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We all want to be recognized for the work we do on our blogs. Regardless of your basic reasons for blogging, it's nice to know your contributions to the blogosphere are appreciated. So, when you receive a web or blog award, does it matter?
Most home-grown blog awards are arbitrary. They are conceived by a blog owner to drive traffic to their site by awarding you for something then convincing you to promote the award (with a link back to their site) on your blog. It's classic link baiting according to Link Baiting Case Study from Search Engine Journal and 101 Ways to Increase Your Blog Traffic.
It is true these awards have the guise of building community. However, if you're building community, then, by it's definition, an award excludes parts of that community. On the other hand, when you're given an award and told you can then pass it to another blogger, you're essentially including everyone in the award process. What then, does the award really mean? (I love the line in The Incredibles when we learn of Syndrome's evil plan: When everyone is special, no one will be.)
What about the bigger awards?
- The Bloggies offer winners 2,009 cents and a SxSW Interactive special discount to attend the ceremony.
- The Webbies say they "validate your superior work" and "Past nominees and winners have garnered coverage around the world - from CNN, CNBC, and BBC to USA Today, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times."
- NxE's 50 Most Influential 'Female' Bloggers actually doesn't offer anything in the way of a tangible reward, but does offer recognition.
- The Weblog Awards assert they are "the world's largest blog competition".
In Musings About Blog Awards, Stan explains how the Weblog awards work: "It's about traffic. Blog awards are created to publicize blogs by bringing to the public's attention the spectrum of blogs available to them."
Do these awards really matter? Lucretia Pruitt commented on the NxE piece:
"You know, these “list of most influential” posts about social media women keep cropping up like wildfire. Most of them I consider linkbait, because really it’s just the women on them that linkback, twitter about, and blog about them - but this list? Well yeah. This is a list of women I can totally get behind."
When discussing whether awards are relevant or useful, I would argue that while it's nice to be recognized for hard work, it's a bigger feather in your cap to show off your abilities by demonstrating you've been recognized as a leader in your community by being asked to speak at a conference or write a weekly column at a site you respect. An even more significant accomplishment is to establish yourself as a trusted and respected blogger in your niche. You can do these things and not receive an award.
This week I tweeted Are there any blog awards you consider to be legitimate? Why or why not? I'm writing an article & would love your input!
Here are the responses:
- @Scribbit Well they're good at highlighting the most popular blogs if that's their purpose. Not necessarily the best.
- @Scribbit You know what's been great for getting work? My signature on my emails. Awards not so much.
- @ADramaticMommy They are another form of entertainment. I don't read blogs b/c someone has one or not read b/c someone doesn't.
- I responded with: @ADramaticMommy But do you think they add value at all? And how are they entertainment?
- @ADramaticMommy Not really. Fun to see someone chosen for something like hottest or funniest but winner depends on who was the "loudest" online.
What do you think? Are awards the stuff you highlight on your resume when you're looking for freelance work? Has your affiliation with awards organizations actually landed you a job? Did they increase your respect in your field? Or did it just clutter up your sidebar and hurt your reputation because you were begging your readers to vote for you in the final round?
Melanie Nelson writes tips and instructions for Blogging Basics 101. And yes, she's received awards.
