These companies' work on the Web over the last year can serve as a guide for your online efforts.
Started in 1996--a time of dial-up modems and screen names--the Webby Awards have highlighted the best of the Internet since the medium's infancy. Today they are arguably the most prestigious accolades for work on the Web--meaning you should take note of what the winners are doing right.
The just-announced list of the 2014 Webby Award winners contained few surprises. There are two honors in each award category, the Webby Award, selected by judges from the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences; and the Webby People's Voice Award, selected by a vote of the online community.
Here are some of the notable names that brought home Webbys this year:
- Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter was named the Webby Breakout of the year.
- New York City-based design firm Sagmeister and Walsh won the Webby for Best Home/Welcome page, while Squarespace won the People's Voice award in the category. Squarespace was also honored in the Best Visual Design (Aesthetic) category.
- Behance, and online platform for creative professionals' portfolios, took home the Webby for Best Navigation/Structure, while blog publishing platform Medium won Webbys in the Best User Experience and Best Visual Design (Function) categories.
- Mashable won the Best Business Blog category for the third consecutive year.
- Refinery29 won the Webby in the Email Newsletters and the Fashion and Beauty categories.
- In the Best Magazine category, Wired won both the Webby Award and the People's Voice award.
- Tumblr took the award for the Best Community Website and Best Social Application categories.
- Airbnb was recognized in the Best Travel Website and Best Travel App categories.
- Vine won in the Social Media and Best Use of Mobile Video categories.
- TED was honored with the Webby and People's Voice awards for Events and Live Webcasts.