Awardicons Info

awardicons are virtual ribbons or trophies that may be awarded to items within Writing.Com. This is a wonderful way to recognize someone for a job well done!

For a complete viewing of the awardicons currently in stock, please visit: http://www.Writing.Com/main/awardicons.php .

Each awardicon is given by a member of Writing.Com for whatever reason he or she so desires. Each ribbon, plaque or trophy given will be permanently attached to that specific item. The highest valued award most recently received will be displayed to the left of the itemicon at all times.

...Example Image...

For example, let's say an item won a blue ribbon valued at 10,000 GPs. The blue ribbon awardicon would be attached to that item and displayed beside the itemicon. A week later, this same item wins a green ribbon valued at 10,000 GPs. Now the item will display the green ribbon since it is now the highest valued award most recently received.

Three weeks later, this item wins a red ribbon valued at 25,000 GPs. This red ribbon will be displayed on that item until another awardicon of equal or greater value is received.

Information and Inscriptions

Clicking the awardicon will launch a small window containing a larger award image and additional information regarding its allocation. Award-giving members must provide an Item ID number, which gives more detail about the award.

Trophies and plaques allow members to leave special, personal inscriptions for the Item, while ribbons do not. Readers will see the name of the member who gave the awardicon and the reasons behind it.

Display Cases and Trophy Room

Each item created on Writing.Com will automatically have an awardicon Display Case, where all awards received for that specific item will be stored. Each time the item receives an awardicon, it will automatically be added to the item's Display Case.

When viewing an item, readers may click on the awardicon to peruse the item's Display Case. A small window will appear allowing the reader to pan through awardicons from highest to lowest value.

Each Writing.Com Author has a Trophy Room, where all Display Cases are stored. This means, each item that has won an awardicon will be seen from this room. Members will access an Author's Trophy Room from the Author's public portfolio.
         http://www.Writing.Com/authors/storymistress/trophy_room

Think of it this way: Each of your items is a Display Case; your entire portfolio is the Trophy Room in which they are stored.

Purchasing an awardicon

You can purchase an awardicon through the online Trophy store:
         http://www.Writing.Com/main/awardicons.php

Giving awardicons

When you find an item that you would like to give an awardicon, you'll need to also have an item that explains why you're awarding it. This can be anything from the item ID of the original contest where the award was won to the item ID of a specially written static item about your awardicon presentation. This is the ultimate form of recognition here at Writing.Com!

If you have a "special" awardicon that you have given more than once, keep a running list of those items and their Authors at the bottom of your "special" item. Maybe your award will be known throughout Writing.Com and coveted by all!

Add some life to your contests by giving away an awardicon for each winning placement. Combine this with Gift Points and you've got really cool prizes!

If you would like to award an Author instead of an item, please see: "Merit Badge Info" .

Further Details

1- Just like costumicons, awardicons are sponsorships and help support Writing.Com.

2- awardicons are not supposed to be "under priced" because they would quickly appear on EVERY item and lose value.

3- awardicons stay with an item FOREVER. Once your item has received an award, it will keep this award by its side as long as it's on Writing.Com.

4- More than likely, items that receive an award will stand out much more on an item listing page. Over time, they will probably stand out so much more that they are worth their "weight" in saved BidClick fees.

5- Along with #4, people WILL click on the ribbons/plaques/trophies. When they click, they get the nifty pop-up with a link back to the original contest; thus, bringing new interested parties to the contest itself. Whether it's an on going contest or not, it could be used to give more exposure to the awarding author.