Awards and Tagging: The Ugly Truth (+ Fresh Ideas)

I'll start this conversation with a comment that I received from Teena on my first post:

I recently got my first awards but the badges were ugly. Both the kind lady who sent them and I agreed on this - but we didn't dare change them before passing them on - also sometimes the award 'rules of acceptance' are a bit overtly promotional - could we have changed those too? I'm thinking of developing my own awards to issue - any rules?

I have a feeling that I'm not the only one who agrees with Teena. Now, don't get me wrong - I am always flattered when someone tags me or sends me an award. But when I receive an award, I rarely display it on my blog. And I've only participated in a tag once, even though I've been tagged 3 or 4 times. There are a few reasons:

• I'd rather not veer from my theme of vintage finds, because that is really why most people visit my blog.
• I'm not always comfortable saying "Hey, look - I got an award!"
• I don't want to impose on other bloggers by asking them to participate in an award/tag
• Most award graphics don't follow my design aesthetic (okay - they are ugly)

To me, awards and tagging are essentially the same thing. We are trying to achieve two goals when we tag someone or send them an award:

1. Recognize bloggers that we like
2. Increase traffic to our own blogs by encouraging others to link back to us

I want to make it clear that I'm not looking down on people who send awards and participate in tags. I've done it myself, so that would be a little hypocritical. But, don't you think it is time to shake things up a bit? There are different ways to achieve those two goals without sending the traditional awards. Here are four alternatives:

1.  Break the Rules

The part of award-giving that we all hate is that damn list of rules. So, why have them? Teena asked how she should approach sending her own awards. Whatever you do, don't make people have to work in order to accept your award.  If you make a charming/captivating/funky/amusing award, maybe people will actually want to pass it on and link back to you (without you even asking).

2. The Award Is in the Mail

We are all creative people here, right? Recognize your favorite bloggers by mailing them a small token. As in snail mail. Nothing huge. Maybe just an altered tag that has "Best Blogger" stamped on it. Or a funky certificate that you designed. If you make it unique enough, I guarantee that the recipient won't be embarrassed to write about it on their blog (goal #2). Personally, I would rather have a collection of handmade awards than butt-ugly clipart.

Sue from Vintage Rescue Squad mailed Cheryl from Stash Studios a vintage Girl Scout Photography Badge. Sue wanted to let Cheryl know that she recognizes her talent in photography (goal #1). I LOVE this idea because it is specific to the recipient and Sue didn't provide a list of rules that Cheryl had to follow. Sue achieved goal #2 because Cheryl linked back to her blog to thank her.

3. Feature Your Faves in the Sidebar

You most likely have a blogroll in your sidebar already, but how about featuring certain bloggers in a section that changes each month or week? This will also keep your static blogroll from getting out of control. Some ideas:

• Blog-of-the-week
• Themed list of monthly favorites (such as local bloggers or crafty bloggers or bloggers with attitude)
• Create a list of specific posts that are your favorites, instead of just links to blogs

4. Hold Your Own Awards Ceremony

Dedicate a post to all of your favorite bloggers by creating different awards for each of them, like Most Creative, Blogger with the Hottest Husband, Blogger Most Likely to Need Her Mouth Washed Out with Soap, etc. It isn't necessary to create actual graphics. If you make this an annual event (or seasonal, at most) it will garner more attention than if you just presented random awards every few weeks. Accompany it with a giveaway, and you will get more traffic than you can imagine!

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Some final thoughts from Emily Blog Post:

Don't feel obligated to participate in an award or tag if you don't want to. It's your blog, dammit!

If you tag or reward someone, don't take it personally if a recipient doesn't want to participate. It's their blog, dammit!

Acknowledge an award even if you don't plan to participate. Say thanks in a comment on the giver's blog or reply to their email.b

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What do you think? Will I be revered or reviled for proposing alternatives to the run-of-the-mill awards? Do you have any other ideas to add to my list? I would love to hear them!

*Thanks to Kim from The Last House blog for giving me the idea for "Emily Blog Post"!

Comments

[suzy]

Well, I am thrilled to be the first to post here. I am not a fan of these "awards". Especially when they come with a stipulation or list of rules. To me they are a glorifed chain mail and I don't appreciate that at all. If you wish to acknowledge someone's blog, then so be it and leave it at that. Can't we just all do our own "thang". Oh yeah. xo, suzy

[Queen of Fifty Cents]

Yup, you nailed it! And I've already ranted about the chain mail aspect in my blog--while graciously accepting the compliment of getting an award!

[caroline - jayne panico]

Hi there, I really want to send you a handmade award for just touching a nerve with me. You have made me smile and nod my head all the way through this post! BUT! where is your snail mail address? are you comfortable giving it out???
Thanks anyway. You have made my day.
carolinepanico@hotmail.co.uk

[kitschen pink]

Yup! That's kind of where we got to! Prettier awards with no rules and no obligation to pass them out! I have a backlog of tags and awards I need to acknowledge and I was waiting to see what you had to say. I just can't imagine my readers want to know 5 odd things about me ....having said that I love reading other people's tags so maybe I need to think again and not be so lazy! HA!!! xx

[denise:)]

Excellent advice!! I love the idea of dedicating a blog post to favorite bloggers... esp the "hottest husband" and "dirty mouth" ones! lol!

[Jan]

I am currently in the throes of setting up and designing my blog.

I have a few posts and I am practicing getting "the hang of it-posting semi regularly, taking some photos, drafting some posts"---I have not made it public yet to friends. But one of the things first and foremost in my mind has been...what to do when those pesky "tags" come my way.

The reason I haven't blogged regularly yet is because time is not always on my side. I want my blog to be on "my terms"...and tags and awards seem to take up a lot of time.

I have always viewed them as "chain mail" (which I always delete).

I have thought about designing an icon/graphic that has "tag-free blog" on it...because I'd rather be reading blogs than tagging them....what about a shipping tag with "tag free" written on it for our side bars?

I usually visit someone's blog as a result of a sidebar list OR from reading the comments section.

Thanks for addressing this---I am glad I am not alone in how I view tags.

[Stephanie Howell]

Hmmm. Do you live in my brain??? B/c I could have written this word for word!!
xo

[Melony of Whimsy Daisy!]

I'm eating all this up. Now, I need to APPLY, APPLY, APPLY! Thanks for your good info posted here. I'll be back for more.

[KSV Woolfoot]

Hey Colleen -
I _love_ what you have done with Emily Blog Post. You have a gift. I was over at your other blog just now and FreshBlogTips just beckoned - maybe because I have a cold and there is something so citrus about your logo. Really, somebody should be paying you loads of money for all this.

[Jan]

I just added the "Tag free image" to my sidebar that I mentioned a couple of comments ago.

It is very basic, but suits my needs.

Still getting the hang of it...but I'm plugging away!

[mary]

I agree with everything you've written here! (And I thought I was just being a snot about not liking the looks of the "award"...) I've done the award thing once, but I think that's it for me. You're so right - it veers away from the flow of my blog, and I hate pressuring others to participate.

[Stash]

brilliant post Colleen - glad to see someone is saying what many are thinking

[colleen_freshvintage]

I'm glad we are all on the same page! Thanks for all of the great feedback.

@Carolyn-Jayne: are you kidding? check your email just in case!

[caroline - jayne panico]

NO! I'm not Kidding :) Thanks for the info....

Caroline.
(I don't know why typepad uses my my-mum's-telling-me-off-because-iv'e-been-naughty name..I guess it has something to do with billing!).

[karla nathan]

I'm glad that I am not the only one who doesn't like to display awards. I usually comment a thank you to the person and tell them that I appreciate them thinking of me, and leave it at that.