Ah, late winter (or early spring for you optimists)… the time of year when small businesses across Kansas City take a collective breath as they reflect on their successes and contributions to their industries and community. It is awards season and whether throwing their own hats in the ring or being nominated by others, small businesses are in the middle of writing applications, submitting work and attending pre-award functions. And on awards night, business owners and employees will gather to eat, drink and make merry as their efforts are recognized as the best among all others. Being nominated is an honor, and winning is icing on the cake.
Participating in awards for small business like Thinking Bigger’s 25 Under 25 (February 28 at the Muehlebach Tower) and the Chamber’s Mr. K Award, or for advertising agencies such as American Advertising Federation’s Addy Awards (February 19 at the Midland Theater) and Business Marketing Association’s Fountain Awards (to be held in March at Dark Horse Distillery) takes a lot of time and effort on the company’s part.
There are submission choices to be made, work to mount prettily on boards for committee reviews, drop off deadlines to meet, forms to fill out, etc., all the while staying on top of your current projects and deadlines. It’s a lot of extra hours and work to have your efforts compared to and judged against others.
Shouldn’t the results your clients experience be award enough?
As far as we’re concerned here at EAG, we work hard year round creating comprehensive marketing strategies for our small business clients. We do web and design work that makes sense for our clients and their goals. No, we’re not thinking, “Hey, this website is going to win us an award,” at the time we launch it. But come awards season, we may just enter it for a Fountain Award.
Sometimes, it’s our clients or colleagues that feel EAG is a good candidate for an award. We’ve been honored with nominations and awards like the KC Business Magazine’s Empowerment Award, Top Ten Companies Award, Nonprofit Connect Philly Awards, Best Companies to Work For, 25 Under 25 Award and the Mr. K Award.
When we win awards, it’s certainly nice to have our advertising work validated by our peers. But that’s not the only reason we participate. In fact, we participate in awards in other ways too. EAG won the 25 Under 25 Small Business Award in 2007, and since then we’ve gone on to sponsor this important event. Over the years, EAG has won several BMA Fountain Awards and this year our president, Michele Markham, is chairing the event. Because it’s more than collecting awards and displaying them on the shelves, it’s also about being engaged in our small business and advertising community.
If your industry has its version of the Addy’s, Fountain Awards, etc., consider participating. Awards, on top of simply winning a plaque or prize, help a business stay focused, employees feel valued, keeps you invested in your industry and your community and eventually, all of that is good for business.
Just how good for business is an award or a slew of them?
Your awards history will influence some potential customers. Though chances are slim that awards will win you the business, they will put your company in a positive light in the overall selection process.
Any publicity is good publicity, right? Winning an award is great publicity that comes with free publicity since the awarding organization usually has strong media relationships to promote the ceremony.
Awards are a feel good endeavor. Business owners and employees work hard every day. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months and there is no award for a job well done by 5pm. Use award season as a time to breath, take stock in what you’ve done and where you can go.
People want to work for a winner. With all things created equal, being an award-winning company boosts your power to attract top talent and retain your best employees.
Award programs like 25 Under 25 present participants with exclusive networking opportunities where you can build long-term relationships. Some of the people you meet can become the ones you turn to for trusted advice and help with business growth.
You’re already a winner.
Just going through the process of choosing what work to submit for award consideration can give you insight that would be impossible to get any other way. Some awards require filling out an application that could easily be repurposed into your company history on your website or other sales collateral. Even if you don’t go home with an award plaque, your business can be better for having gone through the award process.