Unlocking the Secret to Award Entry Success: Tips and Tricks

CHOOSE THE RIGHT CATEGORY

• Consider entering categories you think might attract fewer entrants to give yourself a higher chance of success
• You can give yourself a decent chance of being shortlisted/winning by entering more than one relevant category
• Using these guidance notes will not guarantee success, but it will give your entry the best possible chance of making compelling reading for the judging panel.

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

• Read the questions carefully, and ensure you target your answers to the question.
• Keep focused and ensure all information is relevant.

DON’T IGNORE THE RULES

• Word count – The judges are on a deadline too so keep the copy short and concise
• Keep within the upload sizes requested
• Adhere to stipulated PDF and .doc upload formats
• Submit by the entry deadline!

COMMUNICATE WITH CLARITY

Remember the judges will be looking through hundreds of entries, so:

• Be concise, clear and focused – with clean, easy-to-digest copy
• Make it easy for them to make sense of your entry
• Create a narrative, and make your submission a good read
• Write with verve, be compelling and passionate, and aim to stand out
• Avoid jargon, inflated claims, unexplained acronyms, and unedited copy-and-pasting
• Set the scene – provide insight into your business/event, with the context where appropriate

INCLUDE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

• Make sure the supporting material backs up your claims in the main submission
• Use testimonials to demonstrate the effectiveness of your event
• Using specific data and metrics can improve your awards entry

LEAVE ENOUGH TIME

• Enter early – a last minute rush is likely to impact on the quality of your submission
• The process invariably takes longer than expected, particularly if you need approvals
• Allocate yourself more time than you think you will need

ASSIGN SOMEBODY TO THE JOB

• Designate someone in your company as the Awards coordinator – responsible for collating information, contacting referred clients, consulting colleagues, checking facts, chasing up, writing the initial draft and keeping an eye on the timeline and deadline

SEEK THE CLIENT’S PERMISSION

• Ensure any relevant clients are happy to have their event entered, especially if it contains commercially sensitive information. They will probably be delighted, and you can invite them to the ceremony if shortlisted!

PROOFREAD

• When the basics are finalised give it to the best writer in your company to polish
• Typos can make a good submission look sloppy
• Thoroughly check spelling, grammar, and punctuation