How To Win Business Awards…

Today's entry is the shortest yet.  I'm off to the British Mortgage Awards this evening with my fingers crossed for The Mortgage Broker Ltd, who are up for Best Self-Cert Mortgage Broker Award.

Every year my clients win various business awards (often without telling me they've even entered).

Here's my take on 5 things you can do to give yourself the best chance of winning an award…

1 - Enter!  Most businesses don't bother entering - so they stand no chance of winning.

2 - Figure out what the judges are looking for and give it to them.  Ask them what the judging criteria will be, what evidence they'll be looking for etc.  Don't be shy!

3 - Network!  Get known by the judges throughout the year, spend time talking to them so that they get to know you and your business before the competition starts.  The ability to "schmooze" is something you'll spot a lot of top business people have; relationships make the world go around.

4 - If the competition requires a written entry, do it professionally.  Take time, review it and make sure the presentation is of a high quality.

5 - Presenting to judges?  Prepare something with images & words, deliver it from the heart and practice.  Passion in business is often overlooked and yet it's so often the definining difference between a dull presentation and one that makes you go "Wow!"

Once you've won an award, use it to get some free publicity in papers, on the radio or wherever else you can!  Put it up on your website, print the logo on your stationery and make sure the world knows that you're a winner.

Hmm, I'm sure there are a few more things you can do too, but I've got to go and remember how to knot my bow-tie for this evening!