Recognition - A (Hopefully) Helpful Guide by bubble103

bubble103

Recognition.
You've probably headed over to this forum, the Show & Tell section, to seek it out.

We all want recognition, acknowledgement and appreciation for our work and projects on Scratch. It's a big part of our community - Imagine, Program, Share. What's the fun in sharing projects if no one notices them?

So, for many scratchers this Show & Tell forum is an awesome way to advertise your stuff and get recognition! But, there is much more to becoming a well-recognised, or even famous, scratcher than just advertising… Let me share with you what I have discovered on my 3 years on Scratch.

1. Put that effort in!

You wanna be recognised? Well, what do you want to be recogised for?

You have to make great stuff, put huge effort into what you make.

Your projects don't have to be perfect - you'll grow and improve over time through practice, and feedback from others. What matters is your effort, and you knowing that you gave it your all.

2. You gotta give to get.

Give other scratchers a hand with tricky scripts. Make a logo for someone. Be friendly and welcoming to new scratchers. Make friends, enter contests, chat, collaborate, help, give advice and constructive criticism!

By doing those kinds of community activities, you're basically ‘giving’ to the community. You make yourself someone likable and therefore more well-known.

Well, you can't sit in some corner of the website and not interact with this community at all, then expect the community to suddenly shower you with attention. It just doesn't work.

When I first started on Scratch, I pretty much did that. XD I was too shy to speak to anyone. Finally, I came out of my bubble (lol, get it? Ahaha… ha… Okay, not that funny. XD) and started talking to other scratchers. Know what I found? They don't bite. X3 Most of the people on this website are very friendly. I've made some great friends, collaborated with some brilliantly creative people. I'm sure you'll find the same thing, if you just give it a go.

3. Judging a book by its cover.

You've heard the saying, right? ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover.' Basically, don't be too quick to judge based only on first impressions.

How does this have anything to do with Scratch? Well, let me ask a different question: what's the first thing you notice about a Scratch project?

Its thumbnail! (The ‘thumbnail’ is the little picture you see before you click the project.

)

Now, thumbnails are very important - they're the first things you see, the things that influence you whether to click on the projects or not. If you want to use the ‘judge a book by its cover’ analogy, the thumbnail is essentially the ‘cover’ and the ‘book’ inside is the actual project.

Like it or not, we all judge books by their covers: we want to look at projects with eye-catching thumbnails, and are less interested in dull ones.
So, if you have nice thumbnails, more people will look at your projects!

Don't worry if you think you're not so great at designing good thumbnails - that's where other scratchers can help you! Have a look in the Requests forum for some forum shops that create art, logos and thumbnails for scratchers!

Oh, and one more thing - as well as project thumbnails, your logo/profile picture is very important! It's something that represents you and the kind of scratcher you are. Again, if you need a hand making a professional-looking logo, ask around in the Requests forum!

An extra note:

metallic123 wrote:
Never judge a book by it's cover. Some scratchers don't even know how to use thumbnails. I didn't till recently. If the thumbnail is a mess, still give the project a try. You never know what it may be like!

Yes, it's something we do without thinking most of the time, but I think the point metallic123 raises is very important: try your best not to judge a book by its cover!

Also, here's a little help on how thumbnails work:

Scratch is responsible for what your thumbnail is on projects. It will take the image of whatever was on your project's screen when you last saved it and use that as the thumbnail. One way to control what your thumbnail looks like is this: 1) create a new sprite. 2) draw a picture that fills the whole screen that you want as your thumbnail. 3) put a script in it to make it hide when the project starts. 4) save the project with the thumbnail sprite showing and covering the screen. 5) And you're done!

4. Do it for YOU!

What's the point of being famous for something you don't even like doing? There isn't any! Make sure that you're making projects that YOU enjoy making, NOT because it's trendy and you think playing along with what other scratchers are doing too will get you popular. Although, if what you wanna do just happens to be the same as the trend, go for it anyway! Do it for YOURSELF, not for anyone else.

Ultimately, following your own passions will get you far further and far happier. And Scratch is about learning, but it's also about fun!

Don't let the desire for recognition ever make you lose sight of that.

I hope this guide has been helpful to you! Please share your own tips in a reply below.

Oh, also, if you thought this guide was cool/amazing/terrible/hard to understand/helpful - please please let me know, I really want to hear what you think.

Scratch on!

Last edited by bubble103 (Oct. 11, 2015 09:22:43)

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♥ "Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world." - Bill Bullard

♥ "People are human beings, produced by the society in which they live. You encourage people by seeing good in them." - Nelson Mandela

bubble103

Bump.

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♥ "Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world." - Bill Bullard

♥ "People are human beings, produced by the society in which they live. You encourage people by seeing good in them." - Nelson Mandela

firstject

Awesome! great guide. Thanks for making this.

Who said Scratch can't handle clipping mask? Just take a look by your own eyes. Lightcube Platformer

HIGH QUALITY is a must! THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO SUGGESTED IT!

// firstject

bubble103

firstject wrote:
Awesome! great guide. Thanks for making this.

Yay, glad you like it! ^u^

⋆✴ ✧ ✩ Voice-Acting Shop!✩ ✧ ✴⋆

♥ "Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world." - Bill Bullard

♥ "People are human beings, produced by the society in which they live. You encourage people by seeing good in them." - Nelson Mandela

bubble103

Bump.

⋆✴ ✧ ✩ Voice-Acting Shop!✩ ✧ ✴⋆

♥ "Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world." - Bill Bullard

♥ "People are human beings, produced by the society in which they live. You encourage people by seeing good in them." - Nelson Mandela

Prinseskat

Nice topic, nice tips! I really agree with 4: copying what everyone else is doing just because it's popular isn't great as you're thinking more about what everyone else will like than what you like. Also, you could have made a really nice, unique game someone hasn't ever made yet, or another platformer with an kawaii art style (don't get me wrong, some are really nice to play, but I've noticed lots of these sort of games which are kind of similar).

haha funny kumquat meme

Paddle2See

You've got some very valuable advice here! Thanks for sharing it in such a clear and engaging way

Scratch Team Member, kayak and pickleball enthusiast, cat caregiver.

This is my forum signature! On a forum post, it is okay for Scratchers to advertise in their forum signature. The signature is the stuff that shows up below the horizontal line on the post. It will show up on every post I make.
(credit to Za-Chary)

;

bubble103

Thank you very much, Prinseskat and Paddle2See!! I'm very pleased you found some value in my advice.

anD OMP IM STICKY'D!!! Yaaaaaay!!

⋆✴ ✧ ✩ Voice-Acting Shop!✩ ✧ ✴⋆

♥ "Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world." - Bill Bullard

♥ "People are human beings, produced by the society in which they live. You encourage people by seeing good in them." - Nelson Mandela

FreyaTheWolf

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone else here thinks @bubble103 is so awesome that their mind is blown when she replies to you? Yay or Nae?

when green flag clicked
forever
    
say [Bubble is the best!] for (2) secs
end

FreyaTheWolf

Music, Comps, and much more!

I have chickens for sale!
They are nuggets though…
(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ ✧ﾟ･: *ヽ(◕ヮ◕ヽ)(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ ✧ﾟ･: *ヽ(◕ヮ◕ヽ)(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ ✧ﾟ･: *ヽ(◕ヮ◕ヽ)(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ ✧ﾟ･: *ヽ(◕ヮ◕ヽ)WOOOO SPARKLES!

ScratchMyMouse

Totally agree! And then when she likes and favo one of your projects, Your all

MIND BLOWN!!!!!!!!

when green flag clicked 
define (FAINT)

FreyaTheWolf

ScratchMyMouse wrote:
Totally agree! And then when she likes and favo one of your projects, Your all

MIND BLOWN!!!!!!!!
when green flag clicked 
define (FAINT)

YAS!!!!!

when green flag clicked
define MINDISBLOWN!

FreyaTheWolf

Music, Comps, and much more!

I have chickens for sale!
They are nuggets though…
(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ ✧ﾟ･: *ヽ(◕ヮ◕ヽ)(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ ✧ﾟ･: *ヽ(◕ヮ◕ヽ)(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ ✧ﾟ･: *ヽ(◕ヮ◕ヽ)(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ ✧ﾟ･: *ヽ(◕ヮ◕ヽ)WOOOO SPARKLES!

bubble103

FreyaTheWolf wrote:
Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone else here thinks @bubble103 is so awesome that their mind is blown when she replies to you? Yay or Nae?
when green flag clicked
forever
    
say [Bubble is the best!] for (2) secs
end

ScratchMyMouse wrote:
Totally agree! And then when she likes and favo one of your projects, Your all

MIND BLOWN!!!!!!!!
when green flag clicked 
define (FAINT)

when I receive [such kind words from other scratchers v]
set [emotion v] to [absolutely touched and heart-warmed]
say [I'm flattered! ^u^]

⋆✴ ✧ ✩ Voice-Acting Shop!✩ ✧ ✴⋆

♥ "Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world." - Bill Bullard

♥ "People are human beings, produced by the society in which they live. You encourage people by seeing good in them." - Nelson Mandela

FreyaTheWolf

bubble103 wrote:
FreyaTheWolf wrote:
Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone else here thinks @bubble103 is so awesome that their mind is blown when she replies to you? Yay or Nae?
when green flag clicked
forever
    
say [Bubble is the best!] for (2) secs
end
ScratchMyMouse wrote:
Totally agree! And then when she likes and favo one of your projects, Your all

MIND BLOWN!!!!!!!!
when green flag clicked 
define (FAINT)
when I receive [such kind words from other scratchers v]
set [emotion v] to [absolutely touched and heart-warmed]
say [I'm flattered! ^u^]

when [Quote by bubble v] key pressed

define MIND IS STILL BLOWN!

FreyaTheWolf

Music, Comps, and much more!

I have chickens for sale!
They are nuggets though…
(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ ✧ﾟ･: *ヽ(◕ヮ◕ヽ)(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ ✧ﾟ･: *ヽ(◕ヮ◕ヽ)(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ ✧ﾟ･: *ヽ(◕ヮ◕ヽ)(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ ✧ﾟ･: *ヽ(◕ヮ◕ヽ)WOOOO SPARKLES!

makethebrainhappy

bubble103 wrote:
2. You gotta give to get.

Give other scratchers a hand with tricky scripts. Make a logo for someone. Be friendly and welcoming to new scratchers. Make friends, enter contests, chat, collaborate, help, give advice and constructive criticism!

By doing those kinds of community activities, you're basically ‘giving’ to the community. You make yourself someone likable and therefore more well-known.

Well, you can't sit in some corner of the website and not interact with this community at all, then expect the community to suddenly shower you with attention. It just doesn't work.

When I first started on Scratch, I pretty much did that. XD I was too shy to speak to anyone. Finally, I came out of my bubble (lol, get it? Ahaha… ha… Okay, not that funny. XD) and started talking to other scratchers. Know what I found? They don't bite. X3 Most of the people on this website are very friendly. I've made some great friends, collaborated with some brilliantly creative people. I'm sure you'll find the same thing, if you just give it a go.

This is my personal favorite

Congradulations on the sticky

. What was the first collaboration you ever joined/made?

Rate My Reply:

Scratch Helper! My Website:<— LetsMakeTheBrainHappy

ScratchMyMouse

when green flag clicked
play sound [Bubble103 is the best!!! v]
move (10) steps
switch costume to [Awesomeness v]
stamp

bubble103

makethebrainhappy wrote:
bubble103 wrote:
2. You gotta give to get.

Give other scratchers a hand with tricky scripts. Make a logo for someone. Be friendly and welcoming to new scratchers. Make friends, enter contests, chat, collaborate, help, give advice and constructive criticism!

By doing those kinds of community activities, you're basically ‘giving’ to the community. You make yourself someone likable and therefore more well-known.

Well, you can't sit in some corner of the website and not interact with this community at all, then expect the community to suddenly shower you with attention. It just doesn't work.

When I first started on Scratch, I pretty much did that. XD I was too shy to speak to anyone. Finally, I came out of my bubble (lol, get it? Ahaha… ha… Okay, not that funny. XD) and started talking to other scratchers. Know what I found? They don't bite. X3 Most of the people on this website are very friendly. I've made some great friends, collaborated with some brilliantly creative people. I'm sure you'll find the same thing, if you just give it a go.

This is my personal favorite

Congradulations on the sticky . What was the first collaboration you ever joined/made?

Thanks! ^u^ Hmm, let me think… It was a little collab between just me and IHEARTLICKYKITTY, we made an AMV together.

⋆✴ ✧ ✩ Voice-Acting Shop!✩ ✧ ✴⋆

♥ "Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world." - Bill Bullard

♥ "People are human beings, produced by the society in which they live. You encourage people by seeing good in them." - Nelson Mandela

rainbow_waves

Great topic! Love the tips!

Shops: The Aquarium Shop // Shop of Dreams // ~~~∞❅(ᵔᴥᵔ)-SuperNovaShop-(ᵔᴥᵔ)❅∞~~~ ~~~∞-For Stellar Projects-∞~~~ // Everything You Want! // Almost Infinite Possibilities // Shadey's Magical Shop of Voice and Art // Shrink to Grow Shop // ✰Quickfix shop- Art & voice acting // Coder11000's Art Shop! // ⓈⒾⒼⓉⓄⓃ'Ⓢ ⓈⒽⓄⓅ // Ocean Breeze Shop of Almost Everything! // ☾ ZLGame's Wonderful Shop of Everything ☽ // ⓣⓗⓔ ⓒⓐⓣⓢ ⓜⓔⓞⓦ ⓢⓗⓞⓟ |||| ⓐⓡⓣ, ⓜⓤⓢⓘⓒ, ⓢⓒⓡⓘⓟⓣⓢ, ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦⓢ

PeaInAPod

Nice advice @bubble103 !

Give other scratchers a hand with tricky scripts. Make a logo for someone. Be friendly and welcoming to new scratchers. Make friends, enter contests, chat, collaborate, help, give advice and constructive criticism!

This is my favourite! I'm now searching for projects and giving criticism to them. Of course I choose games/animations that are nice and do not have any attention. I chat with the owners of those projects mostly to give some advice and some suggestions for their projects. My brother says that I am always active. Well, ‘imagine, program and share’ing is what I am . But I'm a really busy person because I have : school, 10+ siblings, web/app developing.

when I receive [bubble103's advice v]
point towards [bubble103 v]
switch costume to [thankful v]
say [Thanks for the advice, friend!]

bubble103

rainbow_waves wrote:
Great topic! Love the tips!

Thank you! ^u^

PeaInAPod wrote:
Nice advice @bubble103 !
Give other scratchers a hand with tricky scripts. Make a logo for someone. Be friendly and welcoming to new scratchers. Make friends, enter contests, chat, collaborate, help, give advice and constructive criticism!
This is my favourite! I'm now searching for projects and giving criticism to them. Of course I choose games/animations that are nice and do not have any attention. I chat with the owners of those projects mostly to give some advice and some suggestions for their projects. My brother says that I am always active. Well, ‘imagine, program and share’ing is what I am . But I'm a really busy person because I have : school, 10+ siblings, web/app developing.
when I receive [bubble103's advice v]
point towards [bubble103 v]
switch costume to [thankful v]
say [Thanks for the advice, friend!]

Thanks! I'm so glad you're finding my advice useful!

⋆✴ ✧ ✩ Voice-Acting Shop!✩ ✧ ✴⋆

♥ "Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world." - Bill Bullard

♥ "People are human beings, produced by the society in which they live. You encourage people by seeing good in them." - Nelson Mandela

oceanvibe

For newbies like me, this is an awesome guide! Thank you.

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