Ask the Experts, introduced by Website Awards aims to provide timely answers to common questions about awards and running award programs.

The authors of the answers offer advice based on many years of experience as some of them runs the best award programs in the world, and they are the leading authorities on the topic of awards.

Richard A Berends (Webmaster and owner of Maestro Awards) has submitted the following answer to the following question: (published on March 15th, 2002)

Q: Why do people offer Web awards and what's in it for them?

A: First, let me define Website Awards - often started as a way for webmasters (or web designers) to say thank you for visiting my site and usually accompanied by an image, these tokens of appreciation have grown into something we now recognize as Website Awards.

Today, Website Awards have become more than just a way of saying thank you. They have become a (validation) service to webmasters who want to know how they can improve their websites, and very often as an attraction to obtain more visitors. Later on, many websites became individual "businesses", and in the sense of a global free market, competition is tough.

On the other hand, a website does not have to be a business. A good example of a non-business site is what is known as a homepage. These are usually websites with personal information ranging from pictures of the kids and pets to favorite hobbies. There are thousands of awards for all kinds of activities on the web. No matter the type of site, one fact remains - there are millions of websites vying in an online competition to get their work seen. Website Awards can help.

People offer web awards for various reasons:

• Competition with other award programs (rating)
• Commercial value to services other than awards
• Additional traffic
• Learning different cultures and values of other nations
• Meeting people with similar interests - example web design
• Getting answers more effectively
• The "Surprise" element
• It is a way for people to find you, instead of the other way around.
• Collective hobby, listing the best websites in the world (i.e.: Like collecting stamps or coins - we like to collect good websites)

What is in web awards for the seeker?

• Many awards have potential commercial value
• Methods of improvement for your website (not all awards will tell you though)
• Boosts your ambition and desire to improve your website
• Your web presence improves, depending on the amount of awards you have
• Ethical value of your site - something like kid friendly, safe to surf
• Prestige value - if you win excellent awards the world will know it.
• Last, but not least - The pride and good feelings that come from being a winner and an achiever!

I know there are a many more reasons, but they vary from person to person ? because personal taste differs from person to person :). Becoming part of the elite group of websites capable of earning good awards from many award programs requires hard work and dedication, and is only possible by a distinctly talented and skilled group of webmasters. Happy awarding!

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