Accolades: Humble Thyself ~ Team Pure Intent

Get ‘Em Buzzin’ for Your Business

Many business owners don't realize the value of awards. Did you know that you could capitalize on your accomplishments by using them as a way to market your businesses products and services? Most start-ups and “small businesses” have a hard time creating awareness around their brand as well as building credibility. One of the easiest and most inexpensive ways for you to stand out from your competitors is to win industry awards. You can gain recognition for yourself, your business and your company website just by taking advantage of this lucrative marketing strategy. Awards bring you prestige and overall more traffic especially to your website or storefront. Don’t underestimate local business contests or even online awards. Whatever accolades you as a business receives can be used to position your company for a lot more recognition and customers.

They Really Like Us

Customers want to see accolades. They want to know something good about you. Awards provide valuable third-party corroboration of your value propositions. Customers like to be associated with a winning company, and potential customers often make their purchasing decisions based on the decisions of other businesses like theirs. When prospective customers see that you've won an award, it can sway them to choose you over your competition.

Winning awards can improve employee morale. When employees are proud of their company's achievements, they have an excuse to tell prospects and customers why you won a particular award. If they're selling your product, it makes their job easier because of the "stamp of approval" from an unbiased source. can actually help you attract the best new employees. People are drawn to award-winning businesses because they want to work for a winner.

Step by Step

It can take a considerable amount of time to apply for industry awards but winning can lead to measurable growth so make sure you research the appropriate awards within your industry and plan ahead how you will apply for the nomination. If an award is marketed properly, they can instantly establish credibility without even having a “real-live” client to vouch for your business and having won accolades gets your business “in-crowd” rights because now you're in league with some great companies and remarkable leaders. You can use this to your advantage when networking, because you have something in common with those big-time companies and believe me they want to get to know you and your business.

Take Ground with Accolade Marketing

Before you start applying for every award out there, make sure you qualify. Most awards will focus on companies and products launched within a specific time frame or fit a certain business structure criteria so make sure your business meets the award terms and conditions when applying. After you've taken the initiative to apply track the status of your application by signing up for email updates or visit the awards website for weekly updates. Once award is in hand, here are a variety of ways to Promote Your Accolades:

Send out Press releases
Include a link to your award page in your business email marketing - Share the story behind your award and why you won.
Use the award logo on Your Marketing Tools - Use the logos and the phrase "award-winning" in your online advertising, put them on your direct mail pieces, business cards, and on your website home page.
Go Viral with Social media - Include quick links on Twitter and post the press release on Facebook as well as list the awards you have won on your LinkedIn company page.
Use the award in your sales pitches

Routinely seek out awards and ratings in your industry. A great starting point is your local Better Business Bureau where you should apply for membership and maintain that all important A+ rating. Also, make sure to check industry-specific publications as well as general business and entrepreneurial publications as they often have awards for various criteria.

Onward and Upward!