Why business awards are good for business
The whole awards process (from being shortlisted to winning an award) can help your business gain more exposure, attract new clients, build the brand, and improve morale between team members.
But most of all, it's often a much-needed time to reflect on where you were when you first started versus where you are right now, and appreciate the progress you've made.
How do awards work? 🏆
First things first, either someone nominates you, or you nominate yourself (yes, there are LOTS of credible awards that are self-nominated in the first instance).
Then there’s often a judging panel (who you might need to have an interview with or submit evidence to) and/or a public vote
Those shortlisted are then whittled down to semi-finalists OR everyone shortlisted might be invited to a BIG reveal at some lush award ceremony (although, with covid, it's often been via Zoom which isn't quite the same opportunity to dress up, but hey ho).
How to enter awards
Awards can be based on industry, location or over-arching theme, so ask your peers, have a quick google, or use a website like boost to find credible awards that align with your business.
There are even companies that can write your entry submissions and responses for you if you're short on time or if tooting your own horn feels uncomfortable and you don't know where to start.
Cost-wise, awards are usually free to enter so if you do get shortlisted you only need to cover the cost of the awards ceremony ticket (and that’s if you decide you even want to go… but it is a nice way to support your peers and network within the award community).
A time for reflection
Whether you’re completing the application form yourself, hiring expert writers to do it, or you’re responding to an email because someone else nominated you, you’re often granted the beautiful opportunity to sit down and reflect:
Where did you start?
Where are you now?
What's changed since then?
What have you learned along the way?
What do you wish you'd done sooner?
Where do you want to be?
In business, we're often so focused on the future and where we want to be, that we don't give ourselves the time and space for this kind of self-reflection.
Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach calls this the Gap and the Gain:
Gap: where you are versus where you want to be.
Gain: where you were when you first started versus where you are right now.
The entire application and interview process will literally force you to evaluate your business and outline how much you’ve achieved by focussing on the Gain, rather than getting sucked into that Gap thinking (which is far more common for us business owners - believe me, I know!).
Visibility 👀
Whether you’re shortlisted, a runner-up or the overall winner, it’s ALL something to be celebrated because you’re owning your brand’s visibility and willingness to be seen.
Award organisers often publicise businesses who’ve made it through to the next stage of the process, and this is a perfect opportunity to get visible on social media: talk about the awards, use their dedicated hashtags, promote their event, celebrate successes (yours or the category winners), and so on.
Conclusion
If you're feeling doubtful about entering an awards program, please remember that there are huge benefits that come from the entire process (win or no win). The exposure and recognition can help take your business to new heights, and who knows, YOU could be the next winner. After all - it really is a case of "being in it to win it", and someone has to win! Have you ever entered an awards program for your business? What was your experience like?
The Virtual Assistant Voice Awards 2022: Best VA Trainer🎉
Before you go, some lovely news (in between Freya having Covid and me doing the #StruggleJuggle again this week because Adam can't get time off work!): I'm nominated in the Best VA trainer category of the VA Voice Awards 2022
(How? No idea! Who nominated me? Not a clue! But it proper made me smile to know that I'm making a positive impact in the industry.)
If you have a few mins, and you've learned something from me about the VA world - through my posts, podcasts (From VA to OBM and More than a VA), blogs, newsletters or training programmes, I'd love your vote!
They're also collating data about best apps etc, so it'll be super useful data when it gets collated and released regardless of who wins.