The OpenWater Blog

How to Put Your Awards Program on Your Industry’s Radar

The secret is out: awards programs are a valuable facet of organizations. They can generate revenue, engage members, and increase awareness. But, implementing an awards program and turning it into a can’t-miss event are two different things.

Often, new and small programs trying to spread awareness experience the biggest uphill battle. But luckily, they aren’t doomed to anonymity. With the right strategies and a little patience, you can create and market a program that will shine in your industry.

1. Consider Your Organizational and Industry Goals

Putting your organization “out there” on your own is difficult, but an awards program is a good way to raise awareness.

Consider this: your awards program is a reflection of your organization’s values and goals. By keeping your awards program aligned with your goals you’ll be well on your way to attracting your targeted audience. After all, one of the first steps for increasing awareness of your program is making sure the right people find it and apply to it.

2. Maintain a Marketing Focus

If there’s one thing that most organizations have experience in, it’s marketing. After all, all organizations use marketing strategies to distribute news and information about themselves. And it’s important to maintain this same attitude for your awards program.

If you’re looking to increase submissions and engagement, take a look at what your awards marketing is doing. Social accounts, advertisements, press releases, and other common tools are the best way to go about it. Of course, it’s important to remember that marketing won’t produce results overnight. But with patience and consistency, you can count on making a difference.

3. Select the Right Judges

Judges not only attract more submissions, but they also attract higher-quality submissions. And if you’re a new or small program looking to create a buzz, you can do so through the right judging selection.

The best judges are those that have gained credibility in your specific industry. On top of lending their expertise, they will also help attract more entrants who are seeking big-name recognition.

Recruiting prominent judges isn’t always easy for new programs. But you can start smaller by finding previous awards winners or up-and-comers in your industry. By doing so, you can build up your program and grow closer to working with the big names that will send your program over the top.

4. Make Your Website Matter

Your website is a centralized resource for your entrants, judges, and staff members. This makes it even more important to ensure it’s appealing, informative, and easy to use.

To make sure your website is packing a punch, check out this slideshare.

5. Always Search for Improvements

No matter how well you plan and manage your awards, the results won’t be the same every year. However, one of the best ways to make sure you’re always improving is by analyzing your program every year. One way to do this is gathering feedback from entrants and judges once your awards cycle comes to a close.

Through this process, you can determine your strengths, weaknesses, and where you can improve. And making such necessary changes will help your program to gain notoriety in your industry.

Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned expert, there are always opportunities to help your program stand out. To learn more about how you can establish your program in your industry and increased submissions, download our guide.

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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