At award writing agency Osborn Communications, we do not just share our clients’ news with an array of audiences, we help them make the news by submitting winning entries for business awards.
Between September 2021 and November 2024, our track record stood at 35 wins and 143 finalist placings. One of those wins was even for our business.
We understand that for businesses which want to stand out, awards are not just about recognition.
An award finalist placing and if things go your way a win can demonstrate the commitment and high standards of your business and be testament to your brand’s excellence.
Having submitted entries for an array of national, local, industry and individual awards, our expert team know all the ins and outs of the award-writing process, from crafting compelling narratives to highlighting impactful results.
Here we delve into the key strategies that have helped us and our clients achieve remarkable results in award competitions.
If you are faced with the daunting blank page to fill, these tips will help you get started with a focussed plan.
1. Get someone who wants to write the entry… to write the entry
Writing with energy, enthusiasm and knowledge is vital. You need to be able to sell your business and its impact and your entry should show passion and detail.
Judges have limited time to review submissions so take no shortcuts, like directing people to your website, as judges will be led by the entry form. If focus or time is an issue, consider an expert partner for entries.
2. Read the award criteria beforehand and take notes
As we were all taught in exams: Always read the question. You cannot win the award if you do not meet the criteria, as that will be the focus for the assessment.
Base your submission around each point on the judging criteria. Do not be tempted to focus solely on your strong points or go off on a tangent as you will need to outscore others on as many criteria as possible, using the full word limit. The best way to do this is to get your point across concisely.
3. Set clear, achievable deadlines
Establish when the deadline for submission is and work backwards. If you are in a larger organisation do not forget to consider time for business sign off and amendments.
Prepare for fact checking and gathering all your evidence plus making time to write the submission itself. If you are going to struggle to submit, you can consider getting outside help.
4. Make sure you tell your story
The judging panel cannot judge what is not written down on paper. Used the full word count to tell your story in a clear, concise way.
Think about the business purpose and how this was met, what results were achieved and what your future plans are, as well as defining what makes your story unique in your sector or organisation.
5. Let the facts speak for themselves
Use a mix of quantitative data, measures of values or counts in numbers, and qualitative data, mostly comments expressing key ideas or views, to support what you are saying.
You may claim your customer service programme is excellent so include a statistic to back it up or ask a customer or supplier to testify. Even better – do both! All of this evidence will strengthen your submission.
As an award-winning PR agency who knows the media inside out, Osborn Comms can help you understand and explore the PR tactics that will help you achieve your goals. From our base in the West Midlands, we’ve developed exceptional relationships with the media covering this thriving region, and we have tools to help you build your reputation where it matters most. Drop us a line to book in a chat.