The market is super competitive right now. So how do you stand out from the crowd?
One of the best ways is "Accolade Marketing."
It is one of the most powerful and targeted ways to boost your business is to win an award.
This will fortify your brand with your clients, stakeholders, and peers.
Awards showcase your organization’s unique features. They show-off your team’s expertise. And they show your business’s commitment to achieving fantastic outcomes.
There are many awards. Some are local, some state-based and some are national. Consider what your company is good at and your target market.
Then select an award that matches your mission.
Start with an award that is local and industry-specific. A smaller scope means your business is more likely to be in the winner’s circle.Another great hack is to go for an inaugural award. For a first-time award there is likely fewer entrants and less competition.
Whichever award you go for, don't worry about nominating yourself. Many awards allow, or even encourage self-nomination.
"Put your hand up. Entering awards demonstrates your commitment to your business and its integrity. And you'd be surprised many awards are actually free to enter. Win and you'll create a buzz. Winning the Telstra Business Award for Innovation gave us a lot of PR and networking moments,” said Nicole.
Okay, the national “Business of the Year” might be a tough ask. Especially for your first time entering business awards.
Focus instead on a category like innovation or sustainability. This might give your business a fighting chance. You are more likely to be chosen as a finalist if you select a specialist category.
Select a category that might not be popular with other applicants. Think big fish in a small pond.
During the middle of the calendar year is what’s known as “award season”. Many awards panels avoid the Christmas and New Year period to host their awards.
Make this work in your favor.
Choose an award that has a closing date in January. That way most applicants are likely to be on vacation.
Less competition means your submission will have more chance of winning.
Don't be afraid to challenge yourself.
"We strive for continuous and never-ending improvement. We always ask ourselves: Can this be done better? Innovation is our life-blood. We listen to our local customers and our battlefield operators so we can stay ahead of the pack," said Nicole.
Don't get distracted!
Just answer the question the judges ask.
If you do not understand one of the questions, don't skip it.
Instead, contact the awards admin and seek clarification. Or be bold and contact the judge or judges directly!
Another hack: if there is a word limit, don’t exceed it.
Telling your business story in a succinct way is a valuable asset.
The awards night is a chance to dress up and network with other small business owners.
Running your own business can sometimes be lonely. So an awards night is a chance to revel in your (and other’s) success.
So enjoy it.
Winning an award is a way for your business to stand out in the crowd.
You don’t have to win the top gong to benefit.
Just being a finalist or highly commended, even simply being nominated, can be a winning story.
As soon as your business has been announced on the shortlist, let people know!
The media is full of bad news.
So it is refreshing to offer your local editor a good news story!
Be careful to comply with any media embargo. You don’t want to publish the news too soon.
Some awards committees offer you a template press release to announce your glory.
No template? No worries. Do a search the news section on Google. Then see how previous awards winners have crafted their press releases.
Summing up, the benefit of winning a business award doesn’t stop with a pretty photo of you holding a shiny trophy. Not only does winning an award provide newsworthy content for industry media, but it also creates great content for your web site and social media platforms. Business awards boost reputation and confidence.
If you have entered the same award (and won) a few years in a row then you might be eligibile for a "Hall of Fame" award.
Or you might even be invited to be on the judging panel for the business awards.
Winning awards enhances your business profile and creates great business development opportunities. So give is a go and use these hacks to boost your business.
Australian laser tag manufacturer, Battlefield Sports, won an iAward. This award which recognizes the nation's top-performing innovators.
The iAwards honors organizations at the cutting edge of technology innovation. It recognizes the achievements of home-grown Australian innovators.
The key goal is to discover, recognize and reward the ICT innovations that have the potential to, or are already having a positive impact on the community. Impact at home, in the office, and on a global scale.
Battlefield Sports won the coveted Exporter of the Year award.
“The iAwards is an ideal showcase for Australian visionaries. Visionaries who want to demonstrate their best innovations and innovative projects. I’m delighted to see students, governments and large corporate entities all put their hats in the ring to compete. All the name of celebrating great ideas,” said an iAwards spokesperson.
Founder, Peter Lander said he was incredibly proud of his team and their efforts during the last few years. Dedications which has enabled this family-owned company to net this prestigious nomination.“I'm proud,” Peter said.
“To go up against national corporations like Santos and Telstra, to compete with Universities and, to be in the same competition as renowned science organizations like CSIRO is a thrill."
“This is a true reflection of our company’s innovation ethos. It's a testament of what you can achieve if you dream big and work hard.”
The Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business, the Hon Leeanne Enoch recently awarded the Exporter of the Year from the iAwards to Nicole Lander from Battlefield Sports..
"We wanted to create a video game and experience it in real-life.
So what we did was innovate traditional laser tag.
The traditional laser tag was usually inside a dark, foggy maze. You know with the little "pew-pew" little plastic guns.
No.
We actually decided to take it outside, into the forest.
So gamers can actually experience peer-to-peer direct-fire infantry engagements, but no bruises."
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