Will Harbeson, Webmaster
The Medals Of Excellence

Good question! The quick answer is "you can not." People are going to read what they want and respond to what they read, usually on a whim. Same holds true for conversation. How many times does someone miss your spoken point and hear only what they wish from your conversation? It happens all the time.

Just as with speaking, written messages need to be as clear and to the point as possible. Avoid losing your audience in details. Stress those points that are most important to you early on, and then reinforce them just before the end of the message.

Specifically in criteria, keep it simple. You might place the details on linked pages to insure that your main points or objectives are covered on a single page. People who do need to read the details will follow your links and will likely be better applicants for their efforts. If your applicant chooses to skim your site, my hope is that clean, simple, short criteria points will get seen, even at a glance.

There are other solutions like passwords or keywords that are required with an application for a judging to take place. The jury is still out on this type of assurance that your criteria has been read, and many awards givers feel it is unfair. Personally, I have no problem with passwords because I read the criteria when I apply for awards and I find the passwords easily.

Bottom line is this: As an awards giver make your criteria as clean, concise and coherent as possible, then do not feel bad if you need to turn down a site that didn't bother to read it. As an awards applicant, be responsible as well. Read the entire site, spend a few minutes understanding the purpose and criteria for the award, and make any necessary changes to your site before you apply.

Wendy Sears, Webmistress
Assess Risk Web Award

A question that has often been raised is "how can I make people read the criteria for my awards?" The short and simple answer to this question is "you can't!" At least, this award manager has not found any method that ensures the criteria is read by the award applicant.

Various techniques have been employed by award managers over the years to try to ensure that applicants read the criteria. The two most popular techniques seem to be:

I would contend that these ploys do not in any way, shape or form "make" the applicant read the criteria. Inclusion of the correct password on the application form is often more a testament to the applicant's ability to visually scan text than a confirmation that he has read it.

An award manager could impose heavy sanctions against applicants who fail to complete an application form with the correct password. For example, the program might state that if the password is not included or is inaccurate, then the applicant can never apply again or will have to wait a year. This will tend to focus the mind of those applicants who are really serious about receiving the award, and it will encourage them to read the criteria in detail.

Even here, however, there is no guarantee the applicant will do more than scan the text for the all important password. So if the award manager cannot "make" the applicant read the criteria, what should be done? Simple! Make the criteria as simple and concise as possible. Do not be over-elaborate. Tell the applicants what you want from them in one page.

One technique which many successful programs employ is to provide a duel system: concise criteria for those in a hurry and more detailed criteria for people who feel they need more information. Clearly signposting your concise criteria also encourages people to read it.

In short, the more enticing the criteria, the more likely that applicants will read it. But, alas, there are no guarantees.

Susan Hawkins, Webmistress
Elite Web Awards (site closed)

LOLOLOL ... Good question. When you find out the answer, be sure to let me know!

No, really. There is no real way to MAKE someone read your criteria. Starting out, I was naive and thought that most of the award seekers actually read my criteria, but they just didn't quite have what it took to win. Then I wised up.

Recently, I changed my award program a bit and added a password within the criteria. Not giving the correct password in the application form doesn't disqualify you, but it puts you at the bottom of the stack of applications to be reviewed. To my surprise, only 10% of the applications gave the right password, so only 10% of the applicants actually read my criteria! It blew my mind.

I am thinking about removing the password because it upsets me to know how many applicants don't give a darn about what you want. They are going to apply regardless. I would rather be naive and happy at this point. LOL

The simple fact is that only 10% of applicants are serious award seekers who are trying to make their site the best it can be. The other 90% are in it for the free advertisement and the big pat-on-the-back.

I don't mean to sound negative, but those are the actual facts! Statistics don't lie. So there is no way to make the applicants read your criteria. Even if you place the link to your application form within your criteria, the applicant can find it without reading the text. Sorry if I burst your bubble, but keep your chin up. The 10% who deserve your award are worth the time it takes to run a successful award program.

Dunja Zeyss, Webmistress
Dream Worker Award

I think it's a good idea to place a "secret word" in the criteria. If you ask for that word in the application form, the applicants have to go through the criteria to find it. Hopefully they read the criteria in the process.

Another good idea is to not allow "direct applications." Place a link to your application form in the criteria so that award-seekers can only get to it from the page that contains your criteria.

If you want to be "heavy handed," you can combine both of these methods. I'm sure this will help to make the applicants read your criteria.

Wendy Russell, Webmistress
Casey's Celtic Charm Award

How can I make people read the criteria? I have asked myself this question many times. The short answer is "you can't make people do anything." If there was a magical solution to this problem, I am sure everyone would be using it. All is not lost, though. There are a number of things we can try to "encourage" applicants to read the criteria.

Since implementing a password phrase, our applicants have definitely shown a willingness to read the entire program. This benefits both the evaluators and the applicants who apply for our award.

We placed the password phrase in an area of the awards program that fully aids and informs the applicant about how to win the award. My only regret was not implementing the password sooner. We are very pleased with the results it has produced and recommend it to others.

I am aware that some program owners do not like this method of using a password. It is an individual choice of what works for you. Personally, I have found it to be a very useful tool, but that's just my humble opinion.