Why business awards should be part of your 2020 goals
Many business professionals and company owners have always wanted to WIN a Business Award, but many do not know where to start or what they should include in their entry.
There are many reasons why business awards should form an integral part of your business marketing strategy but the new year in particular presents a great opportunity to consider what awards you are going to enter over the course of the year and why this will benefits your business in a wide variety of areas.
Multi-award winner Denise O’Leary of Purpol Marketing wants to help more businesses win awards. Based on her book, WINNER How to Win Business Awards, Denise discusses why the awards process is a key way to refine your goals for the year and the benefits it can bring such as increased exposure, helping to refine your goals and networking.
If awards aren’t on your agenda, you are missing out! The benefits of participating in, never mind winning, business awards are immeasurable. Winning an award can also boost team morale, drive competitive advantage and secure trust in your business.
Enhance Your Credibility
An award massively boosts both your business and your products’ credibility in the eyes of consumers. This provides a concrete seal of approval which evidences the quality of the products or the services you offer. Social proof is one of the most influential factors in a consumer’s decision-making process.
Achieve independent validation
Entering, being a finalist, and ultimately winning an award are great ways to showcase how good you are in your sector and achieve that highly desired independent validation. The benefits of being independently assessed and judged can be hugely important as this provides a badge of credibility that your business will possess well into the future.
Generate free PR
If you get shortlisted or win, you will gain many benefits including credibility – an award gives you the edge against your competition and validates your work. PR opportunities that come from a win help to build your reputation, provide new business opportunities, and the chance to gain new clients, as well as providing something to shout about to existing clients. Awards and the associated ceremonies are also great for networking.
Boost team morale
Keeping and attracting the best talent for your business is key to future success. Winning an award has a hugely positive effect on team morale. Not only do they get to say they work for an award winning business, they might also get to attend the award event and make an incredible experience out of it. Your team will be proud of the award and shout about it.
Secure trust in your business
The entry process itself is a valuable one and the information gained during the preparation of the entry can be used to further refine your business operating procedures, so it is a hugely constructive and educational exercise.
An award win also acts as an aid to the buying decision – it is an indicator of business quality and stand out among the competition. Not only does it help new clients in their purchasing decision, it reaffirms the choice made by existing clients, helping with your business client retention. The research and activity of completing the application concentrates the mind on what has been achieved by the business.
Drive real commercial benefit
Winning can also deliver commercial benefit. You could increase your prices, raising the perceived value in your marketplace of the product or service that you deliver. Faced with a choice of an award winner or not – which would you choose?
ENDS
About the author
Denise launched Purpol Marketing in 2014, offering brand, marketing and bid strategy consultancy specialising in the manufacturing and construction industries. Winning has become a business for Denise, as a multi-award winner and professional bid writer, who has helped clients win opportunities valued at over £3.5bn. She develops marketing strategies, provides bid training and speaks internationally on ‘how to win’. Denise’s new book WINNER – How to Win Business Awards is launching in January 2020, which shares her proven award-winning process, showing you how to find awards to enter, what evidence to gather and techniques for maximum entry standout. www.winnerhowtowin.com
