Why You Should Nominate Your Business for Awards
WRITTEN BY: RACHEL HAYWARD, BID WRITER & OWNER, ASK THE CHAMELEON LTD
Award-winning….
It’s everywhere…
And you’re wondering who is that fairy godmother that is going to nominate you, clearly knowing ALLL there is to know about your business, right?
Wrong.
It’s you. YOU are your own fairy godmother
Who else knows your business better than you? Your numbers, your sacrifices, your wins and lightbulb moments, your beautiful USP.
You!
So, let’s get started.
Now firstly, there are awards and there are “awards”. The latter will be a random email telling you, you are the top < insert title of your own> in your postcode. And that if you hand over £250 you can get your certificate, piece of glass and an advert in their magazine.
Woahhh… Hold on there. Firstly, this could be dodgy…so do your due diligence, check them out, google them before handing over ANY money.
The best awards are those you see your business pals, competitors and heroes apply for and win. I am telling you; they are applying for these themselves 99% of the time, and whilst my mum still thinks that’s funny, it really is part of your marketing toolkit, and you owe it to your business, your team and yourself to win an award to show the world how amazing your small biz is.
Let me share my top tips to get you started:-
Research – check out those business networks/connections; who has an award, what was it for, ask how they found the process and what their advice would be
Check – do you meet the criteria? If it asks for 3 years in business and you are only 2 years in, then don’t apply. Treat it like applying for a job, do you meet the minimum criteria and can you smash their socks off with your story
Calendar – spread them out…awards may be free to apply, but the dinners, new clothes, taxis, babysitters, hotel costs all stack up. Equally you want to squeeze every bit of PR out of them, so spread them across your year to maximise the marketing potential
Time – you must allocate time to write them (or ask someone else – but even then, they don’t know YOU, so they need you too). Don’t rush it – treat it like the most important proposal you have ever created, after all it is representing you and your business
Help – ask people to help you proofread it, check it makes sense, your spelling and grammar, and critically, have you even answered the question?? Have you been too shy, when really you need to be loud and proud?
Be gracious and kind – congratulate everyone who is shortlisted, any finalists you meet, the winners. Awards dinners are professional networking opportunities, get your game face on and represent your business with style. We don’t always win the top award first time, but you never know who could be there and what opportunities they could offer you.
Still need convincing?
A Harris Poll study found that 75% of consumers are more likely to choose an award-winning company over competitors.
The British Quality Foundation (BQF) revealed that businesses winning awards experience an average 41% increase in revenue compared to non-award-winning counterparts.
According to Forbes, 70% of businesses report a significant boost in publicity following award recognition.
A study by Nielsen indicated a 37% increase in customer inquiries post-award.
A report from the Angel Investor Network found that 55% of investors are more likely to support businesses that have been nominated for or won awards, viewing them as lower-risk and more credible investment opportunities.
Let’s face it, if you had 2 chocolate bars in front of you, both equally priced and looking yummy, wouldn’t “award winning” influence your purchase?
Come on. You – and your business – are worth it. Let’s see your name in lights.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachel Hayward is the award-winning wordsmith behind Ask the Chameleon, helping businesses and charities grow through winning tenders, grants, and award applications; over £156.5 million secured and counting. She turns your expertise into powerful, polished submissions (without the stress), so you can focus on what you do best.
With a background in HR, development, and bid writing across sectors, Rachel’s scooped up her own accolades too, including Female Entrepreneur of the Year and a Lord Lieutenant’s Unsung Hero award. She champions small businesses as FSB D2N2 Area Lead and proudly supports others through The Star Trust.
Need someone to hit deadlines, word counts, and PR-worthy wins? Rachel’s your fairy godmother—with a keyboard.
