Business Awards Tips

In the competitive world of business, recognition through business awards can be a game-changer. However, the key to success lies not just in participating in the most prestigious business awards programs – but in selecting the right business award categories. A strategic choice of business award categories can enhance your company’s visibility, credibility – and ultimately, its growth. Let’s delve into how you can choose the most suitable business award categories to maximize exposure and results for your company.

Types of business award categories

Business award categories are diverse, covering various aspects of business operations and achievements. They can range from highly specific categories relevant to particular industries to broader business award categories like innovation, leadership, or community impact that can apply to any company. Understanding the differences between categories is crucial, as it helps in aligning your company’s strengths with the right business award opportunities.

1. Industry business award categories and industry awards are designed to highlight excellence within specific sectors, such as HR, marketing, PR, technology or the newest and ever-so-popular field of AI. Winning an industry award can significantly boost your company’s profile by positioning it as a leader within your field. These business awards often require demonstrating sector-specific expertise and innovation, and results that stand out in the particular industry being considered.

2. Achievement business award categories focus on recognizing specific accomplishments, such as launching the best new product, providing outstanding customer service, or championing environmental sustainability. Participating in these categories allows companies to showcase key milestones and demonstrate their commitment to excellence in specific areas ranging from customer service excellence to sustainability, thereby enhancing their reputation among peers and customers.

3. Business excellence awards recognize overall excellence in business practices and performance. These prestigious categories, such as the “Company of the Year” award or “Executive of the Year” award, often consider a company’s overall business impact, growth, and leadership. Winning these top business awards signals to stakeholders that your company is operating at a high level of efficiency and success, and these award wins can potentially result in attracting new business opportunities and investments.

4. Small business award categories are tailored to smaller companies, highlighting the unique challenges and achievements of running a small business. These categories may focus on innovation, growth, and the ability to overcome challenges despite limited resources, but also can highlight excellence in customer service and a focus on remaining a friendly and approachable company. Winning in these categories can provide small businesses with much-needed visibility and validation, thereby fostering trust with customers and partners.

5. In addition to the traditional business award categories, many award programs now include emerging and niche categories, which reflect evolving business trends and societal needs. These might include categories for startups, digital transformation, corporate social responsibility, or diversity and inclusion. Companies can leverage these business award categories to highlight their forward-thinking initiatives and their commitment to addressing contemporary challenges.

6. Regional and local awards and local categories offer businesses the chance to gain recognition within their immediate communities. These awards can be crucial for companies looking to establish a strong local presence. They often focus on community engagement, local economic impact, and regional innovation, and winning these business awards can strengthen ties with local stakeholders and customers.

Strategic steps to choosing the most relevant business award categories

Choosing the most appropriate business award categories for your company requires a strategic approach. Here are some steps to guide you:
1. Company analysis: Start by evaluating your company’s strengths and accomplishments.
a. Consider what makes your business stand out. Is it your innovative product line, exceptional customer service, or robust community engagement? Identifying these strengths will help you focus on the most relevant award categories.
b. Conducting a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis can provide a comprehensive understanding of your company’s position. This analysis helps identify areas where your company excels; by understanding your company’s strengths, you can better align your award entry with business award categories that will best highlight them. By identifying areas where your company may need improvement, such a business analysis can also highlight opportunities for more internal work and highlight potential future business award entry opportunities.
c. Take stock of past achievements and recognitions your company has received. This review can help pinpoint areas of consistent strength and success. By understanding where your company has excelled before, you can identify business award categories that align with these strengths and take the most advantage of your company’s past award wins, thereby increasing the likelihood of success.

2. Team involvement: Involve the rest of your company in the business award assessment and decision-making process to gain diverse perspectives.
a. Team members from different departments can provide insights into various aspects of the business, uncovering strengths that might not be immediately apparent and helping discover award categories you might not have realized your company has a significant chance of winning. Other team members may offer perspectives and ideas you hadn’t considered, and their involvement can foster a sense of ownership and motivation.
b. Promote cross-department collaboration to gather diverse insights and expertise. Different departments may have different strengths and achievements that can be highlighted in different categories, and their collaboration can create a more comprehensive and compelling business award entry or uncover new categories for entry. This teamwork approach to business awards fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose within your organization.
c. To better elicit ideas and feedback from other departments, you can even organize workshops or brainstorming sessions to gather ideas and feedback on potential award categories. These sessions encourage open communication and creativity, allowing team members to suggest new categories you might not have considered and contribute their unique perspectives on how best to support entries in those categories. This collaborative approach to business awards will ensure your award entries reflect the collective strengths of your organization and that you capitalize on every opportunity you might have to score a win.
d. Last but not least, another great suggestion to involve others in the business award process is to assign team members as “category champions” to take ownership of specific award categories. These champions can lead the research and preparation for their assigned categories, ensuring a focused and dedicated approach. This delegation of responsibility empowers team members and enhances the quality of your award submissions.

3. Category analysis: Each business award program and each business award category have specific criteria that entrants must meet.
a. Carefully review these business award criteria to ensure your company is a good fit. Pay close attention to the specific requirements, such as eligibility criteria, submission formats, and deadlines. This will help you prepare a strong submission in a well-chosen category that aligns with the judges’ expectations and thus increase your chances of winning. It will also prevent wasted efforts on unsuitable categories.
b. Assess how well each award category aligns with your company’s goals and values. Consider whether winning a particular business award will support your strategic objectives, such as expanding into new markets, enhancing brand reputation or assisting in recruiting efforts. This alignment ensures that your business entry efforts are focused on business awards that will provide the most value to your business.
c. If you have read all available materials on the business awards site and still have need clarification on criteria or submission requirements – don’t hesitate to reach out to award organizers. Engaging with organizers can provide valuable insights into what judges are looking for and help you tailor your business award entry to meet their expectations. This proactive approach can also demonstrate your commitment to the award process – but within reason! Try not to waste award organizers time by reaching out with questions that are already addressed in their submission requirements or FAQ.

4. Research on past winners: Researching past winners can provide valuable insights into what judges are looking for in each business award category. This can help you select the most suitable business award categories for your company, and tailor your entries to better align with the category expectations, thereby improving your chances of success.
a. Look for trends and patterns among past business award winners to understand what qualities and achievements are frequently recognized in what categories. This analysis can reveal common themes, such as innovation or community impact, that may be highly valued by the judges in specific categories or particular awards programs. Identifying these trends allows you to emphasize similar attributes in your own business award submission.
b. Study the success stories of past winners to gain inspiration and ideas for your own business award entry. Consider how these companies crafted their submissions and highlighted their achievements in specific business award categories. Adapting successful strategies to your own context can help you choose the best categories and increase your entries’ chances of resonating with judges.
c. Use past winners as benchmarks to evaluate how your company compares to competitors in the same business award category. This comparison can provide insights into areas where your company excels and where it may need improvement. By understanding your competitive position, you can choose the most suitable award categories and refine your award entries to showcase your strengths effectively.

How to craft a compelling business award entry

Once you’ve identified the right business award categories, the next step is crafting a compelling business award entry. We already covered several in-depth tips on crafting award-winning entries, but here are five quick tips to ensure your business award submission stands out:
1. Clearly articulate what sets your company apart from the competition. Define your company’s unique value proposition and how it differentiates you from competitors. This includes identifying the specific benefits and advantages your company offers to customers and stakeholders. A strong value proposition will make your business award entry stand out and resonate with judges.

2. Structure your business award entry narrative to guide judges through your company’s journey logically and engagingly. Start with a clear introduction that sets the stage, perhaps offering a brief account of challenges faced and how they were overcome. In the main part of your award submission, highlight key milestones in your company’s history that demonstrate growth and success. These milestones could include product launches, strategic partnerships, or major expansions. Make sure to describe your business achievements and the impact they have had on your company and the larger community. Emphasizing these achievements provides context and depth to the narrative in your business award entry. You may conclude with your company’s vision for the future and its ongoing commitment to excellence.

Bonus points:
A compelling narrative can make your business award submission memorable. Tell the story of your company’s journey, challenges overcome, and the vision that drives you forward. A well-crafted story in a business award submission can resonate with award judges and leave a lasting impression.

Craft your story to create an emotional connection with the award judges. Share personal anecdotes or experiences that illustrate your company’s values and culture. An emotionally resonant story can make your business award submission even more memorable and impactful, further increasing the likelihood of success.

3. That said, emotions aren’t everything – they can make a great entry stand out even further, but won’t rescue a weak one. Make sure to use quantitative data to support the claims in your business award entry and highlight your business achievements. This could include financial metrics such as revenue growth or sales figures; performance indicators such as customer retention rates or customer satisfaction ratings; or industry rankings, including market share increases. Data-driven evidence adds credibility to your business award submission and demonstrates the tangible impact of your business accomplishments. Presenting concrete data provides a solid foundation for your award entry and reinforces your claims.

4. To offer further support to the claims made in your business award entry, make sure to incorporate case studies and testimonials from satisfied customers or partners that highlight your company’s impact and value. Real-world examples and endorsements provide tangible evidence of your business success and credibility and a third-party validation of your success, thus building trust with the demanding judges in prestigious business awards. These testimonials can enhance the authenticity and persuasiveness of your business award entry. Of course, it goes without saying that you should ensure the testimonials are relevant and specific to the business award category you are entering.

5. Highlight any industry recognition or accolades your company has already received. These could include previous business award wins, certifications, endorsements, or media coverage. Industry recognition adds further credibility to your submission, beyond the statistics and numbers and customer testimonials, and demonstrates your company’s leadership standing within the industry.

And once you win…

Best in Biz Awards offers a detailed guide to maximizing the ROI of your business award win, but here are a few quick tips. Remember that winning an award is just the beginning. To maximize the benefits, make sure to announce your business award win through a variety of channels. A prestigious business award enhances your company’s reputation and visibility, so you should make sure to take full advantage of your win.

1. Craft a compelling press release to announce your business award win to the media and the public. Highlight the significance of the business award and its impact on your company. Distribute the press release through various channels to reach a wide audience and maximize exposure.

2. Utilize social media platforms to share your business award win with your followers and industry network. Create engaging content, such as videos or infographics, to showcase your achievement. Encourage your audience to share the news of your business award win, increasing its reach and visibility.

3. Update your company marketing materials and communications with clients and partners to incorporate your business award win. This could include brochures, presentations, or email signatures. Highlighting the prestigious business award in your marketing materials reinforces your company’s credibility and enhances its appeal to potential customers and partners.

4. Business awards events are excellent opportunities to network with industry peers and potential clients. For awards that don’t feature a ceremony, use their social media to build relationships, connect with other industry leaders and influencers, and explore collaboration opportunities. Business award events and the award programs’ social media provide a platform for networking and exchanging ideas, allowing honorees to build valuable relationships and explore potential collaborations.

5. Join industry associations and organizations related to the business award categories you won. These associations often provide networking opportunities, events, and resources for their members. Being part of these communities enhances your company’s visibility and further spreads the news of your prestigious business award win.

6. Consider hosting your own networking events or workshops related to the business awards programs or categories you are pursuing or have already won. These events can position your company as a thought leader and attract industry peers and potential clients. Hosting events also provides a platform for sharing your business expertise and building relationships.

7. Analyze the feedback from your business award entry, whether you win or not. If feedback on your business award entry is not readily available, seek feedback from award organizers. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your business award entry can provide valuable insights for improvement, enhance your future award submissions and help refine your strategies for future, more prestigious business award opportunities.

8. Conduct a post-award review with your team to assess the business award process and outcomes. Discuss what worked well and what could be improved for future business awards submissions. This review ensures continuous learning and improvement and makes sure you can maximize your company’s achievements, enhancing your chances of success in future business awards pursuits.

9. Implement the lessons learned from the business award process to improve your company’s performance and strategies. This is a higher level strategy that doesn’t just aim to refine your business award entry – but to improve the actual business points and achievements it’s meant to highlight. Use the insights gained from the business awards process to refine your business practices and enhance your competitive advantage. This continuous improvement approach ensures that your company remains a strong contender for future, perhaps more prestigious business awards.

Choosing the right business award categories in prestigious business awards programs is a strategic decision that can significantly impact your company’s growth and reputation. By understanding the different categories, aligning them with your strengths, and crafting a compelling business award entry, you can maximize exposure and results for your company. Remember, the recognition gained through prestigious business awards can open doors to new opportunities and set your business apart in a competitive market. So, take the time to choose your business award categories wisely and make your mark in the world of business excellence.

 

Looking for more business awards tips?

How-to tips on submitting in prestigious business awards:

Writing award-winning business award entries: How to craft award-winning business award submissions for your company

Business awards deadlines: How not to miss any critical business awards deadlines

Business awards entry fees: Are business awards even worth the entry fees? (We’ll spoil it: the answer is a resounding, yes!)

Once you have won a prestigious business award like Best in Biz Awards: Tips for maximizing the ROI of prestigious business awards 

 

For business award submissions in various vertical or industry areas:

For submissions from small companies and small businesses: How small companies can effectively competer with bigger brands in international business awards

For executive awards and leadership awards submissions: How to win in executive and leadership awards

For submissions in sustainability and green categories: How to reward your employees’ sustainability efforts with prestigious business awards

For technology giants and tech start-ups: Why tech companies should apply in prestigious business awards

For technology innovations award submissions: How to highlight your company’s or product technology innovations in prestigious business awards

For product award submissions: How to showcase your product innovation, client ROI and success in your business award entry

For AI technology innovations and AI product submissions: How to highlight your AI leadership and AI innovations through AI awards and prestigious business awards

For entrants from Poland: Jak prestizowe nagrody biznesowe moga pomoc firmom (po polsku) 

 

About Best in Biz Awards

Since 2011, Best in Biz Awards has been among the most prestigious business awards in North America and globally, and it remains the only independent business awards program judged by well-known writers and editors from various top-tier publications.

From Associated Press to Yahoo Tech’s David Pogue – and including Businessweek, CNET, Consumer Affairs, Fast Company, Financial Times, Forbes, Fortune, Inc., Network World, PC Magazine, Reuters, San Francisco Chronicle, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Wired and more – Best in Biz Awards each year is judged by prominent reporters and editors from the most respected publications.

From ADP to Zappos, past winners in Best in Biz Awards span the spectrum, from the most recognizable global brands through local mom-and-pop shops and Shark Tank sensations to some of today’s most cutting-edge start-ups. Other notable winners over the years have included: 1-800-Flowers, ADP, Aflac, AT&T, Best Western, Burger King, Chipotle, crocs, Dell, Dyson, Epson, Ernst & Young, Experian, GoDaddy, Hilton, HP, IBM, LifeLock, Microsoft, National Association of Realtors, Planet Fitness, Safelite, Sandisk, Santander Bank, Sheraton, StubHub, Symantec, UnitedHealthcare, Walmart, Wells Fargo, YMCA, and more.

For more information about Best in Biz Awards, see our About page; or read more about our North American program and International program.

For the full list of business award categories offered in the 15th annual Best in Biz Awards, see our business award categories.

For all category winners in the 14th annual Best in Biz Awards, see: 2024 business award winners.