Lyndall Guinery-Smith, Author at The Professional Writer

2020 business awards, small business awards to enter, Australian small business awards, business awards writer, business awards help

February 10, 2020 by Lyndall Guinery-Smith

Business Awards for Australian Business Owners

Which Business Awards will you enter this year?

Want to explore a new way to make your business stand out this year? Entering a business awards program is a great way to:

Be recognised for your efforts
Showcase your business innovation and
Acknowledge the success you and your team have achieved

Becoming an awards finalist or winning an award certainly raises your profile!

Will 2020 be the year you enter and win an award?

The process of compiling your entry can be quite illuminating. It presents you with the opportunity to thoroughly review your business achievements and potentially highlight some areas which may require innovation or future development.

Now is a great time to identify which awards are the best fit for your business and industry so you don’t miss the application deadline.

Check out these Awards for Australian Small Business Owners

Start local?

If you’ve never entered your business in an awards program, you might like to consider starting in your local area. There is a raft of local and state awards, many of which start with Chamber of Commerce or local Council awards for business excellence. The winners of some of these awards then go up to complete at a state level, such as the NSW Business Chamber Awards – https://www.businessannualawards.com.au/Home.

There’s also the Local Business Awards, which cover Greater Sydney and some regional areas such as the Hunter and Central Coast regions – https://thebusinessawards.com.au/

Industry awards

You could also consider entering industry awards which are specific to areas such as real estate, engineering, insurance, construction, IT and many more. Your industry’s professional body is the first port of call for industry-specific awards.

National awards

The Telstra Business Awards are seen as Australia’s most prestigious awards for business. These awards help small to medium-sized businesses to gather, explore their dreams and celebrate their achievements. You can nominate now for the 2020 awards. Entries usually open in March, but check their website for updates – https://www.telstrabusinessawards.com/

Telstra Businesswomen’s Awards celebrate outstanding, successful and inspiring women who do business differently – https://www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com/

The Australian Business Awards recognise businesses which demonstrate the core values of innovation, employee engagement, customer satisfaction, experience management, business sustainability, product and technology innovation via a set of comprehensive award categories. Entry deadline 5 March 2020 – https://winners.australianbusinessawards.com.au/

The Australian Small Business Champion Awards recognise the achievements and hard work of Australia’s most outstanding small businesses. Entries usually open in November and close in early February – https://businesschampions.com.au/about

My Business Awards celebrates small to medium business owners, showcasing their talents and the level of excellence they have achieved in their industry. Entries for this award usually open in August or September each year, but please check their website for updates in 2020 – https://www.mybusiness.com.au/my-business-awards/

Need help writing your business award entry?

You know you’ve achieved a great deal in your business, but perhaps the awards application process seems a little daunting… Need help? Check out this post – How to Write a Winning Business Award Nomination – https://www.professionalwriter.com.au/winning-a-business-award-9-professional-tips/.

Once you’ve decided on the award you wish to enter, be sure to register and check out the awards criteria. Note the closing date (don’t leave it too late to get your entry in!). It’s a good idea to tackle one question at a time where longer answers are required.

Email me if you need help with writing an application which truly underlines your success, celebrates your achievements and stands out to the judging panel. I offer a combination of coaching, helpful tips and writing or editing your entry. I currently have a 93.75% success rate for clients becoming either finalists or winners in their chosen award.

business core values, identify your business values

January 6, 2020January 6, 2020 by Lyndall Guinery-Smith

Your Business Core Values: How to Identify Them

When I’m working with clients to write their capability statement, website content, tone of voice document or award nomination, I always ask about their business core values.

It’s surprising how many small business owners haven’t considered which core values are important to their business, but being clear on your values is something which can significantly impact the success of your business. This post explains why…

What are Business Core Values?

The core values of a business are an intangible yet fundamental asset which determine the company’s DNA, shape its culture and establish the core pillars which underpin the way you conduct business.

Business core values are the guiding principles you and your team use to shape expected behaviours and skills which set the environment within the workplace. Values define the way you form relationships within the team, with clients and with your competitors and are often an indicator by which cusses is defined and measured.

It’s a known fact that customers do business with people and businesses they know, like and trust. How do your prospects get to know, like and trust you? It all starts with the customer’s ability to relate to and respect your business or brand based on shared values.

When a company articulates their core values, potential clients form a relationship based on the values they share with your organisation.

Being clear on your core values can help you attract the type of customers who align with those values – the ones you want to work with … your ideal clients!

What are the other benefits of knowing your Values?

While your core business values underpin your culture and brand, they represent so much more. Values are the principles which define:

How you operate your business
How you attract the right team members, retain and motivate them
They support your business vision
Help you attract the right type of customers
Determine how the culture of the business is shaped
Provide a benchmark for performance
Determine how team members interact
Guide decision making
Help prioritise resource allocation and spending
Help set your brand apart

When your core values are successfully embraced and enacted by your team, your culture and the business as a whole will benefit.

In today’s fast-paced business environment, human resources often determine the level of success. A business culture which supports team members’ professional and personal development, enabling them to thrive, will always be more enticing, especially to top performers.

Recent research has determined that business culture is a primary factor in innovation.

Where can you use your Company Core Values?

Mission Statement
Company Profile
Capability Statement
Displayed in your business premises
Staff induction manual

How to identify your Core Values

Naturally, you’ll want to choose and display core values with a positive connotation.

Try asking yourself:

What is important to us?
What does our company stand for?
Which values support our company culture?
What values guide our decision-making process?
What do our customers believe we stand for?
What common values unite us as a team?
What strengths underpin our success?

Choose core values which truly resonate with you as the business owner, with your team and which accurately portray the way you do business.

Your core values are only effective when you and your team are committed live by them. Focus on what you value MOST. Ask yourself these questions:

Is this core value something we will continue to believe in 5-10 years down the track?
Are we willing to hire new team members based on this core value?
How can we put this value into practice to benefit our customers?
Will this core value help us innovate, grow and develop new products/services?

Start out by making a long list – you may have 20 or more at first. Next, group common values together, for example: integrity, honesty and transparency all overlap, so could be grouped under one term. Then go back over your list and shorten it to a maximum of 5-6 values which truly resonate with you and your team.

It’s important to remember that you can’t be all things to all people. Stay focused on the values which matter most to your business.

The Professional Writer - Lyndall — Lyndall Guinery-Smith The Professional Writer

Hi, I’m Lyndall Guinery-Smith, The Professional Writer. I write winning business award nominations, capability statements, website content and much more. I happily work with clients all over Australia. Email me to arrange an obligation-free discussion about your latest project.

Business awards, write a winning business award entry, business awards writer, help to win business award, how to write a winning business award nomination

May 13, 2019January 25, 2020 by Lyndall Guinery-Smith

Winning a business award – 9 professional tips

When you decide to enter a business award, naturally you want to win. To achieve this goal, you need to have what it takes to win – including writing a winning business award entry. Following are a few tips designed to help you through the process towards holding up that coveted trophy!

Tip 1: Register as soon as the awards open

Don’t leave it too late to enter. Writing a winning business award entry takes time and is not something which you can do in a rush.

If you register early, you’ll have the opportunity to download or copy and paste the questions into a Word document. That way, you can carefully consider the information you’ll include in your answers.

Make a note of the closing date for entries and work back from there.

Tip 2: Read all the terms and conditions carefully

Be sure to check whether you’re eligible for a particular category or categories before you go to the time and effort of writing your entry.

Tip 3: Choose your category

This is important! Take some time to think about which category or categories you’d like to enter, as some will be more competitive than others. Which category will allow you to best capture the essence of your business? To tell a story which connects with the judges? To portray your experience and the way you engage with your customers?

Tip 4: Read the questions to see whether you’ll be able to answer them

Before you commit yourself to a category, read through the questions. Are you confident you have what it takes to accurately and thoroughly answer each question?

While you can build a story around a fact, you can’t make things up! If you don’t have the qualifications or experience to enter a particular category this year, try working on that area of your business so you can enter next year. I like to describe entering business awards as similar to a business audit. The process gives you the opportunity to step back and take a good look at what’s working in your business – and what needs improvement.

Tip 5: Use a Word document for your drafts

Do not be tempted to type your answers directly into the awards portal. Depending on the software used to set up the portal, you may have to answer ALL the questions before your information is saved – or your information may be lost!

The best option is to copy and paste the questions into a Word document and use it to draft your answers. This allows you to make notes, draft your answers, review and add to the text before you’re ready to upload your final answer to the portal.

Writing your entry is often a huge task and it can be overwhelming. Try working on just one section at a time or two questions per week (depending on how long you have before the closing date).

Tip 6: Ask for input

Who can help gather information for your entry? Who knows you and your business well?

Team/staff members
Your life partner or family members
Strategic business partners
Your business coach
Your clients/customers

Asking for input from your team members or clients is a great way to demonstrate how much you value their opinions and their contribution to the business.

Any or all of the above people can potentially provide important input into your winning business award entry.

Tip 7: Think outside the box

Where the questions allow support documents, carefully consider what you’ll use.

Spreadsheets and graphs showing financial importance can underline you success, but be sure to highlight your most significant achievements.

Images can also be helpful in reinforcing your answers. Be sure to use clear, quality images which show your business in its best light. If the image doesn’t enhance your answer, don’t use it.

A great way to demonstrate your answer can be through a case study. This allows you to clearly portray how you’ve solved a problem for one of client and illustrates the outcomes you’re achieving.

Tip 8: Be sure to actually ANSWER each question fully and to the best of your ability

You’d be surprised how often I see business award entries which are incomplete or where the entrant has simply waffled through an answer with information completely unrelated to the topic.

It is not advisable to copy and paste answers from previous years’ entries or copy your answers between categories. You must take the time and effort to draft an original answer for each question in each of the categories you’re entering.

Tip 9: Review, edit and spellcheck before uploading to the awards portal

BEFORE you upload your entry to the awards portal, ask someone else to read over your answers and check for spelling, grammar, the flow of information and overall accuracy. It’s hard to see your own mistakes and a second set of eyes will often pick up something you’ve missed.

Do a final review yourself before you upload the answers. Check you’ve correctly answered ALL the questions and provided support documents where possible.

I STRONGLY advise you don’t leave it until the last minute to upload your entry to the award portal. Technology often buckles under a heavy load and awards portals are notorious for crashing on the final day for entries.

Stay ahead of the crowd and finish your entry at least a few before the closing date, then upload your winning business award entry to the portal well in advance of this date.

Need help? Feel free to email me if you’re looking for assistance with your business award submission. I can work in one of two ways:

I can review and edit your entry before you upload it, providing feedback and advice to tweak your entry
I can work with you from the beginning of the process, collaborating with you to write the drafts, which you then review before we finalise your entry

Hi, I’m Lyndall Guinery-Smith, The Professional Writer. I write winning business award nominations. My clients have been finalists and winners at the local level, regional level and in national awards such as the Telstra Businesswomen’s Awards. I happily work with clients all over Australia. Email me to arrange an obligation-free discussion about your latest project.

in Award nomination writing / Business Awards / Small Business Marketing 0 comments

February 4, 2019February 4, 2019 by Lyndall Guinery-Smith

How to write a winning Capability Statement

Winning new business can be tough, but the right tools, such as a professional Capability Statement, can help get your foot in the door, followed by that all-important handshake.

In this article, I’ve answered the most frequently asked questions surrounding Capability Statements.

What is a Capability Statement?

A Capability Statement is a document which defines the capabilities, achievements and skills of your business. It is a clear and concise representation of what you offer to potential clients, what sets you apart from your competitors and your track record of accomplishments.

This document is about opening doors and building relationships with your potential clients and strategic partners, so it’s important to tailor the content with your specific target audience in mind.

How long should your Capability Statement be?

What will you use the Capability Statement for? Is your intention to incorporate it into a tender document? If so, many companies who call for tenders prefer a single page statement so they can quickly and easily compare the capabilities of different organisations who tender. A single page statement is simply a brief overview and does not allow you to elaborate on your ability to deliver outcomes in any way.

I find the majority of clients seeking a professional Capability Statement writer require a comprehensive document with more detail than what can be provided in a single page.

What specific information should your document contain?

It’s important to note that every Capability Statement is different, as the document needs to be tailored to your specific business and the audience you’re targeting.

While most documents of this type have some standard and some variable inclusions, the key ingredients must cover your capabilities, what sets you apart from your competitors (your Unique Selling Proposition or USP) and your proven track record of performance.

Consider your target audience before deciding which information to include. Think about … Who are you targeting? What outcomes can you deliver for them? How can you demonstrate your ability to achieve those specific outcomes?

Once you have a clear picture of your prospective clients or partners and what they’re looking for, you can start to go through the list of potential contents below:

Cover page, including ABN, ACN and full contact details
Business overview/introduction
About Us – Mission, vision, values
Differentiators or USP
Service you provide
Core competencies
Experience
Major client list
Organisational chart
Meet the team
Equipment
Area of operation
WHS
Environmental management policy
Quality assurance
Insurance
Professional associations
Awards and recognition
Community involvement
Client testimonials
Customer service philosophy
Call to action
Any other information your clients will need to make an informed decision to do business with you

Getting started

Draft an outline
Write down who your target audience is and what outcomes you deliver for them
Make a list of contents tailored to your target audience
Consider how to demonstrate your ability
Make notes on each of your capabilities
Draft each section
Format the document to present professionally
Re-read, spell check, grammar check, edit and polish
Ask a third party to proof-read the document
Publish, PDF and send the document to your prospective clients

I hope the above tips provided you with some guidelines for writing a document which helps win more business. I specialise in partnering with small business owners to create quality marketing materials, especially capability statements. Let me know if you’d ready to chat about how I can help your company put its best foot forward with an outstanding capability statement.

Hi, I’m Lyndall Guinery-Smith, The Professional Writer. I write content dedicated to attracting and engaging your ideal clients … and improving your bottom line. I happily work with clients all over Australia. Email me to arrange an obligation-free discussion about your latest project.

in Company Profiles / Small Business Marketing 0 comments

Update your website content, web copywriter, Professional Writer

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 by Lyndall Guinery-Smith

Update your website content & win more business

The start of a New Year often brings thoughts of goal-setting, new beginning, updates and upgrades to all aspects of our lives. This is particularly true when it comes to business. That’s why it may be time to refresh or update your website content so that it becomes, or continues to be, a lead magnet for your business.

So, what are some simple ways to update your website?

Revisit each website page

Your website is not a “set and forget” marketing tool. The content DOES need to be updated on a regular basis.

Before you go ahead with an update, firstly go back and read your website content. Try to look at it with fresh eyes. If you are the person who updates the content and you regularly re-read the text, ask a trusted friend or colleague to read the content with a view to answering questions such as:

Is the content of each page clear, concise and targeted to our specific audience?
Is our Unique Selling Proposition clearly stated?
Do you have a clear Call to Action on each appropriate page?
Can your “brand voice” be heard through the content of the site?
Does the site capture the essence of what your business?

Is your About Us page current?

Research shows the About Us page is the second most read page on a website (after the Home Page), so it’s really important to keep the information updated and relevant to your audience.

Have you updated your About Us page with information about any new products or services you offer to your clients?
Are your staff profiles up-to-date?
Does your site display recent photos of your team members?
Is the essence of your business and your brand story adequately portrayed on this page?
Does your About Us page clearly state the outcomes you deliver for your clients and how you help them?

Is your website mobile-friendly?

With such a larger proportion of website visits now taking place via mobile devices, it’s vital your site is optimised for mobile.

View your website (or ask someone else to view it) on a tablet and mobile phone. Check the user experience on different types of mobile device, as opposed to desktop.

If you’re not a tech guru, you may need to speak with your web designer or developer to check which enhancements are required.

Is your SEO working for you?

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) defines the online visibility of your website in “organic” or unpaid search engine results. So, how’s your site’s SEO working for your business? Do you have an SEO strategy? Does your website generate qualified leads for your business? Yes or no?

As SEO is an ever-evolving topic, perhaps this aspect of your website needs to be updated. If you’re not an SEO expert, you may wish to engage an SEO consultant.

Write and publish a series of new blog posts

When was the last time you published a blog post? This is one of the easiest ways to refresh your website content. Blog posts can become an integral part of your SEO strategy and can also establish or reinforce your position as an authority in your field.

What should your blog posts contain? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Answer your prospective client’s burning questions
Offer potential solutions to the issues that keep them awake at 2am
Outline or review of any new products or services you’re offering in 2019
Write a case study, complete with client testimonial, about one of your recent success stories
Demonstrate a before and after scenario using your product/s or service/s

If you’d like more ideas for your blog posts, check out this article.

So, do you think it’s time to update your website content?

I hope the above tips have inspired you to take a fresh look and successfully update your website. If you’re in need of professional assistance, I specialise in partnering with small business owners to create quality content for your website. Let me know if you’d ready to chat about how my services can help portray your organisation in its best light and win you more business.

Hi, I’m Lyndall Guinery-Smith, The Professional Writer. I write copy dedicated to attracting and engaging your ideal clients … and improving your bottom line. I happily work with clients all over Australia. Email me to arrange an obligation-free discussion about your latest project.

in Small Business Marketing / Web writing tips 0 comments

Communication tips, how to connect with your ideal customer, professional writer

November 26, 2018November 26, 2018 by Lyndall Guinery-Smith

Top 5 attention-grabbing communication tips

Connecting with your ideal clients isn’t always as straightforward as you’d like it to be. The following communication tips will help you craft your message so it’s more likely to attract the attention of those elusive prospective customers!

Tip 1: Know your target customers

How do we get to know people? We ask questions – and REALLY listen to their answers. Find out as much as you can about exactly who your ideal customers are. Get to know their age, gender, marital status, spending habits, likes and dislikes, etc.

What keeps them awake at night? Identify their problem/s
How can you tap into their problem and offer a solution?
What motivates them to buy?

Tip 2: Know where to find your prospects

It’s important to know where your ideal customers hang out. If you send your message on the wrong channel, they’ll miss it and you’ll be disappointed that you’ve wasted valuable time and money investing in the wrong marketing. Take the time to get to know …

Where do your customers look for information?
Which social media channels are they active on?
How do they prefer to receive communication from you? Is it email, text message, newsletters, social media posts, etc.

Tip 3: Understand some people need nurturing before they buy

Not all your ideal customers will be ready to buy the first time they hear your marketing message. In fact, most people won’t buy when they first hear about your business. This is why it’s important to be persistent and consistent with our marketing messages.

One of the most important, and often overlooked, communication tips is that we need to build the “know, like and trust factor” first. This is where social media can be particularly useful.

Thanks to social media and email marketing, we can connect with prospects more effectively and frequently
Tap into these resources to form a connection with your prospects
Be aware of the Rule of 7 – where prospects need to see/hear your message at least 7 times before they commit to buying from you

Tip 4: Give them a reason to connect with you

Do you like being “sold to”? Most people don’t, so why would you do it to your customers? You need to give them a good reason to connect with you. Your message also needs to be tailored and clearly expressed to capture their attention.

Share useful content and relevant information
Invite them to join your community – everyone loves to belong
Offer loyalty discounts or special offers to your community members
Offer them a bonus if they introduce a friend or family member

Tip 5: Connect, don’t sell!

You will only build a strong connection with your customers by adding value, not through selling to them. It’s important to provide information which helps them in some way, but at the same time, it can allow them to understand more about your business and why you’re the best choice for your product or service.

Craft stories that evoke an emotional connection with your brand
Share client success stories – everyone loves good news
Use videos of you, your team and your customers
Illustrate your expertise and that of your team
Remember it’s SOCIAL media – share, don’t be pushy or hard sell
Build your profile as an industry expert

If you successfully adopt these communication tips, there’s no need to sell. Your ideal customers will be lining up to buy from you!

in Article writing / Article writing help / Building authority 0 comments

July 4, 2018August 17, 2018 by Lyndall Guinery-Smith

How to Become a Thought Leader

Are you seen as a thought leader or a business trailblazer in your industry or niche? Or are you happy to be just one of the crowd?

Thought leaders are those we recognise as a foremost authority in their area of expertise, whose views are seen as authoritative and influential, making them the go-to person for comments, interviews and, of course, business. A thought leader has a powerful and visible personal brand, often built over time.

9 tips on how to become a Thought Leader

1. Become an authority

Select a particular topic or niche. Ideally, you will already have some experience in this area. Be well informed by reading everything you can about the topic and stay constantly up to date on it – BE THE EXPERT.

2. Love your topic and truly believe in it

Demonstrate your passion for your area of expertise by writing, speaking, doing interviews and making videos about it. Always be looking for new ideas related to your area of expertise. Your passion and belief will shine through if you’re truly authentic with your message. Most of us can spot a fake at twenty paces – don’t be that fake!

3. Engage with people

Whether you’re speaking at an event, doing face-to-face networking, interacting on social media or meeting a potential new client – be pleasant, be present and take the time to show an interest in other people, not just yourself. Once you’ve established rapport with the other person, they’re much more likely to show an interest in what you have to offer.

4. Share your expertise

Thought leaders into their experience and share it – you can do this too. Why not write social media posts, articles, fact sheets, guides, ebooks, books – or record videos if you prefer that medium?

5. Write a blog

Blog posts are the ideal platform to share your expertise, thoughts and ideas while positioning yourself as a thought leader. As the content is kept on your own website, you have total control over it, unlike what you post to social media.

Consistency is the key. If you say you’re going to post weekly, do it. If you think you can only manage one post per month, commit to it, choose a date and ensure that blog post is live on that day.

Blog posts can be repurposed as content for your client newsletter or as a guest post on another website or in on industry blog. A blog post which receives a lot of attention is the ideal topic to expand into an eBook, lead magnet or perhaps a complete book on the topic. If you’re not a writer, this task can be outsourced to a professional.

6. Leverage social media

Choose no more than 3 social media platforms and focus on being active on them. Choose your social media channels according to your audience – be where your people are.

Plan your posts and topics ahead of time. Be sure to post regularly and consistently. Be active in groups where your followers hang out and add value by answering questions. Interact with other leaders in your industry, as well as social media influencers and thought leaders.

7. Harness the media

Media and the public look to thought leaders for their input on changes, updates and fresh ideas. Offer to provide your expert commentary to media outlets – they love a great story and are constantly seeking the advice of experts in their field.

8. Nominate for awards

Winning an award is a fantastic way to boost your profile and become known in your local area, your industry, across the country or even worldwide. There are a multitude of industry awards, those run by your local business networking organisations or Chamber of Commerce, or high profile national awards. Using the services of an established awards nomination writer can assist in presenting the best possible submission and boost your chances of standing out from your competition.

9. Form your tribe

Surround yourself with people who complement your strengths, inspire you and support your efforts. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from others, most people are happy to assist where they can. You can do it all alone – it takes a support team behind you.

One final tip … be patient. Becoming a thought leader takes hard work, dedication and creativity – and time. All the effort will be worthwhile when it pays off with huge benefits for those who are willing to stay the course.

in Award nomination writing / Building authority 0 comments

Winning business awards, how to write a winning awards entry, business awards writer, The Professional Writer, Lyndall Guinery Smith

June 27, 2018June 27, 2018 by Lyndall Guinery-Smith

How to write a winning business awards entry

Writing a winning business awards entry can be challenging, but the payoff in the form of promotion for your business can be extremely rewarding, taking your business to a new level.
As an experienced business awards nominations writer, I’m often asked what it takes to write a winning award entry. Make no mistake, it is a project and will require the investment of time and energy – it cannot be a last minute decision.

Following are some helpful tips for writing a winning business awards entry

Before you start writing…

Carefully read through the award terms and conditions to check your business is eligible to enter;
Take time to consider which categories you should enter. Think about how you could leverage the award once you’ve won, and which category would best help you engage with your target market.
If you find any “gaps” in your entry, consider waiting until the following year to enter, and take appropriate action to ensure you can cover that particular topic in future.
Note the tips in the guidelines – they are there for a reason!
Read and re-read each question, then make notes on your answer
Think carefully about each answer. Judges want to see evidence of your performance, so be specific with figures, give clear examples and use graphs or charts to complement your text where possible.
Don’t just mention what you’ve achieved, include the outcomes for your clients, how you’ve contributed to your industry or the part you play in your local community

When you start writing your winning business awards entry …

Ensure you actually ANSWER the question. This might sound basic, but you’d be surprised how many businesses write a fluffy answer that doesn’t actually address the topic!
Include the achievements of your team members where possible. This is a great way to acknowledge their input into the business and it makes you look like a great boss.
Where there’s been a problem that you’ve overcome, don’t be afraid to mention it. All businesses have issues from time-to-time and demonstrating how you’ve overcome those problems shows your resilience and how you’ve grown as an organisation.
Where possible, include social proof to add credibility to your entry.
Use brief case studies or stories about customers’ success with your product or service to demonstrate the outcomes you’re able to achieve. Tell a story if possible.
Before uploading your entry to the awards portal, ask someone independent to proofread your entry. We all make typos and grammatical errors and we rarely see them ourselves, particularly when we’ve read and re-read the same text many times over.
Watch the word limit on each answer. If you exceed it, the end of your answer will be cut off!

Entering and winning business awards can be a fabulous way to boost your business. Winning helps raise your profile in your local community, with your clients and potential clients. However, if the awards you enter have state or national levels, and you’re successful in reaching those stages, your profile gets an even bigger boost!

Winning an award demonstrates that you’ve been judged as exemplary by a third party, portraying you as an industry leader. After you’ve entered, give some thought to how you can publicise your win and gain more business from it. You may utilise social media, print media or your local business networks to spread the word about your win. Have a plan of action in place and ready to go once your win is announced.

I hope this brief post has provided you with some useful tips on winning business awards. Should you require any assistance with writing your entry, please feel free to drop me a line.

in Award nomination writing / Grow your business / Small Business Marketing 0 comments

April 4, 2018April 5, 2018 by Lyndall Guinery-Smith

How to Write to Engage your Readers

Whether you’re writing marketing materials, blog posts or a company profile to promote your business, one of the first things to consider is … Who is your audience? Who will read what you’re writing?

While your message may be the most important thing you wish to convey, unless you think about how you can engage readers, your message may not hit its intended target.

Identify your audience

Think about who you are writing the information for and then tailor the content to your intended audience. Get to know and understand the group of people you’re targeting. What are their fears, desires and aspirations in terms of your product or service? Your text needs to appeal to these aspects.

What does your audience need to know? What do they already know?

Once you’re clear on who you’re targeting with your message, you need to be more specific. Firstly, identify the knowledge levels your intended audience has on the topic you’re presenting … are they beginners, intermediate or advanced? This will determine the level of information to be conveyed in the document.

What’s your message?

Exactly what is the message you wish to convey and what is the outcome you require? If you clearly identify this upfront, your document or post will have a clear direction. It will also be much easier to outline the content you need to include.

Create useful content

Whatever your message is, the content you create MUST be interesting and useful to your target audience without sounding too “salesy”. It’s important to focus on your audience’s needs, yet craft the words in a way which also helps achieve the outcome you require.

Which communication channel should you use?

Consider where your intended audience gathers their information from. Are they more likely to read a printed publication, a blog post on your site, a guest post on a well-known industry website, a social media post, advertising or marketing materials, company profile or any other message which represents you and your business to the marketplace? You’ll get more people to read your information if it’s easy for them to find it in the first place. You’re also more likely to connect with your ideal client if you turn up in the right place.

Formatting

Most people are time-poor and many of us scan rather than reading every word. Make your document or post easy to read.

Wherever possible, use headings, paragraphs, bullet points or numbered lists to break things up. Bold text or CAPITALS are great for emphasising an important point. Colour can also be used to highlight particular sections or points of interest to your audience. Or you can use formatting to Highlight some text in a blog post.

Use visuals!

Think about it – do you look at the pictures, video or graphics when you read an article or document? Use images which the reader can relate to and which support the point you’re making, such as the picture below. Visuals are really helpful in illustrating your point and can help solidify the message in the reader’s mind.

Edit, edit, edit

This might sound like really basic advice, but we all make mistakes! Before you publish, be sure to edit your article or document. This includes spellcheck, scanning for typos and correcting any grammatical errors. These can easily be overlooked, particularly when you spend quite a bit of time on a document. Ask a colleague, friend or family member to read your document before you hit that publish button.

Does your document engage readers?

Before uploading, read back over your document or post again to check that you’ve included all the relevant information. Is it in a logical order? Is the document is easy to read? It’s easy to overlook small details, especially when you’ve been working on a document for a while and you may have rearranged the order of the information.

Does the document or post achieve the outcome you stated at the beginning?

Be sure to make the final tweaks, then PUBLISH!

I hope you’ve found these writing tips useful in helping to engage readers and connect with your intended audience.

Staff Profiles – Why your clients need to Meet the Team

Most websites have an About Us page which provides an overview of the business and what it offers, as well as a brief profile of the business owner, founder or CEO. This information is important to your readers, as people often buy or do business with those they know, like and trust. Haven’t you Googled a business before contacting them?? However, many small businesses are neglecting an opportunity to connect with readers through including staff profiles on their website. Let’s delve a little deeper into staff profiles …

Staff Profiles make a great first impression

Including staff profiles or a “Meet the Team” page on your website is a great way for potential clients to feel welcome and get to know you. It’s often the first step in the “know, like and trust” process and can help you establish and build relationships with your clients.

When potential clients take the step from reading your website to either calling or visiting your business, who will they encounter? Unless you’re a one-man-band, one of your team members will meet, greet and assist that customer. So, imagine if the reader had already been introduced to Belinda, your receptionist, or Brad in sales through their staff profiles. Do you think this would enhance their first impression of your business?

Which team members should have staff profiles?

Who in your team is client-facing? They are the ones you must profile. Depending on the size of your team, you may wish to profile only the key members who interact with clients. If you only have a few staff, it’s a great idea to profile everyone, as it makes your team appear large.

Sure, it takes a small investment of time and money to write and upload the staff profiles, but the benefits far outweigh this minimal cost.

How often should staff profiles be updated?

Keeping your website content up to date is vital. Be sure to write a fresh profile when new team members arrive and delete profiles of staff who have moved on, particularly if they’ve gone to the competition!

For long-term staff, consider updating their profiles every 1-2 years to include qualifications and experience they’ve gathered in that time. Naturally, staff profiles need to be updated when a team member is promoted. The new profile must reflect their new position and responsibilities.

Why should we include photos?

While some people don’t enjoy having their photo taken, including a quality headshot next to each team member’s profile is a great way for clients to recognise them when they meet face-to-face. It’s also part of the “know, like and trust” factor. Ensure the headshot you use is recent and actually looks like the person being profiled. Glamour shots are best reserved for personal social media accounts.

Staff Profiles can help boost your team’s esteem

Including your staff members in the company’s marketing can help empower them both individually and as a team. Having a staff profile of each employee on your website is a great opportunity to enhance your company’s team spirit and make each person feel they are a valuable part of your team. It also provides them with the chance to briefly tell the story of their experience, qualifications and specialities – and how they help clients.

A great way to display your team’s capacity

By including staff profiles on your website, you’re able to show the size and capacity of your team. It also allows you to demonstrate the cross-section of skills, capabilities and interests amongst your team members. Profiles can be as formal, friendly and approachable or quirky as you like – but they must truly reflect your brand.

It’s about showing your human side

Staff profiles allow each person to show their human side and to be relatable. Using a conversational tone allows the reader to get to know them, their values and what sets them apart, which helps to build a picture of the individual.

This opens the lines of communication so that people feel more comfortable to reach out, ask a question or walk into your premises. This could be the start of a fruitful long-term relationship with your client!

Now I’ve provided the above tips for including staff profiles on your website, I hope I’ve convinced you to introduce your team members to your clients. If you need assistance with writing your staff profiles, I can help. Simply email me and let me know what type of business you’re in and how many team members you have, then I’ll provide a quote. Or we can set up a time to chat on the phone if you prefer.

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