4. Navigation alignment Some sites have navigation icons or text links lined up against side or top of page. Leave an equal amount of space on either side of your navigational links and make sure they are aligned with each other.

5. Repetition and consistency If visitor has to search for buttons on every page, or if links have different words, techniques or icons, they get annoyed. Don't you? Navigation elements from page to page should be repeated and consistent throughout your site. If a visitor sees a navigation system on every page, it will add to familiarity and orientation.

6. Check your links Have you ever followed a navigation link, only to find you can't get back to home page? You may have clicked on a link, only to get a page error – page does not exist! Particularly if you have linked to a web site outside of your own. With time that site may have disappeared or changed its address.

Make it easy for your visitor to find their way around your site, by testing out where your links go and that each of them work. You should do this periodically to avoid problem of dead or broken links.

7. Testing your navigation structure You're overjoyed that your site is finally finished, so you tell all your friends and family about it. They politely say it is great, but ask you what it is about and how can they find their way around.

Once completed, you need to step back (go outside of box you have been in) and get others to navigate your site – preferably your Grandmother or someone that has never been on Net. This is called a usability test. If they have no problem to discern purpose of your site and can navigate it with ease, you are ready to publish it for all world to see.

Design your navigation structure with visitor in mind. Eliminate any obstacles (minefields) that will annoy and frustrate them, causing them to leave and never wish to return. If you make it easy for them to find information they seek, you will gain many happy customers.

Fourth, take your own competence seriously. The sole proprietor category was sorely lacking in quality entrants, and if you had entered a site that was clear, functional, readable, decent-looking and businesslike, you could very well have had an excellent shot to win.

According to Anne Stuart, senior writer for Inc., material about their awards is among most-read stuff at their Web site throughout year, with awesome click-throughs to winning sites. The only cost of entering this sort of competition for such a publicity bonanza is effort required to submit a considered and complete entry.

Adds Dan Janal, author of several books on publicity and founder of PR Leads, "You will get mindshare from judges, who are very important, influential people who could write about your company or tell their audiences in speeches. I know -- I've judged many contests and have found many interesting companies as a result."

Remember this next time you spot an announcement for an award competition. A blue-ribbon credential -- and attention from media and public -- may be closer than you would assume.