Site awards for link dev

what makes an award winning site?

[Perplexed]

I am thinking ( and only thinking at this stage ) of starting an award scheme for my niche area rather than just a reciprocal links type page. I know this subject has been covered before and is thought "passe" by some but I think it might work in my niche.

I am thinking in terms of three levels of award according to how much informational content the site contains compared to pure sales but I need a set of criteria to use before any award is given.

What would you classify as being the top 5 good points about any site? I am thinking in terms of easy to read, good intuitive navigation, stuff like that.

What would your list be?

[topr8]

but I need a set of criteria to use before any award is given.

isn't the most important criteria, willingness to display the award on the home page with a nice tasty one way link back to you?

seriously though, for the kind of people who go for awards, i'd highly rank "respect your user": if there is sound - ability to turn off. Not heavyweight with grafics. decent nav system.etc etc

[Perplexed]

thanks for that topr8, its the "etc etc" that I am interested in....

Yes of course its a nice juicy one way link from the homepage ( usually the highest pr ) but it has many other benefits for both parties and gets away from the "links page" syndrome.

Wouldn't work everywhere, and the last thing anyone wants is a never ending string of awards, but, as I said, in my niche I think there might be a place for it.

[topr8]

works for me in one area, where actually it is genuinely useful to my visitors i think.

we award on useability of the site rather than making a judgement on the quality of the content, we also just have one level of award

1. no background music
2. site works in opera (not specified as this but as i use opera ...)
3. clear nav system that works
4. clear contact page or ability to contact webmaster from the site (integrity)
5. homepage of reasonable size (~150k - and no that would not be acceptable for one of my own sites but in this context its ok)

[rogerd]

Perplexed, I think your criteria should be:
1) Home Page PR
2) Willingness of webmaster to link back
3) Speed of putting the link in place

;) Kidding, of course... More seriously, since it's your award, you can use whatever criteria you want. Depending on your niche, it doesn't have to focus on the design of the site - it could be for useful content, unique insights, graphic excellence... If you get a bit creative, you may be more successful in drawing entries, and your award may be more valued. Don't make the criteria too daunting, though, lest you discourage entries.

[edit_g]

5 words: Macromedia site of the day.

One great reason to develop sites in CFMX... :)

[nakulgoyal]

Aren't there so many sites out there on the web doing this?
Golden web aways, american association of webmasters and thousands of others ... they also sell award certs and trophies....

[Perplexed]

"Aren't there so many sites out there on the web doing this?
"

General non specific site awards.... Probably yes.

But not ones relevant to my specific industry

[Iinkpopularitypro]

It does not matter even if it's an old idea, as long as you have good PR for your webpages, it would get listed anyway. We've been doing Link Popularity for lot of our cleints in US and UK, everybody these days is intersted in sites with HIGH PR.