The right award can make all the difference when it comes to increasing traffic to your Web site.  In order to find the right award, you need to visit the home of the organization or person granting the award.  When you arrive at the Web site, spend some time assessing the site and the methods used to display awards.

Preferably, current awards are displayed at the site for at least a day and then later placed in an archive that can be searched.  You can gauge the level of traffic at the Web site by its popularity which is of utmost importance.  The busier the award site, the better the probability that it will increase traffic on your site.

Talking about finding the right award might seem odd.  After all, these sites are giving away an award.  Regrettably, with thousands of different organizations providing awards of one type or another, make sure that the award is significant and worthwhile before you spend the time submitting your Web site. 

SUBMITTING YOUR SITE

Being the recipient of an award depends upon the personal tastes of the reviewer and the viewpoint of the award site as a whole.  Some award sites seek out sites that have exciting graphic designs or coverage of amusing issues. Other sites look for great resources, with no reflection going to whether the site uses mostly text or a cutting-edge graphic design.  Many truly great web sites have been passed over because personal opinion is the determining factor in the award process.

To improve your chances of being selected, spend the time getting to know the types of sites that the reviewers favor.  If you have a business-oriented site and they are reviewing entertainment sites, you will have little chance of being chosen. So rather than submit the URL of your main business page, submit the URL for the entertaining area where you allow customers interaction with your products online, or emphasize this area in the summary description you supply with the submission.

Submitting each of the key areas separately within your Web site will also improve your odds of winning.  If your site has three different areas you could submit each of these areas.  Preferably the three areas would cover different topics, such as 60’s music, sports equipment and computer software.  This way you are really presenting something unusual.

The saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again,” truly applies to awards.  Do not over-use the submission process by submitting your site every few days or weeks.  Wait a few months before submitting your site again.  While waiting for another submission, you may want to work on the flow, design, and content of your Web site.