So after a few good weeks of campaigning, the SA Blog Awards ceremony happened on Friday evening at a pretty slick venue called Chevelle in Cape Town.
Organised and managed by the guys from Huddlemind, it was obvious that a lot of time and effort went into arranging the function and I have to thank them for that. Great job on a job well done!
I was in the running for two awards this year and it being my first year, Best New Blog was the category that I was most keen on winning, though an award in Best Science and Technology Blog would have truly been fabulous.
I must admit that I thought that I had a very good chance of winning Best New Blog and was fairly concerned about the competition in the other category, especially iMod. ChrisM has been around for a few years and has developed a massive following over the years. He puts in many many hours and in my opinion, the only true competition in the category.
Rightfully so, iMod won Best Science and Technology Blog again this year, with him defending his title that he won in 2008. Though I did not win, I was complimented by Chris when his girlfriend chatted to me early at the awards ceremony and told me Chris was particularly concerned about losing his title to me. I have a great deal of respect for iMod and Chris, and though winning would have been great, I am satisfied with the compliment of being considered a good competitor to iMod in this category. Next year, I will take up the challenge again. 
Best New Blog went to the brothers of From-The-Couch. I am a fan of their work and though not winning disappointed me immensely, I think that I would have been gravely disappointed if I had lost to any other blog in the category. These guys deserve it and I am proud to have lost to a good contender like From-The-Couch.
The other awards were predominantly cleaned out by 2oceansvibe, who took away SIX awards (my count), including Best Blog of 2009! Well done Seth, I know that you put a lot into your work (if you would dare call it work!).
To the other blog awards winners, well done and good luck for 2009/2010! I will definitely see you in the running of the SA Blog Awards 2010 and it will be an honour for me to compete amongst you next year!
South African Blog of the Year
Best Entertainment Blog
Most Humorous South African Blog
Best Post on a South African Blog
Best Overseas South African Blog
Best Original Writing on a South African Blog
Best Blog about Politics
Best Photographic Blog
Best New Blog
Best Food and Wine Blog
Best Science and Technology Blog
Best Music Blog
Best GLBT Blog
Best Design Blog
Best South African Podcast
Best Business Blog
Best Group Blog
Best Sports Blog
Best Green Blog
Best African Language Blog
Most Controversial Blog
Best Travel Blog
Best Personal Blog
Best Parenting Blog
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April 5th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Dude, congratulations on being nominated and taking two runner up places – that’s a fantastic achievement for someone who only started a year ago. There’s a new year ahead and let’s face it, by the sounds of things, next years blog awards might be WAY more involved, so that might be the year worth winning.
I’m going to look into being a judge next year, so technology will be open, unless there are neato prizes
April 6th, 2009 at 12:46 am
Pity about not winning but congrats nonetheless on the runner-up place. Now collect as many fans as possible and next year will be a breeze. It is a popularity contest after all
Also I think there was a suggestion that winners this year not being allowed to be renominated for next year. I dunno.
April 6th, 2009 at 2:38 am
I think you are possibly the nicest loser I have seen/read so far!! That kind of “winning” and positive attitude will definetly stand you in good stead for next years awards!
I’m absolutley rooting for you now! I just really like nice positive people
April 6th, 2009 at 3:34 am
@ChrisM – Yup, I am pretty satisfied with just being a contender actually. I wouldn’t like to win Best Tech only because you are not running next year, I would appreciate the competition… it makes the achievement of beating you SO much more valuable!
@onelargeprawn – It is a popularity contest, though I would like to think that those who nominated me and those who voted, did so because they felt that I was deserving of the title. Next year, I will bring a bigger fight!
@Su – Wow, thats the first time I’d let someone get away with calling me a loser!
There is no point in being uptight about losing, the competition was well run, I did my best, but clearly someone else did a better job. All that I can do, is make sure that next year I have the other nominees killed off in “freak accidents” before the awards
Thanks for visiting and I hope that you stick around.
April 6th, 2009 at 5:53 am
My take on this is that the mere nomination has given you extra marketing leverage in the tech community. It has also put your name out to people that had previously not known about you and what you do.
That nomination alone has endowed you with ROCKSTAR status.
And it has taught you that you’ll now have to work extra hard if you’re really keen on whipping Chris next year.
ROCK ON !
April 6th, 2009 at 6:57 am
Hi there,
Best of luck for next year am sure you will make it
Also thanks for the post and kind words on the Blog Awards
Awesome blog man
Chris
April 6th, 2009 at 10:36 am
No arguments about it, you are a winner already! Being nominated in the best new blog as well as best science & tech blog within a year from you starting point is quite an achievement. You did have a fair chance of winning and i bet you will do much better next year.
The arthur here has mentioned, the nominations itself has increased your credibility and exposure to the community, which would give you better leverage from now on.
You have done an amazing job and i’m super proud of you! Rock on baby!
April 7th, 2009 at 12:07 am
Well done man. You may not have won but to be nominated for two awards is already a great achievement for your blog. Not to mention the article in The Times.
You came up against three of the hardest working bloggers that I know so theres no shame in being runner up.
Hopefully I can manage to get a nomination for my blog next year…baby steps
Well done man!
April 7th, 2009 at 1:18 am
Yep! Good luck for the next one Dee!
April 8th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
@arthur charles van wyk – I agree, just by being a contender, I have managed to increase my credibility. Thanks for the support, it’s very much appreciated. Let’s hope that I can live up to Rockstar standards
@Chris – No problem mate, you did an awesome job and the very least that I can do, is express my gratitude!
@islandchic – My biggest fan! Thank you SO SO much for always standing by me and supporting my blog. No-one else has campaigned as much as you did for the blog awards, not even the other contenders
. You simply are the greatest… thank you!
@Ash – Thanks man! It’s a pity that the Sunday Times article happened AFTER the awards, but you are right, the awards are supposed to help generate awareness of the talent that we have in the community and hopefully it has assisted my credibility in the industry!
@Yaarik – Thanks mate! And thanks for becoming a regular supporter of my blog!
July 29th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Great idea, but will this work over the long run?