If you are a business owner in a competitive environment, you have probably seen a few companies that like to flood their foyer, website and social media pages with awards that they have won.
Both applying for and winning awards carry a misconception. Many believe that only larger companies should enter awards. Or that companies do so simply so they can brag about it. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Regardless of the size of your venture, business awards have an added value for your company. What’s more, I am willing to wager it is far more than you think.
There Is More To Win Than Just An Award
As a business, you should monitor at least 3 business awards annually for their award deadlines. Whether you have done something to make you stand out or not, having this awareness means you will be ready to submit your answers when the right time presents itself.
Every business should thrive on wins. Winning awards has so many added advantages. Even if you forget about it after you are done bragging to your neighbour about it.
With any award comes what is, in my opinion, the best advantage of all. Pride and credibility. Think about it like this. Any restaurant or clothing store that you are considering buying from, do you not look at the reviews or negative comments far more than you do the positive?
Awards bring an instant advantage. They are the ‘perfect positive’ review and set the benchmark of the trustworthiness of the company or the companies director to get the job done.
Four Key Benefits Of Entering Business Awards
1) Attracting the right candidates and retention of employees
As a business, recruitment and training often are the hardest thing to tackle in your business. Awards give your company the ‘edge’ that the potential candidate is looking for. Most people will research the company, understand the values of the company and let’s face it; most people will judge the company based on a comparison of “Award Winning Company” or not.
Awards give you the recognition and win that you need to attract the best suitors for available roles. Moreover, for the current employees, it is reassurance that they are in the right place at the right time. That the company has passion, growth and a sense of accomplishment.
2) Marketing with class, not making sh$t up
Picture this, you are sitting in a business meeting pitching your service or product to potential new clients. You ramble on about your success rate and how great your employees are and before long? Mr Johnson in the back row is already sound asleep. Why? Because selling without trust-building evidence is like going into a coffee shop where they don’t sell coffee. However, one mention of your award and how you won it, Mr Johnson’s attention is yours as he questions you about it.
Every business environment is competitive. You need to show that you are hardworking, work to the current market trends and that your knowledge base is more than your competitors. An award will sum all that up and you won’t have to say anything. Especially if the award is renowned in the industry.
On top of this, an award provides further marketing opportunities that could come up like blog posts, articles etc. Googling yourself has never been easier. It’s the most effective way for someone to find more information about you and your achievements in business.
Don’t be shy about it as well, make sure it is featured on your website and social media pages; be proud of it.
3) Self-motivation
There’s a feeling of achievement at every stage of the process. From starting the application to getting nominated and of course to winning. As a business owner, this helps to track your goals coming together. It also helps keep you motivated to strive for more and growth is key to your business.
As a business owner, it’s easy to get bogged down with the everyday and not realise what you have accomplished. Awards help showcase what you have achieved over the year and inspire you by showing you what you achieve even motivation was lacking.
4) Networking and meeting new contacts
Business awards nights are the perfect opportunity to network with new contacts in your industry or expand on others to collab. It’s the perfect time to communicate with other players in the industry that are also looking for growth.
Talk to business leaders, talk to professionals who can help you move forward. Being around growth-minded people brings a new edge that will shine the next time you enter the office. Even just applying can bring your business to the attention of other influential people in your industry or local business network.
Finally, while there is no doubt that awards are helpful, being aware that the application for an award takes time. It’s a process and it’s important to think about the questions in-depth (this means turning of MAFS while you do it!).
Plan ahead, allow plenty of time before the deadline and get someone else to read over it before you hit submit.
Good Luck xxx
Authors note – Chrissy Symeonakis (our Founder and Managing Director) has won numerous awards over the years. Perhaps most impressive is that this year, after starting up 2 new businesses over COVID and lockdowns, she has recently been nominated for both a Pause Award and by Business Australia for her leadership and growth in marketing.
Stay tuned for the results!