Frequently Asked Questions
Important Dates
Nominations
Shipping of Products to Judges
Finalist Phase
Winners
Judging Criteria
IMPORTANT DATES
Nominations Open: October 15, 2007
Early Bird Deadline: Nominate by Nov. 2, 2007 to receive a 20% discount off the normal registration price.
Nominations Close: December 3, 2007
Finalists Announced: December 21, 2007
Winners Announced at SD West 2008: March 5, 2008
NOMINATIONS
What products are eligible for nominations?
Books, products and websites. Books and products must have been published or
had a significant version release in the current calendar year (November 2006
- November 2007) to be considered. Websites may be nominated even if they originated
prior to 2007. Products nominated should be stable with a track record of successful
prior releases.
Will betas be allowed?
No. Beta software will not be considered.
Would a book with a major update (2nd, 3rd editions, etc.) qualify?
Yes.
How do you define General versus Technical Books?
Books are considered “general” if they don't focus exclusively
on a particular language or technology or too heavily on programming constructs.
What information is required to nominate my product?
When submitting your application, we ask that you provide:
- Contact Information
- Category (see Description of Categories)
- Sub-Categories (see List of Sub-Categories)
- Supporting Product Information (optional; must be submitted no later than December 3rd, 2007)
- A statement describing why your product is better than its competitors (no more than 250 words, 5 bullet points).
- Fee payment (credit-card only)
How many products can I nominate?
You can nominate as many as you like.
Will I have to pay a registration fee for each category that my product
is nominated in?
Yes. Registration fees apply for each nomination.
What are we looking for in supporting Product Information?
You may submit a 5-minute Flash video, PowerPoint or webinar consisting
of 5-10 examples of your product's most salient and standout functionality.
(The examples may be illustrated with static screenshots, real-time animation
or an application demo.) White papers may also be made available to the judges.
Is this a requirement?
While the supporting product information is not a requirement for
submission, it does help us see what your product does and aids in finalist
selection. We highly recommend that you submit any supporting information that
is available.
When does the supporting product information have to be available?
If you wish to do submit a presentation (such as Flash video), please make it available on your website and provide the URL in the Supplemental Links section of the nomination form. If the presentation is not available at nomination time, you may send the URL to 18thJoltAwards@think-services.com before December 3, 2007. You may also include links for other supporting information, such as web sites or customer testimonials, at that time.
In the past, my product was placed in another category. Why?
If you nominate your product in only one category, the judges may
move it to a more appropriate category—especially if they are familiar
with the product and your competitors. If your product is nominated in several
categories, we will generally leave it where it is nominated. Note that companies
often nominate their products in multiple categories for market positioning.
SHIPPING OF PRODUCTS TO JUDGES
When are products shipped to the judges?
As soon as the finalists are named, vendors are sent a list of judges,
along with instructions to send a copy of their product/ book to each judge
on the list within 2 weeks. Vendors are responsible for getting products to
the judges; if the normal mode of distribution is by download, instructions,
password and licenses must be provided.
How many products must be shipped?
There may be up to 15 judges, depending on the category. We
will let you know how many copies are required.
FINALIST STAGE
Finalists will be announced by December 21, 2007. Product finalists are required to send a copy of their product—with a full, unrestricted license with no expiration date—to up to 15 judges. If your product takes more than 30 minutes to install, you must submit, along with the product, a pre-built Virtual PC image configured with all the required components and dependencies required for your product to be evaluated.
In many instances, judges recommend Jolt finalist products to clients and peers.
They stay informed about the tool landscape as they review other products—potentially
mentioning your product in future articles. And one reason we attract such
excellent and eminent judges is that they receive the best software—not
only to evaluate, but to add to their personal research libraries.
How are the finalists selected?
Judges select the finalists based on the application form, supporting material
submitted, the buzz that your product has generated, their familiarity with
your product, on-line reviews, peer reviews, and the information provided on
your website. We highly recommend that you submit a 5-minute Flash video, Power
Point or webinar highlighting your tool’s key features and differentiators.
WINNERS
When will the winners be announced?
Winners will be announced at a gala March 5, 2008 at SD West in Santa
Clara, Calif. If you are a finalist, please plan on having a representative come
to the Awards.
JUDGING CRITERIA
How are the winners selected?
Our select panel of judges not only examine the standard criteria of
audience suitability, productivity, innovation, quality, ROI, risk and flexibility,
but also seek to honor products that are ahead of the curve. Jolt winners are
universally useful; are simple, yet rich in functionality; redefine their product
space; and/or solve a nagging problem that has consistently eluded other products
and books.
Still have questions?
Please contact Amber Ankerholz.
