In the past day, I've gotten 10 emails from various writers asking me and their other friends to vote...


...for them in the current MarketingSherpa Reader's Choice Blog & Podcasting Awards.
To those nominees who have contacted me: You know I love you guys. The thing is–I'd vote for you all anyway; you don't have to ask -- I know that a little help from your friends goes a long way.
But at the same time, it does make me wonder: Since you can vote multiple times for a blog, and since you can ask anyone to vote for your blog, are these awards determining the BEST blogs, or the ones that are PROMOTED the best? In the end, does the award say anything about a blog's quality? Or is it an indication of who put in the time and effort to campaign?
Is it like this: Is soliciting votes just part of the process because marketers–well, market? Or is it a little like asking for a birthday present: it means more when you're acknowledged without the sell?