| To win awards, you must first apply for them. With millions of websites on the Web, reviewers are not likely to visit your site unless someone tells them where to find it. The purpose of your applications is to tell them where to find your site and to motivate them to review it! |
| Prepare a description of your website and save it as a text file. Better still, prepare three descriptions: short, medium, and long. Paste the short description into forms, when brevity is requested, and use the long one for email applications. Paste the medium description into forms when brevity is not requested. |
| Your description is critical because it creates an impression in the mind of the reviewer. A compelling description creates a favourable impression. Many Award Sites receive hundreds of applications each week, and the reviewers don't have time to visit every site. Forced to be selective, they follow the links in the applications that created a favourable impression. A well crafted, interesting description will get you more reviews! |
| The Criteria |
| Read the criteria at the Award Site. If the criteria says that the award is for personal websites and yours is commercial, or if the award is for sites about gardening and yours is about photography, don't apply for it. You will just be wasting everyone's time, including your own. |
| Form Applications |
| Most Award Sites have a short form that you must fill out to apply for an award. Double check all your entries before you click on the "Submit" button. You will not win the award if your email address or the URL of your website is entered incorrectly. |
| If the form asks for a description of 25 words or less, or a maximum of 200 characters, do not exceed that limit. You want to impress the reviewers, not annoy them! Annoyance will not motive them to review your website. Learn to write compelling short descriptions. |
| Email Applications |
| Some Award Sites ask you to apply by email. Try to come up with an interesting line as the "Subject" of your application. The reviewers are more likely to visit your website if your application stands out in the crowd. |
| Take a few minutes to look around the Award Site before you apply for the award. If possible, find out the name of the reviewer. Use the name of the reviewer in the application and mention the name of the award that you're applying for. This gives your application a personal touch. Most reviewers prefer to receive personalized applications. |
| The Guestbook |
| Always sign the guestbook at the Award Site. It was put there for that purpose, and it only takes a few minutes. Since you're asking the reviewer to take the time to visit and review your website, this small show of appreciation is the least you can offer in return. Some reviewers are reluctant to give you an award if you don't sign the guestbook. |
| Foreign Awards |
| Many Award Sites are located in foreign countries and the web pages are written in foreign languages. You can apply for them too! If you don't read the language, use the translation service at AltaVista or Systran. They translate English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. |
| Copy the text or the address (URL) of the web page into your Clipboard, then paste it into the dialog box at the translator. Select a language from the drop down menu, and click the "Translate" button. The translation is crude, but you should be able to understand it well enough to apply for the award. |
| As a courtesy to the people at the Award Site, you may also want to translate the description of your Website into their language and submit it in both English and their language. They will appreciate your effort and consideration! |
| Since the reviewers at some of these Award Sites can not read English, don't expect to win their top awards. They will not be able to appreciate your excellent content. You have a chance of winning their "Silver" awards, however, if your site is well designed. A pleasing layout, good graphics, and consistent look and feel will win some of these awards. Consider it an honour to receive them. |
| And Finally... |
| When you win an award, send a note of thanks to the reviewer with the URL of the page where it's posted. This only takes a few seconds, and it will be appreciated! If you reduced the size of the award graphic to make it fit on your awards page, tell the reviewer why you had to reduce it. Most of them will not be offended. Do not alter the design or proportions of the award. |
| Never criticize or complain to the reviewer if you do not receive an award. Regardless of the criteria, judging a website is a subjective process to some extent, and the reviewers are entitled to make their own decisions. No website wins every award. Be grateful for the awards you have received and get on with the fun of applying for others! |
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