A few thoughts on the upcoming WAA Awards

I got a nice note this morning from Mike Levin at the Web Analytics Association:

“CONGRATULATIONS! You have been nominated for a WAA Award of Excellence in the category of: Most Influential Industry Contributor (individual) Your nomination recognizes the contributions you and/or your company have made to the web analytics industry. It is an honor to be nominated and the WAA congratulates you on your success. “

While I am honored by the recognition and delighted to have been nominated I told Mike that I am declining to participate in the voting.

Mike wrote me back and seemed surprised but my thinking is very simple: I have been very fortunate in my web analytics career and have received lots of recognition from my peers, my clients, and the press. I’m not one to bang my own drum and brag about my accomplishments … I prefer to just do my thing, help my clients and the community, and build a strong company for my partners and associates.

So I humbly and politely decline the honor and instead will cast my vote for folks I believe to be truly deserving of an industry honor. Here are the people I will be voting for:

• Web Analytics Rising Star: Jason Thompson.  Jason is still a bit rough around the edges but I love his style and commitment to getting things done.  If I can vote twice I am voting for Michele “Jojoba” Hinojosa … her passion is palpable and her enthusiasm is infectious.
• Most Influential Industry Contributor: John Lovett. I’m not sure John is actually eligible because he is on the WAA Board but his work on the WAA Code of Ethics is a monumental achievement and one that has the potential to shape our industry for years to come.  If I can vote twice my second nod goes to Jim Sterne … who has done more for this industry than Jim Sterne?  Damn right, nobody!
• Most Influential Vendor: Google.  Most of the positive changes we have seen in the past two years in web analytics can be derived either directly or indirectly to the work that Brett Crosby and the team at Google Analytics put out there.  Second vote goes to Omniture given the critical mass they have been able to create and the big strides they made since the Adobe acquisition on customer support and overall focus.

UPDATE: OMG I didn’t realize that Corry Prohens was running a shameless and ruthless campaign to win the “Influential Agency/Vendor” award.  You should read his “shameless campaign” blog post and consider voting for Corry.

• Client/Practitioner of the Year: Best Buy. Difficult to not vote for one of your own favorite clients but I hope you will all come to my keynote presentation with Lynn Lanphier at Emetrics and hear why I cast this vote.  Second vote? Dell, for taking the advice I gave them last year to heart and who are now kicking ass and taking names for testing and optimization. Bravo!
• Technology of the Year: Analysis Exchange. Now, of course, I’m not really going to vote for something I helped create, but I am pretty damn proud of the work we have done and with Wendy Greco at the helm things are only getting better.  If I could vote twice … I wouldn’t, because I’d be tempted to vote for Twitalyzer LOL!

Again, I do appreciate the nod from the WAA and am looking forward to the party — the Analytics Demystified and Keystone Solutions crews will be there in force. I wish everyone nominated for the WAA awards the best of luck and, as a native of Chicago, remember to vote early and vote often!

Don’t forget to nominate your favorite web analytics superstar!