I do not run an awards program. Then why am I writing this paper? My website has earned a few awards. In the earning process, I have learned that there is a level of anxiety and frustration built into some awards programs. I know these anxieties and frustrations, for I am an Award Seeker.
Most award givers were once seekers. In fact, I would dare say that they all were at one time, and some still are. They have seen the awards community from both sides, in all its glory and its infamy. Applying for awards now is a simple procedure for them. But, do they remember? Do they remember the frustration some of the processes can create?
I am a Seeker. But, a Seeker of what? There are many reasons to seek awards - probably as many reasons as there are award seekers. My purpose in applying for awards is not to collect a bunch of cool graphics, although they are fun to have. What do I seek? I seek knowledge; the knowledge of what needs to be adjusted on my site; the knowledge of how to improve my site; the knowledge of what will make my site more appealing. I visited some really good sites, many not so good and some really bad sites. When I developed my site in the last century (actually it was 1999 and posted in 2000, but to a genealogist ‘last century’ sounds so nice) I was determined to make it useful and interesting for others.
At first, when it came to seeking awards, I went for genealogy awards. You know - the reciprocal link type. I really didn’t get anything from them other than the award graphic. I still have them on my awards page, but I no longer apply for this type of award. Then I discovered rated awards. These are great. I can check my site against the criteria and disqualifiers and learn what is required of a good site. Of course I have to read the criteria first. OK. That’s easy. Now all I have to do is fill in the questionnaire and apply for the award. Don’t forget the secret word – if necessary. Good, that’s done. Now I wait - anxiously. Three weeks pass, then four. Did I get disqualified? Was my site not worthy? Did the award program cease to exist even though it still resides on the WWW? The frustration builds because some programs will only notify those who are to receive awards and do not even acknowledge receipt of the application.
Three major problems exist here. First, I am not sure if the form went through properly. What if they never got it? Did my application get lost in cyberspace? Do I wait until Hell freezes over? Please, at least let the applicant know you have his or her application. The good programs will visit the site and evaluate it against their disqualifiers, then notify the applicant that the site was either disqualified or will continue with the evaluation. The really good programs assign a code or identifier so the applicant can follow his or her progress in the evaluation process. It’s a courtesy to the person who was interested enough to use your form or send you an email and shows respect for the applicant. Isn’t that what the code of ethics and the ethics pledge are about?
The second problem stems from the lack of contact information on some award programs. If they have a form, some award givers seem to think an email contact is not necessary. If I don’t understand something in their criteria, how do I get a clarification? Once, I applied for an award and later needed to contact them. There was no contact info available on the awards site, only the application form. Yet their criteria required contact information on every page of the applying site. You might think I’m joking. I’m not. There are programs out there that wouldn’t pass their own criteria.
The third problem is in the usual clause that states the candidate can re-apply after a given period of time and after fixing the site. If I didn’t get an award, my site must have failed some of the criteria. If they only notify winners, how will I know if the site was even reviewed and how do I know where my mistakes or weaknesses were? How can I fix the site if I don’t know what was wrong? Communication is a two-way street. I applied for your award. Now, please,let me know what happened and what I need to improve. Granted, the changes will be the reviewer's opinion and I am not obligated to make them, but if I agree with them and they improve my site I will make them. This generates a much higher regard for the evaluator and the award program.
What is, or should be the primary purpose of an awards program? Many programs claim it is to honor the hard work done by the webmasters and webmistresses in building their sites. This is a noble purpose and one I fully agree with. After all, who doesn’t like a pat on the back for doing hard work? Other sites have stated that they want to help the web master/mistress improve his or her site. This, to me, is the really important purpose behind any awards program. Is this selfish of me? You bet it is! I want to improve my place in the world-wide-web community. And what better way than having the experts tell me how? Feedback will help accomplish that.
I know, I know: it sounds like extra work. But, is it really? As an evaluator, you have to review the applicant site against your criteria. You have to keep track of the review somehow or you wouldn’t be able to determine the points earned. I’m sure you use some type of form, usually a spread sheet. And, you probably save the application and evaluation for future reference. Whether a candidate earns your award or fails, how much effort does it take to send an email with the evaluation form attached? The candidate can then use the evaluation to see where adjustments or fixes are needed to improve the site and advance in the award status.
I will no longer apply for awards that do not notify everyone regardless of failure or earned award. Again we have courtesy and respect for the applicant. Now, those awards that really appeal to me are the awards that not only let you know why your site has been disqualified or that it has earned an award and tell you how you did in the evaluation process.
Don’t lurk in the shadows; come into the light and tell me how to contact you. Tell me you received my application. Also, tell me what I have done wrong or poorly on my site so that I may improve it. You will have a great program if you do these few little things. That’s my humble opinion, but then, I’m only a Seeker.
About the Author
George is retired from many years analyzing, designing and programming business systems on main-frame computers. He spends his time working on his family history and his website, McCartney’s Journey in Genealogy and playing with his grandchildren.
George took courses in HTML and CSS through the HTML Writers Guild and is self-taught in XHTML. He has also learned some JavaScript from tutorials and a few excellent books. He is currently leaning the intricacies of award giving as an evaluator for the Talking Hands Award and the Mond Award - probably giving Denny Lancaster and Jenny Maas a few headaches in the process. He hopes, in the not too distant future, to build his own award program.
