Do you see yourself or your blog as a ’star’? If not, you should. Really. After all, whether you have 1 or 1,000,000 readers/visitors - YOU are the main character, the leading performer, the headliner of your own show.
But, I do realise that it is not easy to say, “I’m a star!” So, I want to do it for you.
I want to help deserving bloggers to become a star in their own right. I want to create a Bloggers’ Walk of Fame, where bloggers of every shape, size, and style can be acknowledged, by way of what they contribute to the world at large.
This is where The Blog Star Awards come in.
In this massive Blog-Galaxy, it’s easy to feel insignificant. Making it to Top Lists is tough. Getting noticed can be a real pain.
But, I really, really, really believe that a blog’s success is not just measured by Technorati authorities, Alexa rankings, Google PageRanks, pageviews, unique visitors, and comments. And yes, not even Awards. 
Many of the bloggers I admire do not even make it to any A, B, C or even F Lists. But, not only do they create stellar content - they have a wonderful, vibrant community who support them. And yes, some may not even have a massive audience. But, they *make a difference* in the audience that they DO have. They are generous, warm, caring… Authentic.
That’s why I think they are BLOG STARS. They shine in their own corner of the sky…
And, it’s time BLOG STARS receive their very own “Star of Fame.”
Some definitions of star on the Web:
* (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
* ace: someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
* any celestial body visible (as a point of light) from the Earth at night
* a plane figure with 5 or more points; often used as an emblem
* an actor who plays a principal role
* feature as the star;
* headliner: a performer who receives prominent billing
* be the star in a performance
* asterisk: a star-shaped character * used in printing
* star topology: the topology of a network whose components are connected to a hub
* leading(p): indicating the most important performer or role; “the leading man”; “prima ballerina”; “prima donna”; “a star figure skater”; “the starring role”; “a stellar role”; “a stellar performance”
So, before I start handing out the awards, maybe YOU can have a say in what you think will make a better, more meaningful Blog Star Awards.
Who would you like to see receive these awards? Would you like to nominate anyone at all? Did any blogger touch your life, change life in some way - and you want to say thanks by requesting for them to receive a Blog Star Award?
What categories would you like to suggest? Any other thoughts and feedback are welcome.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Jason 11.14.07 at 9:05 am
My name looks nice on this star!
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Liz Strauss 11.14.07 at 2:01 pm
Hi Shai!
YOU are a Blog Star if I ever met one. Every word you wrote about saying things that make a difference, caring about what you write and the folks in your audience, . . . showing up — that’s you!
Only a star would come up with a stellar idea.
Thank you for including me with a small bit in this announcement.
Liz
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Kari 11.14.07 at 5:20 pm
What a great idea! I love it! One person (besides you
that I think is star material is my friend over at www(dot)notsoblonde(dot)com . I’m not using her real name at her request to maintain more privacy since she’s recently moved. I love her stuff and have been reading for a few years.
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helen 11.15.07 at 10:56 am
shai, thank you for presenting such a realistic view of success in blogging. it almost inspires one to take it up. cheers.
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Gavin Heaton 11.16.07 at 8:01 am
Great idea, and so true. I am a big fan of http://www.getshouty.com — a great mix of personal conviction and professional insight.
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Katie 11.16.07 at 9:34 am
Great idea! Too often it’s just the popular blogs who win awards - and some of those blogs are only popular because they’re popular. It’s time to see the smaller blogs who might not have the same levels of rankings to get some recognition. Great idea!
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Sueblimely 11.19.07 at 3:36 am
An excellent and generous idea Shai. A category that sprang to mind relates to bloggers who share their stories, offering their experience and knowledge to others - often revealing personal information which most would find hard to do - eg those who blog about such issues as depression, abuse, recovery from addiction, their trials and joys of bringing up disabled children ….. They do not usually gain massive readership but I reckon they provide invaluable support to their own small community of readers.
I do not envy your task of having to work through nominations to find out which are worthy or even qualify for the nomination at all
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noreen ponce-lazaro 11.19.07 at 12:57 pm
my husband is the best blogger i know. i’ve seen him how he stays up late just finish writing his entries. his blog is a labor of love. i nominate my husband’s blog http://arpeelazaro.blogspot.com for a star.
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SandyCarlson 11.19.07 at 4:03 pm
This is a great idea. I would nominate http://www.territerri.com for Personal Stories. She’s a great, down-to-earth, honest, and loving person who blogs her life in a way that is humorous, heart-warming, and thought-provoking.
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Colin 11.19.07 at 7:50 pm
This is a superb idea
Blogging isn’t about readership and rankings as you have said, it’s about the way a blogger can touch someone elses life and how they help each other. Many see blogging as a way of making a few pennies, but for a lot it’s about providing help, information and much more, which often goes unnoticed.
I would nominate Rudy from http://www.disabilityresourcedirectory.com/
He’s a young man with cerebral palsy and is wheelchair bound, but his resources and determination are awesome. He really is a star in the making.
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nail22 11.21.07 at 6:46 am
yes, you’re absolutely correct, blog stars need not to shine in the pedestal, they illuminate in one corner yet able to touch hearts from afar, cool!
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Antony 11.21.07 at 9:06 am
Shai, you are a dreamer
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Lightening 11.21.07 at 11:47 am
It’s a nice concept. It does seem to me like there is a bit of a “pecking order” in the blogworld and if you struggle to get noticed by an “A list” (or whatever) type blogger, it’s hard to get “noticed” at all. And if you do get noticed by a popular blogger, you’re then competing against so many other blogs to get their attention or kudos or whatever. Am I making sense?
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Shai Coggins 12.15.07 at 1:36 pm
Thanks everyone, for all your thoughts, support, feedback and suggestions. Will be working more on Blog Star Awards soon, so I’ll be updating this project shortly.
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julia 01.14.08 at 4:05 am
nice idea!
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