| Awards are an important medium for many businesses - it is another stepping stone to creating a stronger brand. However, choosing which awards you enter, and how to go about maximising your chances of winning can be a feat in itself. |
Select your awards carefully, enter high-profile awards that carry a level of kudos among your target audience and think outside just your industry sector. Winning these highly relevant awards will give your company a stronger, more targeted message to take to your clients as well as when pitching for new business.
Consider the value of entry award opportunity and how it supports your business message whether it be a business award which carries influence with investors; a regional award that supports your local positioning, an employer award that will attract high calibre future employees, or an industry focused award that celebrates innovation and new product development, highlights your expertise within a specific channel or profiles a key member of your team such as a development chef to shout about your culinary credentials.
Once you’ve identified the awards you want to target, consider how you are going to tackle the application process. It will require a lot of work, so allocate proper time and resources when compiling your entries.
An effective award application will have contributions from a variety of stakeholders ensuring the application is more rounded and contains aspects of the business that are not glaringly obvious to the marketing team as well as creating a sense of team spirit.
Consider the calibre and experience of the judges on the panel and do your homework on them especially if you are presenting your entry in person. Get something in there that will impress them, and leave a lasting impression. And back your statements up with case studies, testimonials, research, statistics or financials.
If you’re shortlisted try your utmost to attend! Sounds obvious but a no show does not reflect well on your company. The event itself is a great way to reward your team but primarily it’s the best occasion to network or impress key customers by ensuring they are there to witness your glory.
And tell the World about your win! In addition to the standard PR opportunities, firing off press releases and placing logos of the awards on websites and marketing collateral, use it as a springboard for future business wins, if you are launching new products or diversifying and let your existing customers know they are working with an award winning company.
Measuring ROI for all your efforts can be difficult especially if you’re not successful but hopefully you’ll feel the process of entering alone has been a highly valuable exercise and given you the opportunity to step back and consider your achievements and identify your downfalls.
The thing to remember is that if you don’t enter, you can’t win. By throwing your hat into the ring you stand a chance of winning, you don’t really have anything to lose.
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This week we interview Andrew Green, vice chairman of the the Craft Guild of Chefs.
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What are the benefits to companies entering industry awards?
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The benefits are to both the company and to the individual, it shows real passion and commitment for what they are trying to achieve.
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Which awards are you personally involved in both in regard to your role at the Craft Guild of Chefs and Sodexo?
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I have this year judged the Craft Guild of Chefs awards that were recently held at The Hilton Park Lane, and what a great event that was!!
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"As the hype and frenzy surrounding the micro-blogging site twitter continues to escalate, increasing numbers of people and businesses are looking to take the plunge. It’s therefore quite interesting to see that there are still plenty of warnings that, brands in particular, must adhere to and be wary of. While still in it’s relative infancy, Social media and the way marketers use it, require probably more thought and planning than any other form of marketing we undertake..."
Read the rest of this post and Check out The Foodie Hubbub blog here. |
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