"The Internet's Oldest Directory"

The original “Best of the Web” got its start in 1994 when Brandon Plewe, then a student at State University of New York, Buffalo, created a platform enabling the burgeoning online community to nominate and vote for best-of-class websites in a variety of categories. From the initial concept of Web Awards, Best of the Web transformed into a comprehensive directory categorizing content-rich, well designed websites. Whether the topic at hand is choosing a college, refinancing a mortgage or planning a party, BOTW is the first stop of many an Internet user.

Over the years, Best of the Web’s unwavering commitment to quality has spawned tremendous word-of-mouth advertising and made it a favorite of Internet users worldwide. Equally indispensable and progressive, the directory gives the online community a tool to help them evade the glut of spam found in most search engines while it simultaneously provides webmasters an avenue to drive targeted traffic to their sites. Commercial site owners appreciate Best of the Web’s authoritative stature and dedication to responsive service, and not-for-profit enterprises benefit from BOTW’s free non-commercial submissions.

Best of the Web is committed to maintaining the high standard of listings that has proven key to its success while continuing to grow. To rank among the Best of the Web, a site must adhere to the strict criteria of editors who ensure that it contains substantive unique content, navigates in a user-friendly manner, contains no broken links or pictures, is up and running 24/7, and conforms to universally accepted web standards. In this way, quality sites are added to the directory on a daily basis and listed in relevant categories that run the gamut of the alphabet from the arts to zoology.

To keep pace with the Internet’s growth—and the evolving tastes and needs of those who use it—Best of the Web recently launched its newest offering, a guide to the best in the world of blogs, http://blogs.botw.org. For those interested in keeping up-to-date with what’s happening behind the scenes at BOTW, the company has created its own blog at http://botwblog.org, the “official” destination for all things Best of the Web.

Looking to the future, Best of the Web intends to remain at the forefront of the digital revolution by continuing to add new products and services that stay true to the company’s core mission of enhancing the online experience by providing the Internet community with meaningful guidance that it can trust. For more information about the Internet’s oldest directory, click on the link at the left for the area that most interests you.