“Hey there! I’m getting in touch because [company] has earned a nomination for this year’s Netty Awards in the Tech category. All tech nominees receive an article on the Netty Awards website, among other benefits we can share more about. Could you please have the right person for awards and press send me an email so we can finalize the nomination/article coverage? Thank you!” -Zoe, Netty Awards
The internet is flooded with noise – and not every form of recognition is what it seems.
If you’re an entrepreneur, freelancer, or small business owner who’s recently received a congratulatory email from the so-called “Netty Awards” claiming you’ve been nominated for your work in web development, tech, design, or marketing, and you are wondering if the Netty Awards is legit, this guide is for you. What looks like an honor may actually be a costly trap.
In this post, we’re pulling back the curtain on what many are calling a vanity award scam – explaining the red flags and offering tips to avoid falling victim.
What Are the Netty Awards?
The Netty Awards present themselves as a prestigious organization recognizing excellence in tech, design, apps, and marketing. They present dozens of categories with impressive-sounding messaging, but their website is cluttered, slow, and built on a bloated WordPress setup that struggles to perform well on both mobile and desktop.
But there’s a catch.
Once you’re “nominated,” you’re prompted to finalize your nomination and claim the award – by paying a fee of $495 or more. You’re also encouraged to purchase optional upgrades like plaques, press releases, and “premium exposure.”
It’s recognition – for a price.
How the Netty Awards Raise Red Flags
While the Netty Awards do operate a functioning site and respond to inquiries, multiple signs suggest that it operates as a pay-to-win vanity award, not a merit-based competition. Here are the biggest red flags:
- Unsolicited Emails: Recipients are often contacted unexpectedly, with vague praise like “you’ve been nominated” or “recognized for excellence” without any indication of who nominated them or why.
- Pay-to-Participate Model: Rather than evaluating applicants through a rigorous judging process, the awards require upfront payment to secure the “win.”
- No Transparent Judging Criteria: There is no public list of judges, detailed scoring methodology, or published selection standards – elements that legitimate awards typically provide. Actually, the link to “View More” in the Judging Panel leads to a does-not-exist page error.
- Lack of External Credibility: Independent media, trade publications, and industry associations do not report on or reference the Netty Awards, and past “winners” receive little to no exposure outside of the Netty platform itself.
- Low Trust Ratings: Websites like ScamDetector and ScamDoc have flagged the Netty Awards’ domains as medium-risk, citing vague ownership, aggressive marketing, and a lack of transparency.
In short, there’s no evidence that your nomination was earned – or that the award provides any real value beyond superficial branding.
Why It Matters
For freelancers, agencies, startups, and entrepreneurs, awards can help build trust and authority. But fake honors like this don’t boost your credibility – they hurt it. Vanity awards:
- Waste your time and money
- Mislead potential clients
- Erode trust in your brand and the industry at large
- Undermine the value of real, earned achievements
An award that anyone can buy isn’t a badge of excellence – it’s a product.
Related: What Makes a Simple Website Feel Trustworthy? (From Real User Experience, Not Theory)
What to Do Instead
At UltimateWB, we’re all about building your brand the right way. If you want real recognition, skip the scams and focus on authentic growth. Here’s how:
- Showcase your results with a professional, custom website
- Invest in SEO and content marketing to earn organic visibility
- Build social proof through real client testimonials and case studies
- Apply to credible awards programs with no pay-to-win structure
- Let your work and impact speak louder than purchased titles
Recognition is something you earn, not something you buy.
Final Thoughts
The Netty Awards may look impressive on the surface, but behind the scenes, it’s just another pay-to-play operation preying on creators and business owners looking for credibility.
If an award asks for your credit card before offering details about your “win,” walk away.
At UltimateWB, we believe in building real value – and real results. Let us help you stand out online for the right reasons.
Have you been approached by the Netty Awards or a similar pay-to-win scheme? Drop your story in the comments to warn others.
And if you’re looking to earn genuine recognition through better branding, performance, and reach – let’s build something real.
Are you ready to design & build your own website? Learn more about UltimateWB! We also offer web design packages if you would like your website designed and built for you.
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