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Ask Yourself These Questions When Planning Your Awards Marketing Strategy

It’s no surprise that between trying to plan your awards marketing strategy and the awards program itself things can get pretty hectic. For many, this process can be nothing short of overwhelming and before you know it, it feels like a tidal wave of overdue work is coming to overtake both you and your desk.

But, you don’t have to drown. Instead, you can ask yourself some key questions that can help you plan your marketing strategy and stick to it throughout your entire awards program. And as a result you will have a well-executed program that generates awareness, inspires entrants, and increases your organization’s high-quality reputation!

1. Have I written and scheduled at least one press release?

The press release. A long loved (or hated, we won’t judge) marketing tool perfect for those seeking to announce noteworthy occurrences in their program with an air of professionalism and formality. And, if you haven’t yet turned to at least one infamous press release for your own program, there are a few reasons why you should.

As a matter of fact, a press release is a great piece of content that you can circulate throughout your program, especially on social media platforms and even your awards website. And of course, having at least one press release lends your program an air of legitimacy.

This positions your association as a reputable, trustworthy resource within your industry and keeps members and entrants engaged with your timeline of events.

2. What is our social media marketing strategy?

A key component of your larger marketing strategy is social media, the undeniably important and ever-consuming resource to spread the good news about your awards program!

But, why is social media more important than ever before? Because you can instantaneously connect with potential entrants and members alike, providing encouragement, crucial details, and other vital information about your program that people both need and want to know.

Your social media marketing strategy can even save you time on your awards marketing once you identify a clear plan of attack. This means that by putting your head down and clarifying a strategy, you can do more for your program than you thought possible. Calling this amazing doesn’t even begin to cut it.

3. Is traditional or social media advertising right for our program?

This can seem like quite the dilemma, but we would like to answer this question with another question: why not both? This means making the most of both platforms and figuring out how to balance your traditional and social media advertising for maximum impact. The best part? Balancing both doesn’t have to be difficult, particularly if you’re already working with established social media platforms at the beginning of your program.

However, whether it’s worth investing in advertising depends on your awards program. Ads shouldn’t be the first marketing effort your awards program tries out. After you’ve established your other marketing tactics, a well-run program can then use ads as extra fuel for their marketing.

4. How am I going to use email to get more submissions?

Email marketing is one of the most-loved marketing methods of them all. Why? Because it’s an inexpensive, effective, and proven tool used to reach large numbers of members, entrants, and other individuals integral to the success of your awards program.

So, how can you use email marketing in new, innovative ways? By putting a new twist on the traditional, stand-alone email by also including newsletters, lead-nurturing emails, sponsorship emails, and transactional emails.

5. Is my website up to date?

Think about this: what if you could have one resource for your entrants, judges, staff, and others to visit throughout your entire awards program that provided them with information, updates, and other essential information too? Well, you can and it comes in the form of your awards website.

If you haven’t yet thought about your awards website or brought it to life, getting started is simple! And, if you simply haven’t updated it in awhile, it’s time to jump back on board and keep it working as the invaluable tool you know that it is! When your awards program comes to a close and you realize just what an integral role your website has served, you’ll be glad you did.

Figuring out a marketing strategy is never going to be simple, but it’s possible. And, by asking yourself simple questions like the five above you can be well on your way to a real strategy that produces real results for your awards program.

Looking for additional awards marketing tools that can help you create a simple strategy? Download our guide and get the inside scoop on simple solutions you can turn to for your own program!

What strategies have you implemented to help your awards program! Share your stories below!

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Miriam Hancock

Miriam Hancock
Miriam is the Marketing Coordinator for OpenWater. When she isn't writing and designing content she paints and cooks for her own personal blog.

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