On the Bookshelf at O.N.Z.C.D.A™

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An award program is akin to a living entity ( or so I have observed! ) It develops a life of its own as it expands and it never seems to 'stand still'. Some persons say that award programs are simply tools to gain site hits or links and although programs are beneficiaries of both these things they are not, in the main, the reasons for the owning of an award program for most owners. The aim of the program developer is normally to give back to the wider internet community some of the many benefits he or she has received; to reward designers and owners of web sites providing excellent samples of a programs required criteria and to hopefully be able to assist in some small way, other web site designers or owners where and when they can.

So, assuming you have built your award program and enlisted the aid of a stalwart team of assessors - now what?

The time has arrived - not to sit back on your laurels and rest - but to go to work. And I mean work - for there is nothing simple or easy about a top quality award program. There will be many tiresome and tedious hours spent logging applications, responding to all the applicants, listing applicant sites, dealing with assessment scores, ensuring the program is functioning with efficiency and yes -. web sites do break down just like motor vehicles! Replying to applicant queries, assessing web site after web site, keeping of up to date records of details of applicants and winners, responding to assessors queries and more. And just when there is a lull in the storm and you say to yourself - 'Great - I can relax and take a break' - it begins all over again!

A diplomatic, caring, non self seeking manager will provide skills that would be assets in any business; will be a person who will voluntarily go above and beyond the call of duty; who is prepared to take chances on unskilled persons in the field of web site assessments providing them with the support required while they gain new skills as they undergo training and who will be able to 'take over' the entire program if required in a seamless move.

How about some honesty, respect, friendship and integrity? There are some award programs in the awards community that are far from being any of the above; where one can gain 'give away' awards with little or no web site assessment taking place. Fine, I suppose, if you are 'trophy hunting' and just desire to fill your web pages with hundreds of images treating your own ego to a massive 'I am the best' boost at the same time but not so fine if you apply to a quality program to find that your web site is really not that good in design and technical quality and when you query the results you begin to understand that many of the awards you have so far collected mean little or nothing at all. There is available from within the Public Domain an Ethics document for award programs. Those who display this document should be abiding by it and I believe most, if not all of those who display this document do, as it is neither ethically nor mutually beneficial to just 'give' awards to applicants. They seek an honest and respectful assessment when they contact you - how can you give them less?

Be honest with us - read our criteria carefully - understand clearly what it is we seek. If you do not understand any particular item contact us prior to making any application. This will save us lots of work and will possibly save your web site from being turned down for an award. Be ready to accept constructive criticism. We really do want to assist you where we can. After all, we have all stood in your shadow in days past, so we do have an understanding of how you feel and how difficult it can be to comply with all we request of you.

Your work in your award program must earn awards according to the program criteria as set down. The award program must be able to meet its own criteria. Don't be a 'do as I say - not do as I do' award program owner. Quality programs will never give away awards so if you don't want to put the work into your web site - don't apply.

It takes but a few minutes to write an email of thanks to applicants. Not only is it respectful but is the basis of good manners. Many programs, upon receipt of an application, contact the applicant thanking them for their application. They have been acknowledged - they know that we are now taking care of them. Make contact and say those two very small words that mean so much to us all - thank you.

DO:

The groundwork first - work done in your web site today will pay off for you tomorrow.

Read through all the award program requirements - they are there for your benefit - to help you understand what we seek.

Contact us if you have problems understanding our requirements.

Prepare yourself for some constructive criticism.

DON'T:

Write emails of abuse to us. We will not respond to these and you may find your web site refused application for awards in future.

Criticize or attempt to discuss other award programs with us - we are not here to sit in judgment on or gossip about other programs.

Take a refusal of an award to heart - accept and learn from it. Ask yourself why, look at the reply and consider applying the ideas within your web site.

Forget to say thank you.

DO:

Treat applicants with honesty and respect.

Make contact with applicants upon application; let them know that you are taking care of them.

Comprehensive assessments on their web sites, not checking just the first couple of pages and then granting an award. Applicants seek as full an assessment as possible, not the easy way out, believe it or not. If criteria disparity items are found in the first few couple of pages - fine - but - if the applicant asks, tell them why they did not earn your award and where the disparities are that you found always providing polite and constructive critiques.

DON'T:

Treat applicants as though they are stupid - for that, they are surely not.

Ignore unsuccessful applicants if they seek advice; always contact them even though this may add more to your work load and is time consuming.

Give awards away. Maintain the honor and integrity of your awards and the program to which they belong.

Forget to always be thankful that your award program attracts applicants.