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awardprogram articles - ask the experts 21st Feb 02
Why do some award programs get more applications than others?
1. Applicants need for validation
Site owners may seek validation of their effort by seeking website awards. Often (and quite understandably) it is felt that the more prestigious the award, the greater the validation received. Award programs are often rated by external organisations. Most rating systems use objective criteria to determine the level of rating, and the higher the rating the more prestigious the award program is deemed to be to applicants.
Thus it is natural that those striving to be the best will seek validation from those they perceive to be the best. The benefit for the award programs that have not yet earned their wings, so to speak, is that as they also strive to improve their programs, and as they receive accolades and ratings, so should applications to their programs increase.
2. Some programs contain elements that can be intimidating.
Some programs will receive more applications because they appear more inviting. Words used within the opening pages, that entice and welcome, encourage applicants. Words such as "Do not apply if ..." may lose potential applicants, whereas words such as "We are looking for ..." will encourage potential applicants. The same information may be relayed but the emphasis is subtly altered.
Criteria which is comprehensible and contained within one page rather than fifteen may attract more applicants and entice them to submit their applications. Intimidating statistics that reveal a low applicant success rate will often result in the potential applicant turning away. Quite simply, the more welcoming the site, the more the applicant is likely to submit that application.
3. Specialist programs.
This is possibly the most obvious of the answers to the question. A program that has been established to reward specialist sites will naturally receive less applications than a site that is more generalist in nature and purpose. The inclusion of an additional award for more general sites would result in an increase in applications.
1. Applicants need for validation
Site owners may seek validation of their effort by seeking website awards. Often (and quite understandably) it is felt that the more prestigious the award, the greater the validation received. Award programs are often rated by external organisations. Most rating systems use objective criteria to determine the level of rating, and the higher the rating the more prestigious the award program is deemed to be to applicants.
Thus it is natural that those striving to be the best will seek validation from those they perceive to be the best. The benefit for the award programs that have not yet earned their wings, so to speak, is that as they also strive to improve their programs, and as they receive accolades and ratings, so should applications to their programs increase.
2. Some programs contain elements that can be intimidating.
Some programs will receive more applications because they appear more inviting. Words used within the opening pages, that entice and welcome, encourage applicants. Words such as "Do not apply if ..." may lose potential applicants, whereas words such as "We are looking for ..." will encourage potential applicants. The same information may be relayed but the emphasis is subtly altered.
Criteria which is comprehensible and contained within one page rather than fifteen may attract more applicants and entice them to submit their applications. Intimidating statistics that reveal a low applicant success rate will often result in the potential applicant turning away. Quite simply, the more welcoming the site, the more the applicant is likely to submit that application.
3. Specialist programs.
This is possibly the most obvious of the answers to the question. A program that has been established to reward specialist sites will naturally receive less applications than a site that is more generalist in nature and purpose. The inclusion of an additional award for more general sites would result in an increase in applications.
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