Are you happy with "the way IndiBlogger Team chooses winners" in various contest
Sometimes IndiBlogger team chooses winners, whose posts are extremely difficult to read. The reasons - alien fonts & small size.
Sometimes, the winning posts have vaery low quality graphics and overall presentation. They also choose posts which are longer-format, many a times >2,000 words ! Creativity counts, not the quantity (words).
IB team is also ahead of Indian Railways for declaring winners for various contests. One month period is too long a time to read + tie with the concerned company to declare the results. Last moment catching and running after plagiarists and dacoits is very funny 
Things IB Team should consider:
1. Creativity 2. Presentation 3. Readibility 4. Relevancy 5. Looks & feel 5. Length
Add your thoughts below to help IB team do better in future contests -
(This thread is to give valuable feedback from bloggers of IB Network for better management of various contests and declaration of winners).
Reason: Grammatical Errors
I never participated in any, so cant really comment 
Hi Hunky - Participating in IB's various contests is really interesting + thrilling + memorable. Bloggers of IB network should participate in max number of such contests
Hunky can't participate unless it's about Byke Content and I think no one can beat him when it comes to bykes :)
There are times when the results have been disaapointing. but since I am unaware of the judging procedure, I really can't say much. However I would like to get an insight as to what actually is the procedure that is being followed. Apart from that, Indi contests are amazing :))
Indiblogger does not choose the winners - the sponsors do. Some sponsors though may leave the decision with Indiblogger.
@TF - Ya, the final decision is either by IB, or IB + Sponsor, or Sponsor only. But IB Team can guide/help the sponsors with certain tips or advices while choosing the winners.
Akash - Indiblogger can give tips. But FMCG companies are not in the literary business. Every company chooses winners based on the business objective of sponsoring contests. And in most cases it will be very tough for Indi Team to read all the entries for every contest - they are a small team and tend to be really stretched.
The other challenge of defining any criteria upfront may have the result of excluding certain participants - Usually one of the criteria sponsors look up is number of participants. So even if it is pre-decided that all winners will be women, it can not not be announced upfront, because then male participants will back out and that will make the numbers look bad. Similarly different people like writing different kinds of posts - some like to write with photos and videos, some without, some like to write long posts, some short, some like to write about the product, some like to write some generic post. So all should be encouraged to participate in all contets. Later based on sponsor's interests, criteria can be set and winners can be filtered out.
Cant say. The Indiblogger Awards is the 1st time I'm participating. Like everyone else, I think my own blog deserves to win, and if it doesn't I'll be pissed
Nice thread, Akash.
Whenever I participate in contests, I follow a simple funda - Do your best and leave the rest. Whatever the results.. have faith in your abilities (not the judges ).
True Arti
I second Arti..... It's true, just write your heart and make it your best. Once your done, leave it to the judges. If your good, am sure the prize will come knocking. In my case I never won many, but suddenly I got a big one. I won the 2nd prize for Microsoft 365, but my post had just 3 likes in I.B. Little did I imagine I would, but I did. So like Arti said "Do your best, and take what comes" Good Luck!
I have interacted with IB team on many occasions and trust me I found them quite reasonable and fair lot of people. Quite an admirable & helpful bunch.
I am told that they have no role to play in judging process and contest result declaration as well. Also, if you compare and see them overall vis a vie other such blog groups, you will begin to love them even more for being unique, regular and bringing new things on plate.
I know there are many contests where results were really disappointing and it is always sad to see a not so good post winning over several much better post which sometimes included yours as well. However that may be very subjective and vary from judge to judge. Afterall, losing is one thing and seeing an inferior post win is another. I am sure that Inditeam is definitely taking stock of these things and would be communicating the same to judges as well.
Keep your faith up friends and see there's some really amazing contest that Indi is bringing these days like Idea caravan and ambipur. If not prize, these contest do helps us unleash our creative/ analytical writing even for topics which we may not have written otherwise. Smiles
Well said, ekta, faith, to be kept in our writing. Let the companies crush our minds to a stage one starts to think "gosh, I am a rotten writer. But never loose faith in your self friends. Write for enjoyment sake. That's all. You get something, rejoice. NO get something, congratulate friends and be happy.
I've been blogging for 6 years now and it is only recently that someone has started appreciating the bloggers with such awesome contests and prizes. Every blogger feels his/her post is the best. When you participate, you intend to win! So, we sulk when we lose. I do it too :)
But in the end we should remember that what is creative for us might not be creative for others. It is like every movie - some love it, some hate it. So far, the Indiblogger team seems to be doing a great job. As for judging the contests, I'm just hoping they keep up the good work and not become too commercialised.
Lastly, just take the contests as creative prompts and do your best. You will never know what the judges are looking for.
True nisha
As a blogger, I always think my post is the best. And I think every other blogger should feel the same way about their own posts.
That being said, we can't let the decision of a bunch of people (especially if judges are the sponsors only) affect the way we think about our blog. I have over 200 posts in two years of my blogging and the WeChat thing was the first time I ever won something(I hadn't even won a consolation prize before).
Quoting Jose Mourinho (Manager, Chelsea Football Club)-
I am Jose Mourinho and I don't change. I arrive with all my qualities and my defects.
And that being said, once the Apollo results were declared, I was kind of sad because I didn't even get a little thing in spite of great hopes. So, I thought I would make that up in the WeChat contest.
I started early (first post was one month before deadline). I came up with four posts- and they had variety. One very long with conversations (which won), one about mysterious personlaities, one a relatively short one about cartoons and another just a random five people without a conversation. I presumed that any type of posts the judges wanted, I had at least one to apply to it.
True shaumik
I write in those contest just to hone my skills and have no complaints with their judging system infact only compliments for the way indiblogger is run just was finding it difficult to fathom the early bird prize in Apollo contest
Those were bonuses bro.
Well, this is debatable to the core,..all I can say that the BLOG as a whole is judged, not JUST the post for the contest....on the same lines it's difficult to kickstart your campaign here! Newbees well...the inertia of rest could peg them back...but once you'r into it...prizes would come I suppose. I am a new member too, will be interesting to see how it goes.
Yo dude
Somehow I don't agree to what you said above. By what you are saying, it implies that newbees in blogosphere do not stand a chance to win a contest here, right?
Seems like Rio sir is desperate to maintain His forum-hero position [grin]!!!
lol...i think i shud start yoing everyone's comments too and become forum king
busss just for an online rank/post Deka wants to be a king!!!
ek baar to banna banta hai, i prefer 'queen' though, but itna time nahi to read all posts and reply them 
hmmm king-queen leke confusion tha... ab samajh gaya.... all the best Deka!
i was just kidding...i have no ambition to displace rajnikant i mean forum's rajnikant
our Rajni...one and only Rajni
indeed he is the one and only... He answers 6-7 problems in different threads, post 7-8 smileys in different posts, announces 3-4 contests threads all at the same time 
correct observation...!!!
now, is this against forum policy DS sir? [guilty]
when a police catches you, you're bound to make an innocent-straight-face which is usually considered as guilty face by the passive witnesses enjoying the scene.... now I chose a simple expression 'guilty' over explaining all these before an Indipolice... no If you ask me, I don't have any sense of guilt...
Moreover, keep your eyes open cop, there are hundreds of threads with side talks and rich inferences [wicked wink]
and about that 'sir' thing, as far as I know you, you're no 'madam', so must be 'sir' only!
Hit the nail Anunoy, I plead guilty. Jo saza de manzzoor hai, bus ek laptop to dilwa do bhai phokat me,
ye fakir sirf sath de sakta hai laptop nahi...
Ek tera sath hai to, ye duniya kitani hasseen hai, ni chahiye laptop. Sath nibhana saathiya.
Madhu, one should keep moving without fal ki iccha,
hmmm
I have said it earlier too. A little diversion from the thread is still OK, but hijacking a thread completely is not right. And that is equally true for all other threads questioned here. Somehow, it is becoming a trend to deress from the topic and convert every thread into entertainment. Though there is no policy about it, but think about it: you are facing a problem, you search for a solution on the forum and find only one thread related to it. And then sudenly you realize that most of comments in the thread are non-relevant! How would you feel then?
Cheers DS... All the best...very soon... i mean coming soon...
DS- you seem to have given up. Cheer up man! don't talk like some old man... keep trying.. there is an adage - 'Try and try till you succeed'
Good luck !
@DS - I bet, you will be the WINNER in the next IB contest. Just take part in Ambi Pur &/or The Idea Caravan
Anunoy , false dilasa ni dete,
What idea caravan, which caravan , why caravan, DS , sane advice, don't let yourself be used by imbecile nuts who care no damm for your creative passion. Shun them. Think twice, if by my writing poor people gets induced and invests in Franklin Templeton, and his money is washed away, all the guilt will be on your conscience.
now you hit the nail Rio!
yes i didn't want to discourage an enthusiastic blogger (DS) with ugly truths... so told those.... I salute DS' patience and tenacity... but it's true, no wise men should (unless they want to timepass) let their creativity judged by a bunch of business heads (clerks to be more precise) and at the end return home with high disappointment just because they didn't sing sweet false songs about their blood diamonds...
Cheers buddy!
True Anunoy.
Now I must tell the truth about these investment companies, in the name of insurance plans, how they cheat people. I had given a cheque for fixed deposit in a bank, those guys invested it in ulip; to get extra commission with out my signature and consent. When I received policy documents I came to know I was cheated. I returned docz to bank and told them to cancel immediately. Then they started asking fr time. Thiz way a year passed. They started phoning me fr next instalments of 50000, then I thought I should ask him how much interest you give me fr one year. He says all money will be forfeited. Then I asked if I give three years 50k each total 150k how much I get in third year. Friends amount was less than 70k,
hmmm... quite a common and painful experience Rio
My two cents, We are bloggers we should just blog, the awards, rewards and recongition will follow automatically
Sahi kaha vijay
Hello again Akash,
The one thing that I noticed is that unlike other communities or company they don't choose or award the blogger who have max audience for their post (product or advertiser). They randmoly (though not randomly but I will say randomly) award any blogger despite of his blog niche or how many are following him or reaching to that post.
that's a a great think everybody has the chance to earn and get rewarded otherwise only those were earning who have large followers base and subscribers! if this the case then I will be boosting my followers and subscribers :)
Let them do whatever they are doing as they know what they are doing. They are the only who turned this community to be a lakh ruppee company into crores ROI company. Their strategy is different but they know marketing :)
IB Future is Bright!
Himanshu, I wonder what you mean by random here?
They randmoly (though not randomly but I will say randomly) award any blogger
I simply mean that I didn't understand their strategy and that's why it's random for me! May be Iam the one who is not happy with "the way IndiBlogger Team chooses winners" in various contest but the truth is that I never participitated :D
Anyway, I am happy... the one who is getting the prizes are one of the us. Only Indian bloggers are getting awards and that's simply nice!
Ya I agree. IB does a far better job than any other orgn, which runs blogger contests. Most of the time, the winners of the competition are the ones, who praise the brand to T. That's what a brand Manager likes. I am not sure, IB has got anything to do with this.
Think from the shoes of a brand manager. Will you choose a winner who writes something relevant about your brand or someone who talks very creative (nothing relevant to the brand)? End of the day, the objective of a brand is to drive sales and create awareness, not to run CSR campaigns with their money.
You have a point deepan
Most of the time, it seems that as the contest goes on for 3 months or so, judges forget what they have asked for. Like in WeChat, they had asked 'Who & Why'
... and not to strike a conversation or only praise their product. Ok that they do 'praise' thing for promotional purpose but Winner can't and should not be the one who gives a 'right answer' according to their 'changing tastes' but 'wrong' for the question asked in the first place (Read 'Who & Why')
I wrote about judges having an illogical upper hand for the judgement not IB.
its not necessary we have to write exactly 'who and why'....we cant create a story around it or conversations taking the basic theme, that doesnt matter. what matters is it shud be relevant to the product too, cos after all they want their product focussed. many people wrote conversations ( including me ) as it had more scope for creativity.
Then, it should be clearly about Conversations. The people could be fictional but not the chatting in the first place.
not necessary...some one can choose to write a poem too with the characters, we can choose any way to express on our blogs and not dictated at , lol
...in my earlier post it was we "can" and not we 'cant create', typo
I'm sorry for my ignorance Poonam. Are you saying that winners of this contest were those who praised the product (though that is natural) but did not answer this question?
Animesh, No, it is not about praising (that is still OK) but about writing the whole group chat ( which was not asked in the first place - see image above ) and not writing the reason for choosing those persons - which was the main thing asked.(see image above)
lol...its a chat product, so showing a conversation was most natural and creative thing to do, and when u are chatting 'why' you are chatting with them becomes quite evident too. ( its another matter i found all chats except mine quite boring ) hehehehe
I agree with Nandini here. Its just about the way of writing, some may like to write a narrative post to answer these questions. The other way is to write it as a conversation which shows who are part of the chat and the content shows the why part (though it depends on what is being conversed).
Just saw the winning entry. While the writer has posted the chat also, she has clearly mentioned five people she wants to chat with reasons before posting that chat.
at the end, when things are not in your hand, it's better to whistle and say all is well [saintly smile]..............
Yo dude
its company's money let them spend... atleast someone has won something... moderators are just like normal people... they all have different taste... and its not an easy job to run a blogger community like indiblogger..
True vishal
Vishal, if it is about investment I'd say we can't let it be. We also spend money (for self-hosted blogs) and most important, we spend time. Then there is reputation at stake as well.
Though I still by my statement that no judgement can please everyone. Ask those who have won, will they agree that their post was sub-standard?
It breaks my heart when I don't see my name on winners list.. but the thing is we can't blame judges about that... since we started blogging on our own choice (so cut off hosting money, since it is nothing to do with indiblogger) and about time "Yes it takes time and creativity to write a winning post" But also members have a choice "not to take part in contest and thus not blame indiblogger and judges." (..kidding) ....
This is my perspective and other's have their own.. Luck too matters a lot in contests..
Just to make it real I want to add one more thing.. In apollo contest I have written a post called "10 Modern Gadgets that Will Change the World" which illustrated ten gadget related to medical technology.. I thought that was winning post but soon realised that it was only worth a 4 gb pen drive.. and now it on Google top ranking for keyword "Modern Gadgets" and still receiving more than 40 Unique visit per day...
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