For many years, only the largest companies had the resources to attract and serve customers all over the world. Now, thanks to technological innovations and the Internet, small businesses are able to offer the same high-quality services and compete on a global scale.
"Often, a consumer's first impression of a company is its Web site," said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association. "A small business with an award-winning Web site can often provide the same level of service and products that once were only offered by major corporations. This is a tremendous opportunity for small-business owners."
Each year, the Web Marketing Association holds a competition to judge the best Web sites in more than 80 industries. The sites are judged on seven criteria, such as design, navigation, content and ease of use. The association's "WebAwards" are given to companies of all sizes.
"While we have a category specifically for small businesses, we have seen small company Web sites perform well in almost every industry," Rice said. "Winning a WebAward is not about the size of the budget, but the thoughtfulness that goes into developing the Web site."
