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Lynn Pilewski, Webmistress
Hidden Pearls, Gems of the Internet Awards (award program closed)
The answer is twofold and relates to both how specialized the program is and how "prestigious" the award is perceived to be.
The first and most obvious reason that some programs would get more applications than others directly relates to the focus of the program and whether it is specific or general.
If an award program's criteria is very specific, the program would receive a smaller number of applications than would a program for general sites. An award for pet sites, for instance will get proportionately fewer applications than would an award for great design and content.
The second reason is a bit more complicated and relates to perceived award prestige and value. Programs can be highly valued for many reasons. Award graphic, difficulty, and a great winners list all contribute to adding value to the program. Promotion of an award program can also add to the "mystique" of the program, skyrocketing its prestige.
There are also several sites that rate award programs based on certain criteria. Among them are Award Sites!, German Top Awards, and Website Awards. Award programs that carry top ratings from these sites are also generally thought of as being high value awards.
Simply put, the higher the perceived value of the award, the more webmasters who want it, and the more applications these programs receive.
So, both specificity and value are the defining factors in the numbers of applications that a specific award program receives.
Ulrich Pokorra, Webmaster
Xmas Stars Awards
My approach to this topic is that of an awardseeker as well as that of an awardgiver. Let's consider the awardseeker (applicant) position first.
Why is the awardseeker attracted to apply for my award when there are thousands of others? Well, since I have filled in many application forms in the past, I will try to answer from my own point of view.
First of all I always looked at the award graphic (trophy) and asked myself: Do I want to display this graphic on my page? Is it worth striving for? Is it a real beauty? Will I be proud of showcasing it on my page? Is it something precious or a masterpiece?
If the answers were a clear "Yes," then I continued to the second step: How is it rated? Is it a giveaway award or is it an honor or a top award of a skilled and experienced awardmaster who knows his job? I must confess that his ratings, memberships and awards won could help me a lot.
During the third step I went through the criteria and rules. Were they easy to understand and straight forward? Were they comprehensive (I do not want to read long stories or fairy tales in order to find a password, etc.)? Were they written in a friendly tone (harsh words generally spoil my interest)? Was the program easy to navigate and did it show clarity within a clear structure (general and specific rules) so that I could definitely make out what the awardmaster was looking for?
I was also eager to know the time frame for the evaluation. I, personally, do not prefer programs where the evaluation takes longer than a month or where I can only apply within a certain period of time (5th to 12th of each month).
Next, I was interested in the presentation of the winners. Did the awardmaster present his pearls only with a text link, or did he showcase them with a screenshot, laudation and site description that would make me proud to be listed in his Winners List? And last but not least, I looked at the presentation of the awards won. In many cases this is an indication of how applicants will be treated, too.
So if I as an applicant considered all the above points and questions, and if I could truly say, "Wooh, this is a beautiful award and an excellent program by an outstanding awardmaster," then I would certainly apply for the eye-catching trophy. I became an award lover with a positive attitude, which is why such award programs get more applicants than others. They give you the feeling that you are welcome and that you will be treated like a visitor, rather than an outcast who knocks at the door trying to steal the owner's precious "pixel mass."
Now, let's consider the position of the awardgiver. The awardmaster has to make an effort to attract applicants. He should do some good promotion for his award by listing it in the main international rating indexes and submitting it to well-known search engines. He should make people aware of his recently launched program, and he should not forget to apply for some awards himself (search engines rely on external links to your site).
To make a long story short, I would say that those folks who succeed in attracting the hearts and minds of awardseekers and users and who manage to pay attention to solid site promotion will get more applicants.
Will Harbeson, Webmaster
The Medals Of Excellence
Why do some award programs get more applications than others?
The number of applicants to any awards program is a combination of factors. I would love to say look of the graphic and style of the presentation are the top factors, but unfortunately I don't feel that is always the case.
Just for sheer numbers of applicants to any program, the determining factor has to be exposure. How it's placed in the search engine generates visitors and then winners. The winners host the award image where it's seen and all this multiplies till the number of applicants gets huge. Rankings by one of the ratings services worldwide works hand in hand with exposure. A top rated AS! program just by the nature of its ranking will be exposed to more visitors.
Now, if the award graphic itself stinks then the number of applicants will drop like three foot putts. So while the look of the award is second, it has to be a close runner-up to its companion, the style of the program itself.
Another factor that plays to the number of applications is how hard it is to win the honor. Those sites with excellent presentations and lovely graphics that review with tight criteria and only award worthy sites create a desire in applicants to win. A coveted award will therefore have more applications than one that is given with little consideration for who its going to.
I think the best plan of attack to get more applications for your own program is to run this list backwards towards the goal. Start with sound criteria, don't give away your awards, let them be earned. Make your program sing, be easy to use and understand and by all means create a killer graphic. Finally, get ranked, get listed and get busy.
Dave Selig, Webmaster
Ultraweb Awards
The reasons why some award programs get more applications than others are varied. At play is a complex set of circumstances involving not only the quality of the award programs, but also the experience of the applicants and their purposes for applying. Below, I discuss a few theories.
Some award programs receive fewer applications than others simply because they relate to a limited audience. For example, you would expect a website design award program to receive more applications than an award program recognizing sites devoted to the left eyebrow of George Washington.
Quality plays a role. As the quality of the award program improves, the number of applicants may increase (the "improvement theory"). People want to win great looking awards and enjoy having their work recognized and approved by high level webmasters or award givers with outstanding award programs containing other impressive winning sites. However, the improvement theory is a marginal theory. It only works up to a certain point.
As a program becomes more professional in quality and the winners' list becomes more selective, an award program may begin to notice a reduction in the number of applicants. In fact, high quality award programs may intentionally discourage the average non-professional webmaster or award seeker from applying for their awards by adopting standards that are above the ability of non-professionals. It is not the goal of all award programs to attract the largest number of applicants possible. However, if it is your goal, you should pay close attention to the standards you set.
Ironically, the lack of quality may have the effect of encouraging more applications. Many award givers present their awards to every applicant. It is likely that some of those programs attract more applicants than the highest quality award programs found on the Web.
There are also some practical considerations. A complicated application process where applicants have a difficult time finding the application form, are required to fill out a lot of personal information, and have to add a "secret" phrase to the application to prove they have read the criteria are discouraging elements of an award program.
Also, the more your site is promoted on the Internet, the more applications you should receive. Over time, as your award appears on an increasing number of sites, your award program will naturally become more recognized, and people will click to your program. Of course, having your program listed on quality listing services like Award Sites! and on the major search engines will help.
In conclusion, there are many reasons why some award programs receive more applications than others. The reasons relate to the approach and purpose of the award programs as well as the reasons people are seeking recognition. A high number of applications reflects a degree of success, but does not automatically reflect a high quality program. McDonalds sells billions of burgers, but I have a feeling that there are better places to eat that don't do quite that amount of business.
Whatever purpose you have for your award program, always strive to improve, and have fun!
Andries van Straten, Webmaster
Jetzone Awards
Previous answers in "Ask the Experts" have given us a rather good view on why people apply for awards and what they consider important. If an award program meets certain standards, you can bet on it they get lots of application. In a nutshell you can narrow it down to the following:
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