Ratings

An awards-rating index is a listing of awards programs which have met particular criteria.  The index issues ratings for the programs it lists, according to how well the program has met the criteria of the index.  (For example, an awards program may be rated on a numerical scale, from 1 to 5.)  Typically, the higher rating levels are very difficult to reach.

In return for your rating, you will probably be required to carry a ratings badge on your site, listing both the name of the index and your rating by that index.  Typically, this is linked to the web site of the index.  The index may be very particular about how and where the badge is displayed on your site.  This helps to promote the index to award-seekers.

The criteria used by indices for their ratings can vary considerably, but some of the typical considerations may include: appearance and navigation of your awards site; design, size and weight (in KB) of your awards graphic; site policies; country of origin.  It is entirely possible that an awards program can be highly-rated in one index while being low-rated in others--or even ineligible for listing in the index!  Qualifying for high ratings in multiple indices can be very difficult indeed.

Awards-rating indices offer several advantages to the webmaster of an awards program:

Credibility.  A highly-rated site can indicate to award-seekers that your award is a quality award, worthy of winning.  (This, of course, assumes that the awards-rating index has credibility.)

Promotion.  Many award seekers look for awards programs at the web sites of the awards-rating indices.  It can be tough to get the word out there that your program exists, and listing in an awards-rating index can help you do just that.

Assistance.  Many awards-rating indices have their own interactive forums for members.  Typically there is a mixture of experienced and inexperienced awards program owners.  A lot of help and wisdom is available for those who choose to ask for it.

And, as you may have guessed, there can be some disadvantages:

A blow to your ego.  New awards masters have a tendency to believe that their program is a lot better than it really is.  Your first rating issued by an awards-rating index may be a rather crushing reality check for you.

Disagreements.  There have been those who do not agree with how some indices are operated, and have not been shy about sharing their feelings.  This has occasionally resulted in heated public arguments, hurt feelings, childish name-calling, long-running feuds and ludicrous conspiracy theories.

There are those who decide, for reasons which they consider to be good and proper, to not have their program rated by awards-rating indices.  Such programs used to be referred to as "unrated" awards programs, but the current convention is to call them independent awards programs.

Independent programs do not have the promotional advantage or quality certification of an awards-rating index, but may seek to be listed in general awards indices. These indices typically list both independent and rated programs together, without issuing ratings of their own.  There have also been a very few independent awards indices, which list only independent awards programs.

The decision of whether or not to apply to an awards-rating index is a very personal one, and entirely up to you.  It is certainly not necessary to be rated in order to have a high-quality awards program.