I was just awarded the Brillante Weblog Award

[Nathan]

One of my readers at Imagination Manifesto just awarded my blog the Brillante Weblog Award.

I did a Google search and found that the award is really just a viral marketing attempt. The award image is such bad quality from being copied and recopied that I hesitate to even post about the award.

I'm sure that the reader who gave me the award did it in good faith, because she liked my blog, but I don't really want to get involved in a chain award system. I think that I'll accept the award and link back to the blog of the person who gave it to me but I'm not going to award it to more people.

What do you think? Are "awards" such as this worth it? Should they be continued?

[cjharley]

That award does seem like a marketing attempt. I don't blame you for not wanting to get involved with a chain award system like the Brilliant Weblog Award. I think linking back to her would be the polite thing to do.

I personally think that 'awards' like these cheapen the blogging concept. If the award is from a reputable company and is given by a company then I'm all for it. Things like that are just plain silly and not necessary.

[Bloggeries]

It's a good blog I saw it earlier when I approved it via that 24 hour thread. If you choose to continue or not is up to you. You were just awarded the prize and hey that always feels good.

Congrats,

[Nathan]

I personally think that 'awards' like these cheapen the blogging concept. If the award is from a reputable company and is given by a company then I'm all for it. Things like that are just plain silly and not necessary.

Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking. Its a nice thought to give out awards, but when half the blogs on the net have the same award you have to ask yourself how much its really worth.

It's a good blog I saw it earlier when I approved it via that 24 hour thread. If you choose to continue or not is up to you. You were just awarded the prize and hey that always feels good.

It sure does feel good to win an award, even if it doesn't mean all that much.

[sadiessay-so]

It's always nice to win things I think it would be nice to link back to her, but I think it's probably a marketing attempt of some sort. Don't feel like you 'have' to keep it going.

[Nathan]

Don't feel like you 'have' to keep it going.

Primarily I am worried about Google. I know for a fact that they discourage meme's, and other similar promotion techniques. I'm worried that they have filters for words such as meme, brilliante weblog award, etc and that they automatically give your PR a hit if they see it.

It definitely isn't unreasonable to think about that possibility.

[Nathan]

I agree that the award can be all in "good faith and fun," but I don't think Google appreciates the linking chain that results. It probably penalizes people who participate.

[Ferox]

You can always wait until you've aquired another 3 or so 'awards' and recognise them in one post. I don't particularly like 'awards' or memes because they lack value. There have been one or two that I've participated in because I could make them fit my niche, bit that's it.

[Nathan]

Linking chains are generally recognizable because they link a bunch of blogs that aren't related together. I participate in chains that involve related blogs, such as the Book Review Blog Carnival that I support on Inkweaver Review, but most memes and awards lack true value, even as Ferox said.