Entering awards can be quite a complex process. Sitting down to write an award application and managing the awards submission process from end-to-end is a lengthy, detailed process which will typically take several hours or days. To prepare for the awards submission process, here are some key steps to take.
Undertake awards research
You want to put your best foot forward and enter the awards you have the best chance of winning. Selecting the right awards will help you get a return on the investment of time and money you’ve put into the awards process. To do this, you need to begin by asking yourself the right questions and by being brutally honest about your business.
You then need to source the relevant awards, and then review the categories, criteria and previous winners to judge your chances of success. Working with an experienced awards partner like Green Door Co can expedite this process as we can give you informed recommendations on which awards will be most suitable for your business to enter.
Secure internal or external resources and capability
Writing a submission for an award is an art; it is quite niche. This is because it requires a strategic combination of storytelling, hitting the awards criteria, answering the questions in an articulate manner and sharing facts and figures, all within the provided word limit, in a compelling way.
You should consider whether your business has the internal resources to complete an awards submission. If the job is left up to the CEO, they typically won’t have time or it will distract from their core responsibilities. If you leave it up to someone junior in the business they aren’t likely to have the experience or know-how to create an award-winning submission.
If you don’t have the internal resources, working with an external provider like Green Door Co can be a huge help. We take the burden off your shoulders, while giving you the best chance of success.
Carve out enough time
A key part of the preparation process is ensuring you have enough time allocated to complete an awards submission. If you leave it up until the last minute, it is very likely you will either not hit the deadline or submit something which is subpar, resulting in disappointment.
The award submission process is always lengthy, as entries often require long responses to multiple questions. Some will have a video component and most will require supplementary evidence.
Completing an awards submission will always take longer than you think it will, especially if you are completing this entire process internally. You should consider how long the process of organising and writing a submission takes, to ensure you have allocated enough time.
Ensure subject matter experts are available
Even if they’re not writing the award submission themselves, senior management and other subject matter experts in your business should both be involved in the process. They will provide important insights and information about the business which will inform the content of the entry as well as provide feedback and approval for the submission. Therefore, these high-level people will need to make themselves available.
Prepare supplementary evidence
Depending on the award, supplementary evidence may be required. For example, some award submissions may require photography, videos, testimonials or financial reports which have been audited and sourced from your accountant. Therefore, you need to build in additional time to prepare your evidence, ensuring it is of a high standard and good quality.
Final thoughts
There are multiple things you will need to prepare to be able to actually go through the awards process, let alone be successful. Although award submissions are a lot of work, the outcomes are well worth it.
Do you want to enter an award but aren’t sure whether you have the time or resources to complete the submission internally? Green Door Co can help! We’ve worked on hundreds of awards submissions with 97.5% of our clients getting shortlisted for at least one award.
