Easyjet, expedia, lastminute.com and P&O Cruises are among the most popular websites from more than 50 categories in the UK during 2006.
The UK Annual Online Performance Awards by online competitive intelligence company Hitwise recognise outstanding online business achievement and acknowledge the most successful websites as categorised across key industries, defined by the percentage of user visits a UK website received in 2006.
Also included are the most searched-for brands, based on the volume of searches.
Hitwise reports on the anonymous online usage and search behaviour of more than 8.43 million UK internet users – claimed to be the largest online sample of its kind – the annual online performance awards recognise excellence in online performance through public popularity.
Hitwise UK general manager Stephen Newton said: “Website visits and searches provide an excellent measure of a website’s success and brand popularity. Each of our award winners have been recognised by UK consumers as leaders in their category.
“This is truly a people’s choice award, as UK Internet users have determined Hitwise UK’s annual top websites and online brands.”
*No. 1 Online Performance Award Winners 2006: The following websites ranked No. 1 by visits among all UK websites in their respective categories.
Category Winner
Automotive – Classifieds http://www.autotrader.co.uk/
Automotive – Dealerships http://www.motorpoint.co.uk/
Automotive – Manufacturers http://www.ford.co.uk/
Aviation – Commercial Airlines http://www.easyjet.com/
Business and Finance –
Banks and Financial Institutions http://www.lloydstsb.com/
Business and Finance –
Business Directories http://www.yell.com/
Business and Finance – uk.finance.yahoo.com
Business Information
Business and Finance –
Employment and Training http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/
Business and Finance –
Insurance http://www.theaa.com/
Business and Finance –
Property http://www.rightmove.co.uk/
Business and Finance –
Stocks and Shares uk.finance.yahoo.com
Business and Finance –
Telecommunications http://www.bt.com/
Business and Finance –
Utilities http://www.uswitch.com/
Community – Humanitarian http://www.oxfam.org.uk/
Computers and Internet –
Electronics http://www.sony.co.uk/
Computers and Internet –
Hardware http://www.euro.dell.com/
Entertainment – Arts http://www.tate.org.uk/
Entertainment – Movies http://www.odeon.co.uk/
Entertainment – Photography http://www.pixmania.com/
Government – Central http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/
Health and Medical –
Health Insurance http://www.norwichunion.com/
Lifestyle – Beauty http://www.avon.uk.com/
Lifestyle – Dating http://www.gaydar.co.uk/
Lifestyle – Family http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/
Lifestyle – Weddings http://www.confetti.co.uk/
Music – Companies http://www.sonymusic.co.uk/
News and Media – Print http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Shopping and Classifieds –
Apparel and Accessories http://www.next.co.uk/
Shopping and Classifieds –
Appliances and Electronics http://www.comet.co.uk/
Shopping and Classifieds –
Automotive http://www.ebaymotors.co.uk/
Shopping and Classifieds –
Books http://www.amazon.co.uk/
Shopping and Classifieds –
Computers http://www.euro.dell.com/
Shopping and Classifieds –
Department Stores www.amazon.co.uk
Shopping and Classifieds –
Flowers and Gifts www.buyagift.co.uk
Shopping and Classifieds –
Grocery and Alcohol www.tesco.com/superstore
Shopping and Classifieds –
Health and Beauty www.boots.com
Shopping and Classifieds –
House and Garden www.diy.com
Shopping and Classifieds –
Intimate Apparel and
Accessories www.figleaves.com
Shopping and Classifieds –
Music www.play.com
Shopping and Classifieds –
Rewards and Directories www.kelkoo.co.uk
Shopping and Classifieds –
Sport and Fitness www.halfords.com
Shopping and Classifieds –
Ticketing www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Shopping and Classifieds –
Toys and Hobbies www.toysrus.co.uk
Shopping and Classifieds –
Video and Games www.play.com
Travel – Cruises www.pocruises.com
Travel – Destinations and
Accommodation www.lastminute.com
Travel – Maps www.multimap.com
Travel – Transport www.easyjet.com
Travel – Agencies www.expedia.co.uk
*Most Searched-For Brands 2006
Rank Search Term
1 ebay
2 bebo
3 argos
4 amazon
5 easyjet
6 bbc
7 autotrader
8 tesco
9 ebay uk
10 cbbc
by Phil Davies
