10 Ways to Just Say No to Blog Awards
36October 6, 2014 by Paula Reed Nancarrow
After my post “Blogligations,” in which I expressed discomfort with blog awards, I scoured the internet for blog award policies, and read about fifty before finally publishing my own. You can read that policy here.
If you would like help coming up with an award policy of your own, here are ten reasons I found other people gave for just saying no to blog awards.
1. They’re distracting me from my real work.
“I am supposed to be writing novels (after I get home from my day job). I’m having enough trouble focusing!” http://shawnbird.com/blog-awards/
Courtesy Flickr Commons
2. They disrupt my blog’s story line.
“Because our blog is a serial blog…we have decided not to interrupt the story by posting the various requirements of these awards.” http://despairtodeliverance.com/award-free-blog/
Courtesy CraveOnline
3. They take too much time
“Are you kidding me? Come on, folks, I’m a busy man. I have my job to do. I have my life to live. I have my blog to write. I’ve got books to read and movies to watch. I’ve got to eat, sleep, shit, shower, and shave. I don’t have time to nominate a bunch of other bloggers and to ask and answer a bunch of inane questions.” http://mindfuldigressions.com/tag/award-free-blog/
See what happens when you spend too much time on blog awards? Courtesy Flickr Commons
4. They annoy other people.
“The awards…seemed almost like the chain letters I used to get in my e-mail and now see every day on Facebook.” http://trentsworldblog.wordpress.com/about/award-policy/
5. I don’t deserve an award.
“I blog as an escape. I like to have a pressure valve and I find that through blogging. The feeling that someone is listening to my blog is amazing and keeps me going. But being nominated for an award, I feel almost like I am receiving an award for going to counselling.” http://theworldisawindmill.com/an-award-free-blog/
Don’t you think this whole blog thing is a little narcissistic, now?
6. Jesus should have the award.
“As a blood-bought, adopted child of the living God, my aim here is to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ and testify of the reality of His blessings. I write as He directs and all glory is due to Him.” http://meetingintheclouds.wordpress.com/.
Tierra Santa Theme Park, Buenos Aires. Photo: Beatrice Murch/Creative Commons
7. Awards are bad.
“What about the people that don’t receive awards? Does that make them less worthy? Does that put their blog in the not worth reading pile?…quite frankly, the whole thing doesn’t sit well with me. I don’t give my children awards, an acknowledgement of a job well done yes, but awards; NO!” http://ourworldwideclassroom.blogspot.com/2010/07/award-free-blog.html
From “6 Cool Sandcastles” Courtesy Jabbering Jesse
8. I don’t want to tell you everything…
“I don’t want to tell everyone something about my personal life, especially where it can be seen all over the Internet no matter where you are in the world. That’s seriously crossing the line.” http://readwriteandreadsomemore.blogspot.com/2012/06/award-free-blog.html
Courtesy Public Domain Archive.
9. I’ve already told you everything…
“To date I have received 59 awards and I do sincerely appreciate all those who have honoured me in this way, but my real joy comes from receiving your comments and E-mails, getting to know people and building friendships. Likewise tags, in the many tags that I have done, I don’t not think there is anything left to say about myself.” http://ramblingsfromanenglishgarden.blogspot.com/2009/10/award-free-blog.html
Really…I’ve said it all.
10. There are better ways to recognize good blogs.
“I feel that your valued comments, your words of supports, your appreciations, your likes are my ultimate awards”. http://exxtracts.wordpress.com/award
“Awards are fun, awards are recognition from other bloggers, and awards brighten up the sidebar. But … your true reward are those readers who keep coming back to your blog and the bloggers who link/share/like/reblog/RT.” http://yourblogcoach.com/2014/04/14/blog-award-free-zone/
“I’ve decided my time is better spent writing, reading, commenting on posts, and tweeting other people’s content that is worth sharing. Tweeting links to excellent content works well for me for now.” http://kittomalley.com/tag/award-free-blog/
“I’d love to participate in all the award nominations I have received, but I prefer to use my blog time to visit your blogs and comment on your wonderful posts.” http://teandpaper.com/award-free-blog/
Let’s Just Enjoy Each Other’s Company. Illustration courtesy J.F.Cooks
Paula Reed Nancarrow 
Great post! I have only received two blog awards (very recently) and I have to admit I did get fairly fan girl about the whole experience. Reading your post made me chuckle – I’ll think twice about accepting in the future then my to-do list MAY just get finished – oooh look a flying pig! ;-)
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Thanks, Shelley. And you’re right. And you have to watch out for those flying pigs. ;-)
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Probably more than one or two of those about..
..Now is that a drift or drove or a straight flock of flying pigs? Maybe a ‘flove of flying pigs’ ? Hmmm, I think I create enough distractions already!
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Thanks for compiling this list, Paula. I’m sure lots of us are going to find it useful. I really feel for number 9 – 59 blog awards, has the world gone crazy?
I’m planning to respond to the 3 or 4 I’ve had hanging over me for the past couple of months and then maybe stop – oh but what if no-one thinks I’m worthy of the award anymore? That’s the anxiety that makes it addictive.
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Be ‘above’ the awards – like surgeons going back to Mr or Ms!
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You’re not going to have to worry about that. Really. The issue is more people who nominate you just so they can get those ten or fifteen tags off their back. Some of whom may not even have read your blog. Believe me. It happens.
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love it! :)
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thank you!
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I am not sure what all is involved in these awards but that was a funny, well thought out post! Looking forward to reading more of your blog.
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Thanks for stopping by, Karen. Glad you enjoyed the post.
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paula great timing on this post, posted a link to the post in the blogging 101 boards to help answer a question. it also gave me a reason to check out your site!
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Thanks, Indian. I’m not really that familiar with all WordPress blogging 101 boards, or the Daily Posts or Weekly Challenges. Have you been doing them long? Do you think they’re helpful?
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pretty new to all of it, started all three a month ago. 101 eased me into exploring WP so it’s been helpful and the access to immediate WP support, huge time saver. starting out is hard and slow so it’s fun not to go alone.
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Spot on Paula. This nominate 4,5 or whatever is a chore and an invidious choice. And i like to reveal what I want when I want. So having been dead chuffed at one or two it is now’thanks I’m very flattered’ and I move on. I generally don’t say I’m not participating as I am a coward and prefer to let it fade away. I’m not aware I’ve upset anyone that way but I think it is a risk I’m prepared to take
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That’s the second time I’ve read the expression “dead chuffed” today – which you don’t hear in Minnesota… I rather like it. Your approach is certainly one way to handle it, and I think eventually everyone gets so behind that no one can blame anyone else for lack of participation.
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simply and purely excellent post, Miss Paula… :) glad I’ve come across tyour awesome blog, my very best and lots of inspiration! friendly thoughts and cheers! :) Mélanie
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Thank you so much, Mélanie. I am enjoying perusing your multilingual playground as well. What an interesting life you’ve been living…
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Spot on! Seriously. I’ve been nominated for the Liebster several times and after a while it’s like, “Dude. I don’t have anything new to share! At least let me live some more life and write one more novel so that I can have something else to tell you instead of recycling the same old stuff!” I’m not opposed to saying, “Thanks but no thanks.” Or participating and not nominating anybody (because I’m a rebel like that, lol). Great post! And I just adore that sleeping kitten on the keyboard. Too cute!
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Yes, this seemed to resonate with a lot of people. And sleeping kittens never hurt. Thanks for stopping by, Quanie. ;-)
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[…] has won a few awards of its own – not chain letter awards, like I’ve discussed in one or two recent posts, but awards like the 100 Best Websites for Writers award for 2014; Top Ten Blogs for […]
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[…] writers. Paula Reed Nancarrow addresses, Blogligations: Breaking the Blog Award Chain and offers 10 Ways to Just Say No to Blog Awards. Memoirist, Lisa Reiter, posts about putting more blank space back into her schedule by reducing […]
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Ooh, I love this! I hate getting that tweet to say I’ve been nominated for some random blog and have to answer 50 questions, then nominate several others for the same task! I thought I was just a boring old stick in the mud!
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Glad it works for you Vicky. BTW, I have something to send you via email. I’ll be using the gmail address that comes up when you comment, so be looking for it!
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I always just thank the blogger for the award and congratulate him on being nominated. I figure they meant it well and it doesn’t hurt to take a minute to write that comment.
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Yes, I think people do mean well, Austin, and it is right to thank them. It’s also OK to explain that you don’t have the time or desire to fulfill the reciprocity requirements of the award. Thanks for stopping by!
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These responses are helpful. I’ve been fortunate to be nominated for some awards, but haven’t participated, for reasons I couldn’t articulate. The reason is somewhere in this list!
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The reasons do make sense. I haven’t given it much thought yet since I’m a newbie and there’s not much traffic in my blog anyhow *lol* – I was quite happy to receive my very first award, it was very moving. Although yes, I was stressed because I had to keep it up and only posted the award post like, two months later :D
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Karla: Thank you for stopping by! I’m all for any sort of social media interaction that enriches someone’s life. And after checking out your blog on decluttering, I can also offer this observation – you don’t have to store a blog award! So yippee! Paula
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Haha, good one Paula :D Digital clutter is not so light as we might think it is – I’ve also already spent some hours decluttering my computer every once in a while – it can be very nerve-wercking as well. But it definetly makes you feel lighter as well afterwards ;) Thanks so much for stopping by! I truly appreciate <3
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[…] So elucidating. So interesting. The post and the comments. OK. I felt a bit more confident. I had more of a handle on this award thing. Just needed a bit more information. Which I found in this post –10 ways to say no to blog awards […]
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Great post. I find them annoying myself. I see many blogs with awards free banners.
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Thank you!
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Nice post and share useful information with us.
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