Let’s get something clear from the start, this isn’t going to be a post where I rant and rave about all of the evils of social media. I am not going to provide you with a list of pretentious fools who I think have gotten too big for their britches either.
Those posts are as we used to say, ‘played out.’
They are old and tired, or maybe I am the one who is old and tired. Who can remember.
What I can tell you is that I have been playing around with starting my own blog awards “program.”
Why Would I Do This?
Several years ago I started a weekly round up of posts from the dad blogosphere that I called Festival of The Fathers. I thought it was a good way to highlight interesting posts and share some link love and I thought it might lead to more traffic.
It didn’t.
I didn’t set it up with a “linky” or anything like that and because I did all the work of gathering the posts it rarely received any exposure from other bloggers.
Anyhoo, the other day I was thinking about this blog and the 873 others I write for and decided it was time to evaluate things again and figure out if I should shut down one or more of them.
It would make it easier to focus on the “important stuff,” like writing my books and focusing upon things that pay the bills. While lost in my musings it occurred to me that creating my own blog awards might present an interesting way to grow the blog.
Explosive Growth Based On A Joke
Many if not most bloggers are interested in growing their readership. Quite a few will fight to win an award, even if it is based on the “popular vote” and not “merit.”
In concept I could create a Social Media Blog Awards Contest that required all of the entrants to link to my blog in some fashion. Build this sucker properly and you can generate a boatload of back links and a bunch of new subscribers.
Since this was based on a tongue-in-cheek idea I thought about using some variation of “The Biggest Liar In Social Media Blog Awards.”
It would be a fabulously successful production that would lead to massive exposure, a book deal and would change my life forever.
Picture for a moment me sitting with Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel on the TheJackB Variety special talking about how TheJackB line of clothing is more popular than Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein.
I’d be erudite, witty and exceptionally entertaining, really I am pretty damn funny sometimes and humble too.
Imagine the pride you would feel because you could say you knew me way back when.
Instead Of a Trophy You’ll Get
Instead of a trophy you’ll get a clown fish or perhaps a visit from an angry monkey, the details still have to be worked out.
Hell, I am getting all kinds of excited just thinking about the possibilities. If I turn thought into action and possibility into opportunity I might be able to tell you whether you need a huge audience to be successful in social media.
The BLSMBA (now that is a mouthful) could be my ticket. It would take more work than buying fans and followers on Fiverr but not as much as “bribing” readers with cool the opportunity to win cool prizes.
Oops, did I say bribe. Someone tell the FTC that I always disclose and that I brush my teeth twice a day.
Stay tuned my friends because there is more to come but I am not going to share that with you now because like every good writer/performer I want to leave you out of breath and begging for more.
See you in the comments.
Could use a clown fish… it’s a great fish, and the relative of Nemo. Good blog, by the way!
Perhaps a PR latchkey Flack award for blog that put out press releases without any additional thought.
Hi Trey,
Love that idea, so much truth there. Amazing how often this happens, people get lazy I guess.
Call them the You Don’t Know Jack Awards.
Award them to the most egotistical, self-serving, business acumen-less folks on the social web, but word it in a way they feel they’re actually being rewarded for goodness. Then go crazy with it and get them to share everywhere.
Job done. 🙂
Hi Danny,
I love the name. Part of the fun is making sure those folks get a warm fuzzy feeling out of their awards.
People do make life far more interesting don’t they.
Jack. Dude.
Ok. First of all, I don’t think you have an extra word in the paragraph with BLSMBA, I think your brain stuttered and they are just mixed up. Go fix it, I’ll wait.
Ok? Ok. Second. I LOVE blogger awards! Ha! It’s funny I know… At best, most people seem to think they are silly (I don’t) at worst, folks seem to think they are a waste of time (nope! Not me). Go for it!! I’ll fight tooth and nail to win a nifty award dreamed up and designed by the Ultimate JackB!!
Last, I aint afraid of no cranky monkeys! However the scary looking BFF of the cranky monkey has me hiding under my desk…. with my 45-70, mind you. And hurry up and get him outta here because my little Alaska Chick-let is poking me in the back telling me to get out from under the table…so she can get out too!
Hi Amber=Lee,
Somehow I am not surprised about your not being afraid of the cranky monkey. I am guessing that out of my readers less than 5% are hunters and or have any experience living a more rugged lifestyle.
I very well might push ahead with the awards. I am a curious sort of fellow so part of me wants to see what happens if I do make it happen.
Ditto what Jayme said 🙂 Cheers! Kaarina
Hi Kaarina. Want a clownfish?
I do: yes please!
Out of breath and begging for more? No way; not possible. I say shut it down already in favor of that other guy with a face who may be your brother, cousin or evil twin. Yeah, I think that’s a far better use of your time now that you’re trying to grow up and laugh at people.
I have plans to shut something down, but this joint isn’t it. My twin doesn’t want that.
My kids really want a couple of goldfish so that clown fish would come in really handy :-)!
Hi Tim,
You know I am a sucker for kids so we just have to figure out how to ensure their survival across the states and into Europe.
I’m sure you’re erudite and entertaining. And mostly humble. What do I have to do to get that clown fish?
P.S. The paragraph that has “BLSMBA” has an extra word. After you find it, delete this P.S. and send me my clown fish.
I found it, do I get a fish, too? 😉
Although that might be difficult with the four cats and two dogs we have.
I like this. Very intrigued. Keep on talking, I will give you an award if you do!
Hi Andrea,
You can have a fish but only if you get rid of the cats. This award is only for dog lovers and those who get rid of their cats. Kind of fun to make up nonsensical rules on the spot.
Hi Elizabeth,
You don’t get a fish until you bring me a shrubbery. 😉
I will dispatch my swallow with a shrubbery (or perhaps a bonsai) post haste.
I feel better. Excuse me I have to run now my cocanut player and I are out to scour the countryside.
I feel better. Excuse me I have to run now my cocoanut player and I are out to scour the countryside.
I’m still irked over the time that someone who’d blogged for about 3 months decided to give out “top 100 personal development awards” and everyone went around saying how “honored” they were even though it was based on Alexa rankings and PR. They also included blogs that had been dead for over a year AND they excused that with,”Well they’re dead but they have merit because they were once popular.”
I am sending him to business school after I get done with my withering stare.
Yes, by all means consolidate and focus and send me a clown fish because the kids will love him 🙂
So many of the awards and lists are popularity contests that aren’t based upon merit or any sort of logic beyond how compelling their begging for votes is.