Our website won an award

Worth touting?

[jhubb]

Hi all, I'm the new webmaster at a newspaper website. The previous webmaster submitted our site for an award and we found out yesterday that we won.

Is this award worth anything? I am suspicious because:-

1) they asked to us to purchase our award certificate and other award-related items

2) I can't find any third-party verification of the award's worth on the 'net, although I do find many so-so sites touting that they've won.

3) The sites listed at the Awards site are of the type I get spam messages about.

What is the general impression of an award in the web community? How does the general internet viewership regard an award?

An article in the newspaper is already planned and the publisher wants to tout our award to the corporate folk.

Before we do that, I want to make sure we aren't placing stock in something less than legit.

Thanks for your comments...

[edited by: trillianjedi at 7:34 pm (utc) on Dec. 21, 2004]
[edit reason] Examplified... [/edit]

[encyclo]

You might want to check this recent thread:

I need an award for my site [webmasterworld.com]

I'll avoid the specifics of the award you mentioned, but most "awards" aren't competitions at all: everyone is accepted, provided of course that you pay the appropriate fee! As the other thread says, try a customer testimonial instead.

[trillianjedi]

Previously discussed almost exactly a year ago:-

[webmasterworld.com...]

[pageoneresults]

The only 'web award' I would want these days would be if WebmasterWorld gave one out!

lol! I'll take one of those whenever they become available. :)

[jhubb]

Thanks, everyone. I did do a search on this site but the posts mentioned weren't returned! Where'd I go wrong? Anyhow, this confirms my suspicions...

[edited by: trillianjedi at 7:37 pm (utc) on Dec. 21, 2004]
[edit reason] Examplifying thread... [/edit]

[pageoneresults]

Where'd I go wrong?

You probably used the Site Search feature. You may be better off using Google.

search query site:www.webmasterworld.com

The results will be fresher and more plentiful.

[Birdman]

Precisely PageOne, I've been doing that for a long time now and it works great.

For extra clarity:

site:www.webmasterworld.com search terms here

I wish I knew how to add a "Webmaster World Search" option in my Opera search dropdown list. Anyone know?

On topic:

I'd forget the award and just keep the site quality high.

[Tropical Island]

I wish I knew how to add a "Webmaster World Search" option in my Opera search dropdown list.

Google bar has this option - just click the arrow next to "search web" and it has a "search this site" option.

Back to the topic: I used to be a judge for this sites awards program. I would be given lists of sites to review however under their scoring system it was almost impossible to be rejected unless you were an adult site (and there were lots). I think some hosting companies were just mass submitting urls.

We jumped ship after a short time.

[edited by: trillianjedi at 7:36 pm (utc) on Dec. 21, 2004]
[edit reason] Examplified... [/edit]

[vkaryl]

How to add search tools to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com]

[Birdman]

Thanks vkarl, I may just do that. However, I'd still rather add it to my browser's(Opera) list of search sites. I may not have a WW window open when I search for something. Thanks again!

[vkaryl]

Heh - sorry Birdman - s'what happens when you just scan instead of really READING.... I don't use Opera (only to check webpages prior to publishing), so haven't a clue about that.

Have you tried SuzyUK's Opera toolbar/menu thingie? [tanfa.co.uk...] - it might help you out a bit in that regard....

[Birdman]

Ah, thanks for that link vkaryl! It looks sweet. Hopefully it'll work for Linux too. I'm working on adding the WebmasterWorld search option right now. I'll prolly post it if it works. Thanks again!

[Birdman]

For the record, I figured out how to add site:www.webamsterworld to my search dropdown(as well as right-click highlighted text). You just alter the file named [search.ini]. I'll post an example soon and link it from here. There are a few threads on WW already but a fresh one wouldn't hurt.

Easy as pie and now I don't have to type it out anymore! Sweet! Plus I found lots of other cool stuff whilst looking.

Jhubb, sorry this thread got off topic :(

Just don't pay out for some stupid award. The real reward is when you recieve complimentary emails from happy surfers. Then, you may proudly post them, as a previous poster mentioned.

regards