We’re into blogging awards season again, which like the BAFTAs and the Oscars is now an annual event, albeit without the designer gowns. There has been a spate of begging ‘vote for me’ tweets on Twitter, and this week, when nominations open for the Brit Mums awards, there will be even more.
Oh and mea culpa, because just like anyone else, I love getting a nice award, or a nomination, or being shortlisted. Being recognised and acknowledged. But do these awards really matter?
If I think about the opportunities I’ve been given over the past few years, I can honestly say that no one has ever said to me ‘ooh, and you were a finalist in blah blah, weren’t you?’ No one has ever said ‘And weren’t you shortlisted for this?’ Has it made any difference to the opportunities I’ve been given, or to my page views? Somehow I doubt it.
I’m not trying to denigrate the achievement of anyone who HAS won an award. But the thing about awards is that, like anything else, you have to get them in perspective. They are a Nice To Have rather than a Must Have. Brands will continue to work with you whether you win, or you don’t win, whether you’re nominated, or not. Your readers will continue to flock to your blog because of your content, rather than any badges you’re displaying in your sidebar. I am sure if I asked anyone who HAS won an award whether it’s changed their life, they’d probably say not. Just a hunch.
Of course it’s lovely to be recognised, to see your name in virtual lights, but if you don’t, it doesn’t matter. Ultimately these awards are often (not always) about garnering enough votes for the nominations stage anyway, and that can very often come down to how much noise you make on Twitter. And as someone who can be VERY noisy on Twitter I will of course be making a lot of noise this week 😉
While I appreciate the argument of your post and agree in part…at the same time, winning at award or being featured in the mainstream press conveys HUGE status on a blog. Just re-read your “About Me” section again – I am a first-timer to your blog, and I was blown away by all your awesomeness!
They don’t matter to me, but I am a casual blogger. It isn’t my passion.
Last year, however, my first ever play was produced and it mattered that I won an award for that. And, if I won award for being a great mam it would mean something too.
Having said that I do think it’s quite sad when I see people desperate for votes for any type of award. Asking for votes and promoting it-fine but pleading for votes…..eh no! x
If you ever see me asking for votes on social media you have permission to shoot me. I’m much more interested in people buying my books and actually reading my blog. I’ll never win an accolade such as a MAD or a BiB etc, because I find it really hard to attend these events and I do think, though imagine I’ll be corrected, that the people who generally win are the ones who attend everything. I don’t work with brands, never have, never will, nor do I work with outside companies, so nominations make no difference to me in that respect. Of course it’s lovely to be nominated and I do believe I was in a MADs category. I even got to be a finalist in the BiBs last year and it was a very nice feeling. I didn’t once ask for votes.
I would never, ever knock these awards because for many bloggers they are an encouraging portrayal of bettering a blog. BUT, I will vote for a blog because of its content, not because of who the blogger is.
And there, in my opinion, lies the problem with these voting contests. Maybe the term ‘clique’ is a little strong and ‘friendship circles’ would be more appropriate, not to mention politically correct in our parent blogging community, but I always find it such a shame when votes are cast for your favourite blogger, ie, your friend, rather than your favourite BLOG. And as I never ask for votes does that mean my blog isn’t as good as the rest of them? Or does it simply mean I’d rather my blog was voted for on merit and not because I consider myself a popular member of the parent blogging community?
I’ll leave that one with you.
CJ x
Agree with you here! I do find a lot of votes are cast on “friends” and it is a case of who you know! If you get ‘in’ with the right people then you’re more likely to get somewhere (IMO).
I did write a post on my blog asking for votes in the MADs but I think I only ever shared it twice. I’d rather someone vote for me because they like my blog.
Great post. I did ask for votes in the current awards going on as I think it’s nice to say you’ve been nominated or a finalist etc and could perhaps produce more opportunities. It’s good to know that having these awards don’t necessarily mean you’re not good at what you do and you will still get opportunities if you’re producing good content.
And I agree that a lot is probably down to how much noise you make (and how popular you are).
I think this is where I kinda go grrr at these awards. It’s lovely that someone has taken the time to nominate you then the judging panel shortlist and THEN its just a vote vote vote plea. Which can be really annoying to read constantly on twitter/FB especially if your following EVERYONE involved. #justsaying