We're kicking off the first user-generated Web 2.0 awards program: The Webware 100.
Why? Because there are more new sites and services than any mortal can possibly process, much less evaluate. And because the community of Webware users, in the aggregate, has a very good idea of what works and what's worth your time. This awards program will collate and organize that wisdom.
The Webware 100 will have 10 categories (see end of post), and there will be 10 winners in each. Here's how the awards program will work:
The program kicks off April 16 with opening of the nomination process. If there's a site that you think should be up for an award--whether you're the site's creator or one of its users--nominate it on our Webware 100 page, at www.webware.com/100. The nomination program will be open from now until May 7.
Qualifications for nomination: The site must be live by May 7. It's OK if it's in beta, but it must be an open beta. The site may be entered into 1--and only 1--of our 10 categories. We reserve the right to recategorize nominations. See full legal mumbo-jumbo. Also, dates are subject to change.
Once the nominations are closed, Webware editors will go over the entries, remove the nonqualifying and duplicate nominations, and make sure all services are in the correct category. Then we'll select 25 services per category for the finalist round. We'll make sure the most important, most innovative, and most useful products are selected as Webware 100 finalists.
In late May (date to be announced later), we'll take these 25 finalists in each of our ten categories, and open up user voting on them. Users will be able to vote on one favorite product in each category. Voting will happen on the Webware site, and we also will distribute voting buttons and code to the finalists that they can put on their sites.
Voting will run until mid June (date TBA). The top 10 services in each category will be crowned the Webware 100 on June 18. We'll cover each of the services, especially the 10 category winners, and send everybody a lovely Webware 100 Winner graphic for their site. And maybe a nice plaque.
So, in summary: 1) Users nominate. 2) Editors filter. 3) Users Vote. Nominations are open as of TODAY. So let's get this show rolling.
You can always get the latest status on the Webware 100 page.
Here are the 10 categories for the Webware 100:
- Browsing: Web browsers, extensions, widgets, and security
- Communications: e-mail, chat, VOIP
- Community: social networks, groups
- Data: search, storage, backup, sharing, and sync
- Entertainment: Games and contests
- Media: audio, video, photo
- Mobile: portable utilities and apps
- Productivity: apps, business tools, commerce
- Publishing: blogging, web content, design tools
- Reference: Mapping, reference works, and education
Good luck to all the nominees!
Regards,
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