home pages may not need to be as objective based. Judges will take this into account in their evaluation. However, certain criteria of good interface (design, content, navigation, etc.) is important regardless of a site’s intention or whether the audience for a site is consumers, business partners/vendors, company employees or the public at large.

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Terms and Conditions of Entry

The Bahamas Web Awards assumes all entries are original and are the works and property of the entrants, with all rights granted therein. In the event that an entrant without such rights submits a nominated site, both the entrant and the owner of the domain will be contacted. Except for the Designer's Award and the Programmers Award, the Bahamas Web Award will only be given to the owner of a site or their authorized representative, regardless of the entrant. The Bahamas Web Awards are not liable for any copyright infringement on the part of the entrant.

During the online entry process, The Bahamas Web Awards request permission to use information contained in your entry for publicity purposes. If permission is granted at that time, The Bahamas Web Awards will send a reminder to both the entrant and the owner of the site, prior to using any of the information. If you answer no in the entry form, and we would like to use the information for publicity purposes should you be nominated or win, we will follow up to continue the discussion. No information will be released without the prior consent of the site owner or its authorized representative.

Submission of any entry acknowledges the right of The Bahamas Web Awards to use it for exhibition and publication in any medium. For more information, see our Confidentiality Policy.

Questions about the rules & guidelines above may be addressed to the Executive Director of The Bahamas Web Awards. You will receive a confirmation from us via email within 2 business days of receipt of your email.

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Awarding

Timely submission of an entry that meets the eligibility requirements as stated herein ensures that an entrant's site will be reviewed and considered for nomination. No other representation or warranty is made by The Bahamas Web Awards concerning entries and all implied warranties are hereby expressly disclaimed.

If an entrant's site is nominated for an award or receives an award, the manner and details of announcing such nomination and award is strictly within the discretion of The Bahamas Web Awards. Entrant understands that all awards may not be given or publicized in the same manner and some might be presented in a ceremony and others might not.