At first, I received the blog award from two fellow bloggers. I went to Google and searched for the term "Liebster Blog Award" and found an endless list of blogs that received this award. I then changed the query to reflect blog posts posted in 2010. I got closer to the origin, yet not close enough before I decided to call it a day. The most I learned was that it was kind of like a chain letter, a blogger to blogger award, you had to nominate 5 bloggers with less than 200 readers, "liebster" is dearest in German, and that no one knew the origins.
Then, I received my third award. Three's the charm, right? I couldn't live with three awards/nominations without knowing the origin so I went on another wild search. I changed my criteria until I searched for blogs that contained the "Liebster Blog Award" in the title or in the URL. The earliest mention I found so far happened on December 19, 2010 by a German blogspot blogger.
The Liebster Blog Award is indeed what I've originally thought except for some one minor difference. Once you accept your award you have to nominate 3-5 favorite bloggers who have less than 3,000 readers. How do you get from 3,000 to 200? I have no idea, and I don't think I'm dedicated enough to figure out when it changed. (OK, maybe if I get a 5th award... maybe!)
So there you have it! The origins of the Liebster Blog Award. You can read my original post about the nomination in the post Crazy Dreams and Nominations. I'm still trying to figure out if I want to add to that post or create a whole new post for my second batch of nominations. We'll see.
***A sort of edit/note.
The real "gist" of the Liebster Award is that there is no real award. There are no judges, no special rules. No website with an official team to congratulate you and hold your hand. It's mostly what you want it to be. If you receive the award, you can 1) accept it and 2) pass it along. It's that easy.
You can always accept the "Honorary Liebster Blog Award" in lieu of the more formal/historical version. The Honorary version comes with "no strings attached"! ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi PSC... Where do I find the honorary one? I like receiving the award, but I'm not a chain letter person & I don't want to make other people 'pass it on' there's lots of writing involved!!! I t s nice to be thought of though!! :)
DeleteI took this idea and used it as inspiration to accept my Liebster Award honourarily! Thank you PSC!
Deletegreat post!!
ReplyDeleteThanks! After receiving one from a fellow Blogger, I was curious as well. i am really new to Blogging, so it was exciting for me!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your research! I was nominated and couldn't figure out how this all got started. Even though it's kind of a chain letter it's a fun idea to get to know other bloggers!
ReplyDeletexx,
Paisley
paisleynotplaid
I was just nominated too and searched Google, assuming there would be an official Liebster Award website like some of the other awards I've seen on blogs. I'm glad to have found your post since it has saved me a lot of time.
ReplyDeleteif i could be so bold as to ask if anyone would take a look at my blog for nomination...www.stilettoadventures.blogspot.com
ReplyDeletethanks
I love your blog, we can follow each other sometime, just let me know and I would love to, here is a link to my blog
ReplyDeletehttp://huesmuseandviews.blogspot.com
I appreciate your efforts at techno-archaeology, I was given a Liebster and had no idea how it got started. I'll probably abide by the rules that the blogger who gave me the award provided. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteI was searching about the Liebster Blog Award and I found you =D I was nominated as well, but the rule now is to nominate another 11 bloggers with less than 200 readers, LOL. This is going to be fun =)
ReplyDeleteI just read on someone's blog it was less than 300 readers... seems like there are different versions of this award going around! Thank you for this blog post - really helped me! Even if these awards aren't the orginals...it's a nice way of sharing the blogs you like :)
ReplyDeleteX
Thanks for the time you spend researching. The information is also useful for me. I'm not yet sure how I'll respond to my "award" but your research confirms my suspicions that it was like a chain letter.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, I have been nominated twice recently and to be honest I didn't know what it was!
ReplyDeletewww.ofbeautyandnothingness.blogspot.co.uk
I still don't really understand how it works? So there are no judges? Or are there? And what are the criteria guidelines? I'm quite confused? Wouldn't everyone just vote for their allies (yes, allies) and friends? I'll have to look into it some more.
ReplyDeleteHere is my blog if anyone likes classic books:
http://bestclassicbookcollection.blogspot.com/
There are no judges, there are no rules. Recipients get to vote for their friends and allies and everyone in between.
DeleteThanks for the description! I get it now! =)
ReplyDeleteThank you for researching! Now I actually get it LOL
ReplyDeleteI have been googling all day today about the Liebster award, and found your blog. There are so many different forms of rules for the Liebster award now. I've been hearing 11 nominations, a blog post containing 11 questions the person who nominated you asked. Just a bunch of craziness, haha!
ReplyDelete-A New Google Friend Connect Follower from @Busy, Young, Single Momma Sanity
Yeah, I've seen the different rules. I don't see why everyone made it so complicated. Just pass on the love, it's easier.
DeleteSeems like we thnk alike! I have been nominated 5 times. Once last year and 4 this year, lol. I wanted to know where it really came from and now I kind of know! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis is a time saver. Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteYou just simplified a whole lot for me XOXOXO thanks!
ReplyDeleteHI! I thought you did some fantastic research and you helped me and saved people tons of time. Great job! I mentioned you in my recent post about the Liebster Award and I hope you don't mind!
ReplyDeletehttp://thinksbooks.blogspot.com/2013/01/think-out-loud-28-liebster-award.html
Hi there! No I don't mind at all. Glad you found this post helpful.
DeleteIm so glad I found your blog. I also got a nom for this and was wondering what it was. I'm VERY new to blogging. In fact, I just started like three weeks ago. Thanks for doing the research! Its all in fun and having a good time, so Im all for it.
ReplyDeleteLove this history post. The awards I received (2013) require a nomination of eleven further blogs after telling eleven facts, answering eleven questions and posing eleven questions!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the information! I was going Google crazy trying to find an official website for it LOL
ReplyDeletewww.AMommysTale.com
Hi there! I found your blog because you were nominated by http://motherworkerchefwife.wordpress.com. I just recently got nominated for a Liebster award too, and was wondering if it was a pyramid scheme. Lol but really, who decides who gets an award? Haha. Anyway it seems like in good fun and a good way to meet other up and coming bloggers.
ReplyDeletewww.ziba-blog.com
Thank you for this research and explanation. I'm a VERY new blogger (4 posts, maybe?) and I had no idea what to do! haha! xo
ReplyDeleteWell, me, too. I was nominated and told to answer 11 questions, give 11 random facts about myself, and then send to 11 bloggers. Sopphey, you were one of them! But really, what harm does it do? As a new blogger, I felt good about the award and the exposure it could give. Granted, it does feel like a chain letter and I haven't posted anything yet, other than in a comment. But I probably will. So...my question to you is: are you accepting this award and posting the icon on your blog somewhere??? Thanks for the info!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your award!
DeleteSharon, it's definitely up to you as to how you want to accept the award. Several bloggers have just put the icon on their site and called it an "Honorary Liebster Blog Award." This is the icon: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YaI99Rjg2KQ/T6m11ZycEYI/AAAAAAAAArE/JKCuacgj6c4/s165/Liebster%2BBlog%2BAward%2B-%2BHonorary.JPG
When I first got nominated I chose not to post any icons, as I wasn't posting any icons or anything like that then. I just thanked the person who nominated, and made one post about my award. After that I just updated my favorite links on this page: http://sopphey.onimpression.com/p/sopphey-statical-mega-list.html
Plus, I always share my favorite blog posts on my social media pages. Hope this info helps :)
Thanks for the good research, Sopphey. I just received the nomination as well and so went to visit Mr. Google for more information, who led me to your blog entry. It was a surprise to see Sharon on the list of commenters right above mine since she is the one who nominated me. Ha,ha,ha! It's nice to have a bit of background, and I agree it is a fun way to get to visit folks about the web. I do agree that it certainly has grown tentacles of complexity as it expanded across the blog-o-sphere. Thanks again for the great info. God bless, Maria
ReplyDeleteSo glad to have found your site, I was just getting ready to go through all the google pages that I was directed to and then I found your post, boy was I glad!! lol.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the information. Jen
I've often wondered how this started. Great post!
ReplyDeletePerfect! Just the info I was looking for!
ReplyDeleteI think it's just another way to attract readers to your blog. It's done in a nice way, though - who can resist an award? I was just "awarded" the liebster blog. I don't mind playing along if I have the time dedicated to the requirements. Otherwise, it's nice to know someone thought of me for it. :o)
ReplyDeleteHey love,
ReplyDeleteI've been searching for Liebster Blog Award and guess who ended up as your latest follower? >D I mean ("no offence" though it sounds offensive after I said that) its hard to come by a blog where there's actually something to "read" instead of just looking at pictures and I really enjoy a good read.
Glad to stumble upon your blog in such a weird fashion. Keeping an eye on you now! =P
Okay I wish you get your 5th award so that we can finally know the true origin and final story of how Liebster Award come about! <3
So if you haven't been nominated but you want to nominate someone for it how do you do that?
ReplyDeleteIt's my understanding that you have to be nominated before you can nominate someone. Sorry!
DeleteIt sounds to me like someone needs to take the bull by the horns and create a nice little graphic that represents the award and make this something official. Even though I haven't been nominated for the award yet, I may be someday.
ReplyDeletei just started the search to find out exactly what it is. this was the first post, so i'm going with it:) thanks for doing the work to try to find the original.
ReplyDeleteThanks for explaining. It drives me mad when I don't know where things originate from.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sopphey for breaking it down, I too was nominated and have happily paid it forward. Fun!
ReplyDeleteYes, thank you for the time and research you provided on the background of the Liebster. I will be linking to this post when sharing the award.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing... I was already going to give up on researching.
ReplyDeleteI googled Liebster and found you. Thanks for the information! I was just nominated and have spent a lot of time jumping through the hoops - answering questions, random facts, finding websites - knowing it's a chain letter. I don't know if I'll post it. A nomination isn't the same thing as an award, and there doesn't seem to be anything beyond a nomination. There apparently are many other "awards" like this.
ReplyDeleteI googled Liebster and found you. Thanks for the information! I was just nominated and have spent a lot of time jumping through the hoops - answering questions, random facts, finding websites - knowing it's a chain letter. I don't know if I'll post it. A nomination isn't the same thing as an award, and there doesn't seem to be anything beyond a nomination. There apparently are many other "awards" like this.
ReplyDeleteThis is like one of those mysteries. It was a dark and stormy night. Suddenly a ding rang out and I received a Liebster nomination. Now we are all brought here by Google and locked in this room where WHAT happens? In my case, I didn't get the actual award at thelunaticassylum.com. I only got the nomintion. Well, I say, it's an honor to just be nominated. I'm waiting for my plaque and looking for a space on the wall among my many awards.
ReplyDeleteAs others have written here, I appreciate your background on this. I'm still trying to figure out everything associated with it; it isn't a short list, after all!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much,
pj
Great, I was really confused about it! Thanks for clearing it up!
ReplyDeleteThanks for saving me hours of research, what an effort. In the spirit of sharing, I imagine anybody could start whatever awards they want. It's a fabulous way to get to know other bloggers.
ReplyDeleteThanx for the information. I recently got this award and was looking for its origin when i found yor blog mentioning its origin. Also the rules are a bit different from what you have mentioned. it must have changed ofcourse in the course of time as you have already explained. :)
ReplyDeleteI am glad I found your post! I just got nomination...not knowing how it got there. I agree with the other comments that it is a good way to meet other bloggers:)
ReplyDeleteMaria
Glad I found this post as well as I too have been digging around trying to find what i assumed must be the official Leibster Award website. Have been blogging for three months and am astonished by the number of people following. One year in the life of an English country town, characters, stories, wild life, events, odd historical facts etc. My Tonight From Shrewsbury it's called. Do look out for it and leave a comment to say hello. I'd appreciate that. I've been online a while now in other capacities, but haven't hooked up with many other bloggers yet.
ReplyDeleteI've been itching to take part in the Liebster award, googling it and all sorts! If anyone is nominating, it would be much appreciated if you could check out my blog! :)
ReplyDeletevelvetmintlifestyle.blogspot.co.uk
Lol,
ReplyDeleteThat seems to have been alot of work trying to find the origin, but nonetheless I have been nominated, and even though there aren't any judges or actual ribbons it is nice to be recognized!!
It was great to find your post. Just to let you know we plan to reblog this post as we've just been awarded two different "Liebster Blog Awards" with slightly different requirements. We did exactly what you've done and tried to find out the origin. Your post has saved us a lot of work. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI am SO glad I found this! I, too, Googled the award and ended up here! I was just nominated and didn't have a clue as to what to do. And it looks like I am not the only clueless one around! lol
ReplyDeleteThank you for the info! Very interesting reading everyone's comments too.
I invite you to visit me at:
http://pjstreasures.blogspot.com/
Have a great evening!
~Pam~
I have been nominated with this award but with a hole different set of rules . Very curious
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post! I've also been nominated but didn't know what it was really about. Great blog by the way!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this, without it i would have understood neither the meaning of the award, nor how to respond. Most helpful! Tony
ReplyDeletejust blogged about the liebster awards :) your blog is informative :) following you! cheers!
ReplyDeletehttp://redraoalice.blogspot.com/
I just got this and google led me here. Good job investigating! Thanks, I linked to this post if you don't mind.
ReplyDeleteWonderful blog post. That is what I was searching for. I really like your blog and I appericiate your efforts. Your article is very helpful for me and many others to work out. I will definitely come back on your site for more stuff. Good Luck for the future posts.
ReplyDeleteCatriona
I linked my newest post to your blog when I accepted a Liebster Award. Thanks for the info and here's the link http://bmoreenergy.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/loving-the-liebster-award/.
ReplyDeleteI just read all of the comments and like others I am glad to have found a bit of the answer. I, too, received a Leibster nomination. I felt pretty cool until I saw the requirements. I answered the 11 questions quite easily. Finding 11 unique characteristics for me, more difficult. Hardest is: How do I figure out who has less than 3k followers? I am too green for this, I fear.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting the history of this award. It helps to know even this much.
As others have done, I'll slip my URL in here and then go check out the ones above. http://darsword.wordpress.com/
BTW, I am now following your blog! :-D
Thanks for sharing,I got nominated too and was wondering how its done
ReplyDeletewww.ameriestyle.com
I was nominated for this award and wanted more background information on it. Your site was the first that I clicked on and well, you pretty much answered all of my questions. So I took delight in reading all of the other posts that so many great bloggers received this award (?) also. I think of it as paying it forward for the blogging world. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent post I seen thanks to share it. It is really what I wanted to see hope in future you will continue for sharing such a excellent post. Werbung Wien
ReplyDeleteJust received my first Liebster Award. I was far too lazy to take the time to research it all. I did pass it along though :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this. I searched when my blog was nominated, but got lazy and gave up on trying to find out about the actual award...lol..but now that I've read this..albeit a year later...I'm grateful for the knowledge!
ReplyDeleteAppreciate the information about the origins of this "award". Always wonderful to be nominated in the blogosphere for my writing. It is indeed a chain award that seems to have expanded with rules and now we must nominate 11 blogs rather than just 3-5 and answer more questions. I appreciate the nomination however, and will definitely give a shout-out to http://createdbythepotter.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/liebster-award-2/ for my nomination.
ReplyDeleteI saw it on someones blog and I was wondering how it works. I guess I'll have to wait until I get nominated :)
ReplyDelete