The Good Web Guide Website of the Year Award 2009 was geared towards small businesses and non-profit organisations. Over 1000 nominations were received. There was a high standard overall. One excellent site, YoungDebaters.com was submitted by Edward McGovern with the plea, ‘I am 13 and need to take the website further, but don’t have the money to do so.’

The sites ranged across a number of interests from forums and social networks, entertainment, travel, retail, information, property, services, food, parenting and gardening. The following sites were shortlisted and all have something unique to offer, whether it’s an interesting concept, useful information or plain fun.

FORUM/ SOCIAL NETWORK

1. www.dothegreenthing.com A not-for-profit public service that inspires people to lead a greener life. With the help of videos and stories from creative people and community members around the world, Green Thing focuses on seven things you can do to help the environment.

2. www.findinvestgrow.com FIG works with young entrepreneurs, specifically undergraduates and graduates of the past five years, to see them crystallise their ideas, support them through the development of their business plans and introduce them to suitable investors.

ENTERTAINMENT

3. www.dilettantemusic.com  Dilettante is an online classical music hub that aims to break down the barriers to classical music by connecting organisations and musicians with audiences, listeners with recorded and live music, and members of the worldwide classical community with each other

4. www.internetkaraoke.net  Internet Karaoke is a commercial site that allows you to do karaoke at your desk. After a free 24 hour trial, users pay £3 a month to choose from a choice of 6000 backing tracks with autocues to sing along with. Users can also create their own playlists to come back to with friends.

5. www.songkick.com Aiming to create the definitive live music resource. Songkick lets users track artists, venues, festivals and other fans for upcoming gigs and create their own ‘gigography’ of gig history. Users can also post videos, pictures, set lists, posters and reviews of concerts they have attended recently.

TRAVEL

6. www.i-escape.com A UK-based website dedicated to helping discerning independent travellers find and book exciting and unusual places to stay across the world. .

7. www.simonseeks.com A new approach to travel writing on the internet, Simonseeks encourages users to write their own articles and guides and get paid for it via advertising revenue generated from each post.
 
8. www.seat61.com A personal hobby that has become a full-time job for Mark Smith, The Man in Seat Sixty-One provides practical, informative and highly detailed ‘how to’ advice to people who wish to travel the world by train or ship.

RETAIL

9. www.yourfloors.co.uk Brings together an extensive collection of flooring, which is delivered for free through a nationwide network of Independent Flooring Retailers. Search by colour, room, style, brand and size and find advice.

10. www.notonthehighstreet.com Supports over 1300 British small businesses, providing them with an attractive platform on which to market and sell their wares. Categories range from fashion, cards & wrap, food & drink, baby & child, jewellery and home & garden to health & beauty, gifts and weddings & parties.

11. www.creativelydifferentblinds.com Offers a choice of high quality blinds, which can be printed up in a choice of digital images. For a personal touch, you can upload your own photos and select your size and options online, after which Creatively Different Blinds will take care of the rest.

12. www.asuitthatfits.com Interactive online suit design and fitting service. The range includes two and three-piece suits, tailored shirts, dinner suits, ladies’ suits, overcoats and you can choose your fabric by material weight or type, colour tone, brand, price range, or request a swatch cutting.

INFORMATION

13.  www.thehousedirectory.com Comprehensive online directory for interior and garden design and decoration. Companies and categories are listed A-Z. Store notes and details about products and services you find. Find related events, course, organisations and book shops.

14. www.vethelpdirect.com Online source of reliable advice for concerned pet-owners. Search for a vet local to your area. Check your pet’s symptoms. Find pet care advice for all types of pet. Use the Insurance Directory to find the best policy for you and your pet.

15. www.culture24.org.uk A not-for-profit online publisher, working across the arts, heritage, education, and tourism sectors. Culture24 supports the cultural sector online and helps the user to find up to date information on what’s on, news, education and more.

PROPERTY

16. www.tepilo.com Property guru, Sarah Beeny’s site is a free service for those wishing to take control of the sale of their own home and bypass estate agents, with 0% commission on sale. The site features advice on buying and selling, profit enhancing tips and hosts the negotiation process through the site.

17. www.zoopla.co.uk A property website offering users free information and tools to help users make better-informed property decisions. It provides a comprehensive source of residential property market information to help buyers, sellers, owners and estate agents alike.

SERVICES

18. www.shiply.com A reverse auction site that helps you find cheap courier services by matching users up with couriers & delivery companies already making similar trips across the UK & Europe.

19. www.useyourlocal.com Aims to breath life back into local communities and help consumers get more from their local by using the UK’s network of 90,000 pubs and clubs as a collection points for parcels.

FOOD & WINE

20. www.wine-buddy.com An independent, online wine merchant that helps you search for wine by grape, by colour, by country, price bracket or keyword and classifies all its wines via 14 taste sensations, from clean, pure dry whites to intense and fruity reds.

21. www.thriftygobbler.com Online magazine featuring blogs, reviews, product comparisons, recommendations on where to eat and more, aimed at lovers of thrift and food.

PARENTS

22. www.mumsnet.com Informative resource for mums offering  information on everything from sleep problems to choosing first shoes and more. Find reviews, recipes, blogs, advice and chat with other mums via the popular chat forum.

23. www.awaywiththekids.co.uk Independent travel directory for families that provides child friendly family holidays in the UK. Accommodation varies from fun farms & award-winning child-friendly hotels to contemporary cottages & scenic escapes with an emphasis on great family holidays.

GARDEN

24. www.seedtoplate.co.uk A new website dedicated to helping people grow their own vegetables. The interactive plot designer help you build and plan your plot. Also offers tailored growing guides, planting plans and more to help the user get the most out of their garden.

25. www.best4plants.co.uk Colourful online garden centre for Coblands Nurseries. Choose your flowers and plants by colour and get help designing your border or identifying mystery plants.

And the winner  is.... new concept travel site, simonseeks.com. To find out more, click here.

Vote Here

Contact: Emily Jenkinson or Arabella Dymoke at award@thegoodwebguide.co.uk for more information. Tel: 020 7402 6412