Animation and plug-in requirements can be a problem. Many of the awards, including the better ones, will have criteria against too much animation and plug-ins. Additionally, sites that utilize midi and wav files can jeopardize being considered for awards if there is not an option to turn off the music by the visitor. You should find that most of the awarded sites are content-oriented. They are interesting, visually pleasing, and enjoyable.
Graphics can be simple to exquisite, but are in a supporting role unless it is an artistic site.
It has received over 100 awards within its first year on the Internet. While I have lost count on the number of hours that are involved with its development, revisions, and updates, the point is making the effort to keep it fresh, crisp, and worth revisiting. Okay, you have checked other sites and made revisions that enhance your site's chances. Develop several descriptions for your site. A badly written description can eliminate your site from even a visit.