I once thought I wanted to win a blogger award, or at least be nominated in a category. After helping with the judging of nominated blogs in the Bloggers Blog Awards I’ve changed my mind. There’s no way I could win an award for my lifestyle blog.
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve read through hundreds of blogs and looked at various criteria, scoring accordingly from 1-5 with 5 being the top score. It’s not been easy and along the way, I’ve come across fantastic blogs, bookmarked delicious recipes to make myself and I’ve found inspiration on how I want to work on and improve my own blog. It’s been tough reading all these blogs, more so because I had to than from pure pleasure but I’ve found some really good ones, ones that I’ll keep coming back to after the event.
Along the way, I’ve also learnt that I’ll never win a blogger award. I don’t mind at all, I blog because I want to and I like it. I don’t think an award will change that and hopefully readers will find me despite not being a 5 star blogger. Still, I find awards fun and I think it’s a great idea that they’re about.
If your dream is still to be nominated and even win an award, I’ve listed a couple of criteria I’ve been looking at and things to improve in the hopes of being nominated. If you want to have a chance to win, make sure the following is your top priority, along with having fun!*
*Just because I’ve judged hundreds of blogs for one award doesn’t mean I’m an expert in any way. There are loads more awards out there but I have a feeling they’ll all look at similar criteria.
Be the best writer in the world?
No I don’t think you have to be but correct grammar is a good start.
I’m not good with words, I’m one of those people who only speak when I have to. I couldn’t go on and on forever so I’m quite sparse with the amount of words I use in my blog posts too (apart from in this one, ha!). I personally don’t like reading posts that go on and on forever but I do believe I could get better at showing more personality in my posts. I’ve mentioned this in my goal post for 2016 and in the post on how I’m getting on with my goals so far. I do try my best and I hope I’ve improved but only you can say if you think my posts are engaging and interesting enough to read.
Tip! The more you write and read other blogs, the easier it will be to find your own style. Everyone likes different types of writing but most will be put off by bad grammar. I make mistakes as well but I do take the time to read through my posts once or twice before publishing, to make sure it reads right. Please correct me if I’m wrong!
Post regularly
I work full time so it’s impossible for me to be able to write more posts than three each week. For me, this is perfectly fine and I hope in many eyes it’s regularly enough. I post on specific days each week: Tuesday, Friday and Sunday to make it easier for me to remember and keep up a consistency. It’s very rare I miss one day and if it is, it’s usually a weekly update on the Sunday as I can’t schedule these posts in advance.
Tip! Don’t post 20 posts in one month and 10 in the next to go down to three in the third. When you have lots to say on day or week, schedule these posts in advance instead of posting them at the same time.
Take amazing photographs
A picture says more than a 1000 words and this is true. A blurry picture, out of focus, darkness in the wrong places do have an impact on if I like a blog or not. If I can’t look at the images with great pleasure, sadly I’m usually put off reading the blog.
I really enjoy taking pictures, Instagram is my favourite social media platform. On there, one image is enough and I’ve got loads of filters to help perfect them should I have to. For the blog, more time and effort is needed and it’s not always I have this so I’m sad to say, I could do loads better a lot of the time. My latest camera on the other hand has definitely improved my images of late and I feel like I have improved.
Tip! There are loads of bloggers out there who take amazing pictures and share their advice on quick and easy improvements in their blog posts. You don’t have to be a professional to up your photography game.
Be visible and interact in comments and on social media
I’m not great at this. I don’t get lots of comments on my blog but when I do, I make sure to reply to all. People who comments on my blog (excluding spammers) have taken the time to read my post and comment so I want to take the time to be nice back. What’s the point in comments otherwise, looking popular amongst other readers?
I’ve only connected my blog to Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. I don’t have time to be on snapchat as well, or Pinterest. I’m not a fan of either (I might get loads of gasps for saying that) so I don’t think it’s necessary to use them. I know so well I need to be online on all these platforms a lot more to attract more readers, which will generate more comments to reply to etc. I have told myself so often I’ll get my scheduling of tweets sorted but nope, it’s not happened so far and probably won’t later. This is the hardest part, finding time to interact on every social media platform, all the time. I admire everyone else who does – where do you find all the time?!
Tip! Find the social media platforms that work for you, where your readers are and perfect those rather than being all over the place and not having time for conversation. Being everywhere but not interaction with others is not a good combo, less platforms, more conversation.
Realising I’ll never win a blog award doesn’t bother me. I’m happy to only see blogging as a great hobby and a way of meeting and interacting with like minded. I’m really looking forward to the Bloggers Blog Awards event where I hope to see many of the bloggers behind the blogs I’ve had the pleasure of judging. I’m very intrigued to find out who us judges and organiser Hayley (Tea Party Beauty) think are this year’s winners. Personally, I think we all are one way or another!
Are you excited for the Bloggers Blog Awards? What do you think is the most important criteria to have as a winning blog?
Jennie xx
Haha loved this! I’m so with you on this. Been blogging THREE years (next month) and I have never even been nominated for an award! I guess I’m just shit – I don’t mind. I don’t do it for awards. If I ever win one then, yippee? Meh! Great post!
Thanks Lauren! I’m glad you enjoyed the post 🙂 Three years is a long time, well done for keeping it up!
My dream was to never win a blogging award, especially since blogging in the fashion and beauty community is crowded. All i want to do is connect with people and document my life 🙂
Theglamanatti.blogspot.com
Fashion and beauty is probably the hardest niche to stand out in so I don’t blame you. Connecting with people is a great reason to blog and if you do that, you’ve achieved A LOT!
I’m so excited to see who’s shortlisted for these awards! And I completely agree with all your points. Good pictures always bring a blog to life and I think it’s always important to blog consistently so that your blog is always fresh for your readers. I also know what you mean when you say you’re one of those people who only speak really when they have to. I can be very much like that too and worry that might come across in my writing too but I’m trying to put myself out there a bit more and hopefully people enjoy what they read! Great post and really looking forward to the shortlists 🙂
I’m really excited now! It’ll be interesting to see if my judging matches up with the other bloggers who have read the same blogs. Judging from you agreeing with me, we should hopefully not be far off each other 🙂 Are you going to the event?
This is so interesting! I was quite nervous for tomorrow, I guess because I put so much time and effort into my blog but I couldn’t compare to other blogs so I think now because I won’t (probably not I’m guessing right now) be nominated I won’t take it as bad! Thanks for judging !! Xx
OliviaCheryl.com
You might have been nominated but it’s tough to make it to the shortlist. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you! If you haven’t, I’m glad ,y post has helped to soften the blow! x
Definitely an interesting post. Social media can be a tough one to crack, sometimes it feels like you need to be the one to shout loudest lately, it’s not been as great as it has in the past. Hopefully the awards will take out some of the negativity I’ve been watching amongst bloggers, nothing to say you can’t have an opinion but some people have been a bit nasty of late. It’d be nice to see some support back in the community.
Not sure about the scheduling thing, when it’s a hobby combined with a FT job it’s hard to be as consistent as I’d like to be. Some weeks stuff doesn’t get posted, a schedule gets moved around because you don’t have the time to write or the want to write. Life happens and I don’t think hobby bloggers should be penalised on that, but that’s my view 🙂
Definitely agree with grammar (and spelling) thing- when bad they can be a complete turn off for a blog!
Great post Jennie!
Thanks Emma! It means a lot coming from you, especially now you’ve been shortlisted in the awards – CONGRATULATIONS! I totally agree with you when it comes to the consistency and I hope other judges have considered this. I’m not sure if people outside of the blogging world consider it when they read a blog. Good luck in the awards, see you then! x
Great post..
I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t crossed my mind (a few times) that I’d like to win or just be nominated for an award, however, like you, I just enjoy it as my hobby. I only post 2 times as week, as this fits in best with looking after a toddler and starting a part time job and running a house. 🙂
I think the BloggersBlogAwards is a brilliant concept. If anything, it must be a really proud moment to be nominated by your peers. 🙂
Caroline.x
http://www.carolineelgeywhite.com
Thanks, glad you like it! I think it will have crossed every bloggers mind once or twice. The #BloggersBlogAwards is amazing, so lovely to see everyone getting involved and spreading the love of blogging. Keep going at it and I’m sure you’ll be nominated! x
I think you’re too hard on yourself! Your blog is great and so readable. I personally think your blog images are really good! I also really like the monochrome and red themed pics for this post 😊 xx
Aww, Katie you’re so sweet for saying all this 🙂 I’m always hard on myself, it’s in my nature, ha! Yeah I should do more of these type of images, really like them too and once again, craving strawberries 😉 x