If you’re thinking about entering an award, it’s crucial to understand exactly what makes a good award submission, before you get started. There is often a lot involved, and putting your best foot forward is time consuming. However, the outcomes of potentially becoming a finalist or winner are well worth the effort.
Although the criteria changes from award to award, there are a few key components involved in every good award submission:
1. Strategic Thinking & Research
Before you begin the submission, you will need to analyse the ins and outs of your business, to understand how you are exhibiting excellence. This includes critically examining your business’ achievements, purpose, processes and journey. Evaluating your business success more broadly will give you a deeper understanding of your strengths and areas for improvement, whilst also providing you with an understanding of which awards to enter, and how to use your strengths to answer questions in a compelling way.
Once you understand how you are exhibiting excellence and have decided which awards are best suited for you, you can choose your awards, and begin the award submission process.
2. Compelling Stories
Awards submissions often have lots of questions which you need to answer in a compelling way. Depending on the awards submission, you may be required to complete a mixture of short response questions, and long response questions.
Short response questions often just want to gather your details. This may include your name, business, business details, how you found out about the award and why you are entering the award.
Long response questions should tell a story. They should explore the ‘why’ of your business, digging into your unique journey. This includes showcasing your successes, struggles, how you have overcome these struggles, and what you have learnt along the way. Long response questions are unique to you. They should paint a captivating picture of your business which showcases leadership and excellence qualities, to convince the judges that you are worthy of the award.
3. Honest & Authentic Videos
Occasionally, award submissions will provide you with an opportunity to add a video competent – take it!
Video components will capture the judges attention and can leave long-lasting impressions about the key messages you are sharing within the video. They also add a creative element to your submission, making you stand out.
Depending on the criteria, video components may be used to introduce yourself and your business, or to talk about how you are exhibiting excellence, the challenges you have faced and how you have overcome them. The video component makes your submission more personal, and is often fun for the judges to watch.
Honesty is key in these videos. Authenticity is essential to the judges, so just tell the truth about why your business deserves to win an award. Also ensure that the video is good quality, as this may reflect how the judges view your brand and business.
4. Standout Supplementary Evidence
Depending on the award, supplementary evidence may be required. The type of evidence you provide will determine whether it strengthens your award submission or devalues it.
A good award submission will not only include the types of evidence below, but will present it in a clear, creative and visually appealing way.
- Videos
- Photography
- Testimonials
- Financial reports which have been audited and sourced from your accountant
- Positive media coverage
- Facts and figures including revenue growth, profitability, reduced staff turnover or social media engagement
5. Word Limit & Criteria
Winning entries tell compelling stories, share relevant facts and figures and answer all questions in a way that relates back to the key criteria, within the prescribed word limit.
A good award submission answers the specific eligibility criteria outlined in the awards information. At Green Door Co, we have extensive experience crafting these award submissions, which has given us a solid understanding of the criteria for each award, and when we can provide more/less information to improve our chance of winning.
It may seem trivial, but going over the word limit can be just as bad as going too far under the word limit, so use your words wisely.
Are you thinking about entering awards but do not have the time to form a compelling submission?
Get in touch with the awards agency boasting a 97.5% success rate.
