Once you have made your criteria it is important to stick to your guns. If you make the rules, you should follow them. If you do not your award program loses its credibility. While your criteria should not make it too easy to win your award, it should not be made so difficult it becomes impossible to earn. An award that can not be won by any site, no matter how well done, is a waste of web space.
Some programs find the use of one award that covers all criteria points to be sufficient.
Programs that want a multi-level award system need to add the extra points needed to earn each individual award. If your site gives Gold, Silver, Bronze or other awards in specific categories each award should have its guidelines placed online. You should note your general criteria to win all awards as well as each award's unique criteria. Upgrades While some criteria may remain the same from the very beginning, that is not true for all programs. Over time you will see many sites that make you change your ideas of what the best site online is.