With awards season in full swing, you may find yourself with some important nominations—or even a win! Winning a prestigious industry award is a big deal, and so are the marketing opportunities it brings to your business. From making a list of top companies in the area to awards for exceptional design and products, these achievements can be an important selling point when you’re meeting with potential clients. So, how do get these most out of these achievements? Here are some tips to leverage your wins.
Send a Press Release
Tell the world! Earn some free ink by sending a press release.
Determine your press list.
Your prime opportunities will be with local community news outlets, trade publications, and if you won an award for your home or remodeling project, the city in which the home is located.
Prepare your press release and accompanying materials.
Writing a basic press release can be simple. Include the answers to the basic journalism questions of who, what, where, when, and why. But don’t stop there. If you won a design award, have your designer write up a design statement and incorporate it into the release. If your win was for a home that is sold, ask your buyer to provide a statement on why they love the home and how it suits their lifestyle. Use quotes from your owner, vendors, sales agents, and others to bolster your story. Plus, supply photos with captions whenever possible.
It’s important to remember that editors and reporters are interested in news, they don’t want to just print free advertising, so make sure you present the information factually, without a lot of promotional hype.
Refresh Your Website and Marketing Materials
Keep your collateral up to date. Add your new award or achievement to your advertising, brochures—even your business cards and email signature.
Whether you have a page on your website dedicated to awards and achievements or you include your awards and affiliations within your footer or sidebar, keep this content current. If you have a blog on your site, make sure you highlight the award within a blog post and include it in your next newsletter.
Share on Social
Social media is an excellent way to share the news with those interested in your businesses. Showcase any badges or logos affiliated with your win on your cover image and include your big wins in your social bios.
Don’t be afraid to post about it more than once—break it down into multiple posts to extend the excitement and share different sides to the story. Some examples:
- An image of your team receiving the award
- A statement from your homeowners or clients
- Photos from the project or product featuring what made it award-worthy
- Links to articles written about the achievement—both from news sources or from your company blog
Social is also a great opportunity to recognize and tag any partners who helped with the award-winning project. Helping your partners cross promote strengthens both your achievements.
Now that you are ready to maximize your win, go out there and share the good news about your accomplishment!
