Every award moment feels electric. The lights, the applause. It’s a powerful validation of everything your team has built and battled for. After the celebrations fade and the trophy finds its place on the shelf, many businesses stop there.
But that’s just the beginning.
At Green Door Co, we believe that winning is step one. The real value of business awards lies in what you do next. Recognition is more than a moment, it’s a strategic asset that can strengthen your brand, engage your team, and drive measurable growth. This article outlines how to make the most of your win, not just for the photo op, but for long-term impact.
Why Leverage Your Win?
Awards are not just shiny objects. They’re third-party validation — and in a competitive market, that kind of endorsement matters.
1. Return on investment
If you’ve invested time, energy, and budget into an award submission, the ROI doesn’t stop at the win. The return multiplies when you use it strategically across marketing, hiring, and stakeholder engagement.
Award submissions can be a surprisingly cost-effective and worthwhile investment — especially when you capitalise on the win. Understanding where and how to leverage the recognition can turn one award into a sustained business advantage.
2. Credibility and trust
A credible award positions your business as best-in-class. It signals to customers, partners, and even future employees that your work has been independently validated.
3. Differentiation
In industries where competitors look and sound similar, a well-chosen award can be the deciding factor, especially when you’re tendering, pitching, or trying to break into new markets.
4. Culture and morale
Internally, a win is a huge morale boost. It creates pride, reaffirms purpose, and shows your people that their efforts are seen — not just by you, but by the outside world.
5. Business development
Award wins often attract new opportunities: introductions, partnerships, client leads, and media coverage that would’ve been difficult to secure otherwise.
How to maximise your award win
A. Public Relations: Turning a win into news
Many awards are run by media outlets, have partnerships with media outlets or will pitch on behalf of winners to media outlets. It’s a fantastic idea to strategically target these awards to maximise your chances of media coverage.
When LSKD was named Business of the Year at the Telstra Best of Business Awards — an incredible result following a submission we were proud to lead — the win was covered by several media outlets including SmartCompany, Inside Retail, The Australian, RagTrader, The Guardian, Herald Sun and more.
B. Social Media: Keep the Buzz Alive
This is where the excitement lives on — and expands.
Share the news across platforms, tailored to audience:
- LinkedIn: Professional tone, leadership commentary.
- Instagram: Celebratory visuals and team culture.
- Facebook: Behind-the-scenes and client/community appreciation.
Content Ideas:
- Trophy arrival unboxing
- Thank-you posts for your team, partners or clients
- A breakdown of what the award means in context
- Team spotlights: “Meet the people behind the win”
Use visual consistency: brand colours, award logo, high-quality imagery. Pair posts with relevant hashtags — mix of award-specific, industry and branded tags.
And most importantly — engage. Respond to comments, re-share mentions, and consider a light-touch campaign like a giveaway or poll to keep the celebration going.
Need more inspiration? Here’s how to create award-winning social media content that makes the most of the moment.
C. Hiring & internal culture
A win is a moment to bring your team together — not just for the cake, but for meaning.
Celebrate internally. Whether it’s a team lunch, personal notes from leadership, or a small gift, make the win feel shared.
Tie the achievement back to your company values. This reinforces what success looks like inside your culture and keeps values alive in practice — not just on posters.
In recruitment:
- Add the award logo to your careers page and job ads
- Mention it in onboarding and employer branding
- Share testimonials from team members involved in the submission
Good people want to work for great companies. A recognised brand is a magnet for talent.
D. Stakeholder engagement:
Your win can strengthen existing relationships and open new ones.
For investors or shareholders, include the award in your next report or update. It signals progress, leadership, and external recognition.
For partners and suppliers, share the news with thanks — it’s a chance to explore joint PR or social content.
For customers, make the win visible:
- Add it to your website homepage and contact pages
- Use banners or email footers
- Reference it in future tenders or proposals
If the award is local, use it as a bridge to community engagement — sponsor an event, speak on a panel, or partner with a local initiative.
From win to momentum
The power of an award is not just in the ceremony — it’s in the choices you make afterwards. With the right strategy, each win becomes a lever: building credibility, strengthening culture, and opening new doors.
At Green Door Co, we work with clients long after the trophy arrives — helping them turn recognition into real, lasting value. Whether it’s your first win or your fifth, our strategic guidance ensures you get the most from every accolade.
Are you sitting on an award win without a plan? Or considering entering one but unsure how to maximise it? Let’s talk.
Reach out to Green Door Co to explore how we can help you build an award strategy that goes beyond the win.
