If you're running a small business today, congratulations! You
should be proud that you're keeping the economy going. You should also
give yourself a huge pat on the back for surviving and thriving. One of
the easiest and most inexpensive ways of giving yourself that pat on
the back is to apply for industry awards that you could be eligible for.
Why Should You Take Your Time To Apply for Industry Awards?
Great question, because in many cases it takes a bunch of time to answer a lot of questions to win your award. But I will tell you, it can work well to help grow your business. Many times awards are judged by a third party who validates that what you do is worthy of an award, and ensures that what you provide meets their requirements. So who are they to judge? Well they may be your peers in your industry, they may be your customers and they may be leaders of your industry association. Either way, it's the validation that counts. Why?
- Your customers like to be associated with a winning company.
- When prospects see that you've won an award it could sway them to you instead of your competition because they may get a sense that you are a "real" and "quality" entity.
- People that visit your business see your awards on your front door and on your website. This lends credibility to your biz.
- Winning awards can improve employee morale. Employees like to thump their chests and tell customers why you won a particular award. If they're selling your product, it makes their job easier because of this "stamp of approval".
- Awards can get you quality employees. If you're voted as having quality products, a quality site or storefront, people are drawn to this because they want to work for the winner.
How Should You Market Your Awards?
Make them prominent in your business - Whether you have cubicle farm or a retail store, make sure that your employees and customers see your awards by framing them, displaying them on a stand or a sticker on your window. It doesn't have to be hokey, just prominent.
"Award-Winning" - You can include these words in your brochures, your site and any press you do that you have an "award-winning" company. Be proud!
Use Award Logos - Use the logos in your online advertising, put them on your direct mail pieces, include them on your business cards, display them on your home page, and include them in your bio or on your about page. The more prominent you make them the better you'll look.
Press Release - Announce to the world that you've won your award. Then make sure you publish the news out to social media outlets like Twitter & Facebook.
Email Marketing - Include the logos and the story about your award in your newsletters.
Awards are a way to gain recognition for you, your business and your website. They bring prestige and more traffic to you, and they enhance your credibility as a business. Check out your industry award possibilities today.
The Charleston AMA offers a great chance for local marketing to shine.
About Spark
It’s simple: enter, win, be recognized.
The AMA Spark Awards recognize the most effective marketing campaigns in South Carolina and awards seven companies and one individual that have demonstrated outstanding leadership and programs in the previous calendar year.
2009 Awards Recipient Benefits
Winners of the 2009 Spark Awards have a unique opportunity to be recognized as marketing innovators throughout the state of South Carolina. Promotion for the 2009 AMA Spark Awards will reach members of statewide media and an extensive database of statewide marketing professionals through a thorough communications plan that includes event publicity, public relations, the AMA website, AMA newsletter and direct email promotions.
Questions? info@charlestonama.org
Posted by: Nicole Garrigan | September 24, 2009 at 09:52 AM
I agree this is a great article and also very timely for us. We just won Best Community Organisation at the Port Hedland Chamber of Commerce Business Awards and I also managed to win Employee of the Year for the Small Business Centre East Pilbara in Western Australia.
We are doing everything you suggested in your article and milking this for all it is worth especially as we are a not for profit organization with limited funding for advertising and marketing so we are using facebook, twitter, emails, newspaper and radio as well as good old word of mouth to let everyone we know about the awards we have just won!
Posted by: Chris Lucas, Manager, Small Business Centre East Pilbara | September 22, 2009 at 08:53 PM
All the sites you mentioned are for US how about globaly is there anything for the rest of the world?
Posted by: Mohamed Mourad | September 16, 2009 at 02:12 AM
janine:
-third party endorsements such as "award-winning" will only get you the business but only adding real value will keep loyalty and referral business. wtd; dave meyers, meyers & McCabe Realtors, inc.
cifton, va
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1033105124 | September 08, 2009 at 11:17 AM
You say: Check out your industry award possibilities today.
I say: where and how?
Posted by: LDJ | September 08, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Great advice and I totally agree with the author! I have won a few awards for top customer satisfaction from Angies List and promote that to prospective customers.
Posted by: Chuck | September 08, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Any suggestions as to recent/suggested industry awards?
Posted by: Savvy Advisor | September 08, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Great article and so timely! I just won the USA Graphic Design award for best logo and it was for my hometown city which was huge. Created a big stir!
Pia Larson
Chief Imagination Officer
Fingerprint Marketing
Posted by: Pia Larson | September 08, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Great idea. Where are the best places to find awards we may be eligible for? Any good lists?
Posted by: twitter.com/matthewbjohnson | September 04, 2009 at 11:53 AM