Four travel websites among top 50 in UK

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