This article is geared toward site evaluators and award programs. If you are an award seeker, I would recommend my article for award seekers posted here.
I know you don’t see an AP attached to this domain but I have been around the community. So what allows me to write an article like this one? It is from my past experience that brought about this article. I was probably one of the original WECP graduates and later became an evaluator for the program. CEM was one of my favorite programs and I really enjoyed my time spent with them. The affiliations have stacked up as well as the years that I have drifted along following many of my comrades in their success and eventual retirement as well as my own. So many great people that brought up this community are now long gone.
Site reviews and evaluations seem easy enough. Domain link is submitted to your program. In high spirits you follow the link only to find that the site is quickly disqualified. They simply did not read your criteria and it is obvious for numerous reasons right on the homepage: lack of content, link farm, external links to porno sites, no awards page, under construction signs. The next site passes the mandatory criteria and you earmark it ready for a second round. The next day it is disqualified for lack of alternative navigation. By this I mean they only provide Flash or Javascript navigation. What happens if the visitor does not have the java turned on and they do not have the Flash plugin? This is basic criteria that most award programs require.
What if the design is perfect? It’s like watching the perfect Family Guy episode. Hilarious beyond belief but no way in heck can you award it because the criteria says no off color humor. I will simply say, stick to your criteria.
Possible Problems coming up next…
Well, you lose all bearing and decide to award the program with your gold award. After all, it was one of the coolest sites you have seen this year. It was a great site! What about all the sites that were not so cool? You remember. Remember to be diligent when reviewing a site and stick to your guns.
On the other hand, it is your right to change that criteria. So on the disqualification email you might add a quick note to inform the applicant that your rules will be changing and give them a date. Now that was easy! In cases such as scroll bars and animation, it is a fairly quick fix for the offending site and feedback will benefit the site. You may even give them a warning and see if they fix it quick enough so that you can continue your evaluation.
Award givers have a responsibility to follow their criteria but they also must be open to new ideas on the web provided they are good ones. There are too many new technologies out there to be closed minded. Many sites program for updated browsers and higher resolutions. Plan for these changes and remember to be a tree in the wind.
It is up to you! Coming up next…
In cases such as possible pornography or copyright violation things can get a lot more complicated. The time for soul searching is here. It is important to decide what your criteria means to you. The site you award today may bite you on the bottom tomorrow. Artistic intention are one of those items that can be quite tricky.
What about friends?
Having a friend apply for your award can be both good and bad. In the past, I remember being elated when another AP applied to my award program. I happily added her name to my winner’s list. However, you have to be careful, as much as I respected and liked the applicant, it could have gone the other way. To avoid any possible bad feelings, some award givers will not review these sites. My suggestion is to have a guest evaluator that you trust complete the evaluation.
Finale
Your criteria are the bricks and foundation of your awards program. The criteria got you the rating you so richly deserved. None of this means anything if you do not stick by what you have created. Please, by all means learn and grow! Change your opinions, change your mind! Discover some of the truly innovative things the web has to offer. Just be sure you do not damage your own ethics and image while you are at it. Only you can determine if you are following the criteria.
Good Luck and stick to your guns.
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