It’s awards season. Was your company nominated?

Use these PR tactics to gain recognition and visibility for your company with the right industry awards

At this time of year, awards shows dominate the entertainment industry. Everyone is talking about the Oscars, the Grammys and other glamorous ceremonies. There are, undoubtedly, awards in your industry as well. Is your company in the running? If not, you are missing out on key opportunities to build your brand and separate yourself from your competition.

You may believe that awards submissions aren’t worth your time. However, awards offer numerous far-reaching benefits and should be a significant part of your company’s public relations and marketing plans.

What can winning awards do for your company?

Establish thought-leadership.

When you win awards, customers see you’re at the top of your industry. You demonstrate your level of expertise and encourage customers to choose you as their go-to source for problem-solving.

Increase sales.

In sales, building name recognition and trust are two of the biggest challenges. Winning awards checks off both boxes. In addition, listing your awards on your website is like a third-party seal of approval.

Enhance organizational pride.

Everyone wants to be part of the winning team. Awards can boost employee morale and strengthen your brand in the eyes of top candidates.

Boost your reputation.

Awards earn you recognition and respect from your peers. Even if you don’t win, your application puts your name in front of industry leaders and others who matter.

So, how do you get nominated?

Find awards that are essential for your business growth and a good fit for your company. There’s no need to apply for awards you have no chance of winning or that won’t bring any benefit to your company. Remember to focus on your advantages and assets. You might want to check out your competition to see what awards they’ve won.

Make sure you understand the award rules.

You don’t want to waste time with a lengthy application only to find you’ve missed important deadlines or don’t meet the criteria.

Develop relationships with customers and industry peers or leaders.

Some nominations must come from someone in your industry. For others, you might need to collect testimonials or reviews from customers or clients. Establishing these connections ahead of time will help you avoid scrambling at the last minute.

Hire a PR firm to help you.

Applying for awards takes a great amount of time and effort. Often there are several categories to consider, a huge amount of materials to collect and various updates you must adhere to. A PR agency can handle all this for you.

At Axia Public Relations, we know how to position your company and your unique business story to win awards. We will then promote your achievements for maximum reach and credibility. Contact us to learn more about our AwardAbility program or download our e-book Maximizing Your Public Relations Investment today.

Lisa Goldsberry is a senior blogger for Axia Public Relations with more than 15 years of public relations experience. She specializes in business and technology PR. Lisa has worked for Axia since December 2013. Learn more about Lisa Goldsberry. Connect with Axia on Twitter @axiapr or tell us what you think in the comments below.