Maximising the PR opportunities of awards

It’s that time of year again… no, not the run up to Christmas, but the height of the awards season. Time to review the great work you’ve done, enter awards, sponsor awards and buy a new outfit in readiness for the awards dinner.

Now, I’m a big believer in the reputational power of awards. At Tigerfish PR, we encourage clients to use awards as part of their communication strategy, and we’re expert at writing entries. To be judged by your peers, to receive industry acclaim. It’s a very powerful way of stamping authority and recognition on the work you do. It’s also a big feather in your cap to be seen to be sponsoring awards. That’s real opinion leader stuff.

So how can you make the most of either your spend on sponsoring an award, or being shortlisted for one? (And that’s not to mention actually winning an award!)

1. Let your customers and potential customers know – use emails, newsletters, handouts etc
2. If you are sponsoring an award, prepare a 15-word summary of what your company does, and encourage that to be used, along with your logo, in any publicity that the awards body does.
3. Use social media to make sure your messages reach a wider audience
4. Include information about the awards on your website – and encourage others to link to it.

Which just leaves the ‘oscar’s style’ acceptance speech. No tears this time please.