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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.
Here are eight hacks that have helped us win more than 30 awards.
There are many awards. Some are local, some are 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 will likely be in the winner's circle. Another great hack is to go for an inaugural award.
For a first-time award, there are 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 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 likelier 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.
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.
Give it a go!
The first award submission will take effort. But the second and subsequent submissions will get easier. 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 lifeblood. We listen to our local customers and our battlefield operators so we can stay ahead of the pack," said Nicole.
Make sure you understand what the judges are really asking.
Yes, it sounds easy. 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.
Succinctly telling your business story is a valuable asset.
Now I don’t know about you, but that just sounds too stressful!
Give yourself enough time to write your submission. That way you can put your business in its best possible light.
Some awards applications ask for written references or endorsements from clients or suppliers. You need time to consider who to ask and give them some time to respond. Likewise, you might need to get some info from your accountant, and that takes time too.
Running your own business can sometimes be lonely.
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.
Concerned about not having a template? No need to fret.
Simply search in the news section on Google. Take a look at how past award winners have structured their press releases for guidance.
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 website 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 eligible 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 it a go and use these hacks to boost your business.
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