Entering business awards can be a powerful way to elevate your brand’s visibility, enhance your credibility, and open the doors to exciting new business opportunities. It’s also an excellent way to showcase your team’s dedication and celebrate their achievements. However, with so many companies competing for top recognition, the way you prepare your application can make all the difference. With that in mind, I’ve outlined nine essential do’s and don’ts for entering business awards to help you craft a submission that stands out and maximises your chances of success.
- DO Choose the Right Awards
Not all awards programs are created equal, and entering the wrong one isn’t likely to offer much value. The key here is alignment. Prioritise business awards that are most relevant to your industry, niche or current achievements. For example, if you’re an eco-conscious company, target awards that applaud sustainability efforts. If you’re a small start-up with a great growth trajectory, look for awards that celebrate new businesses or innovation.
Choosing the right awards ensures that your efforts reach the right audience, resonate with judges, and offer tangible value to your business. Selecting the right category to enter means you’re more likely to be competing with other similar businesses, rather than those who are much larger or more experienced – something of a level playing field.
Take time to review awards program websites, past recipients, and judging criteria to confirm it’s a good fit for your particular business.
-
DON’T Leave It Until the Last Minute
A common mistake many businesses make is underestimating the amount of time and effort required to create a compelling submission. Every award comes with a detailed set of guidelines that need careful attention, and leaving this until the eleventh hour can be disastrous.
Start by breaking down the process. Work back from the closing date to create a timeline for gathering materials, including data, testimonials and supporting documents. If the award allows for creativity in the format (videos, infographics), build in time for brainstorming and production.
Rushing through your submission often leads to missed details, lacklustre responses or last-minute panic over technical issues. A polished submission requires breathing room, so set deadlines for internal reviews well in advance of the official closing date.
-
DO Tell a Compelling Story
When entering business awards, facts and figures will show your achievements, but it’s storytelling that makes your entry memorable. A strong award submission isn’t just about what your business has accomplished—it’s about how and why you’ve achieved it. This is your chance to connect with the judges on an emotional level by sharing the story behind the numbers.
Did your business overcome a significant challenge? Did you innovate to solve a major problem for your clients? Or perhaps your goals are driven by a deeply personal mission? Write a story that weaves these elements together. For example, instead of simply stating that you increased sales by 50%, explain how a new marketing strategy combined with a strong and committed team effort brought this vision to life.
-
DON’T Submit Generic Answers
It might be tempting to recycle content from previous awards or use generic responses, especially if you’ve entered similar competitions before. But this approach can undermine your chances of success. The same goes for asking AI to write your submission for you – all you’ll get is generic copy that may well be the same as one of your competitors.
The judges want to see answers that are thoughtful, tailored and specific to this award, and to your own business. Copy-pasted answers risk coming across as lazy or tone-deaf – and definitely NOT award-winning.
For every awards program, read the questions carefully and personalise your responses. Reference categories or themes specific to the event. For example, if the category you’ve selected celebrates innovation, focus on your unique processes, cutting-edge ideas or the impact of your creativity. Taking the time to write customised, category-specific answers demonstrates that you value the competition and are genuinely invested in the outcome.
-
DO Use Evidence and Data
An award-winning application isn’t built on big promises or unverified statements. Concrete evidence is your ace card. Supporting your claims with facts, figures and third-party validation boosts credibility and persuades judges that your success is real and replicable.
For example, if you’re claiming excellence in customer satisfaction, include metrics such as Net Promoter Scores (NPS) or share direct customer feedback. If you’re applying for a growth award, showcase financial trends, year-on-year revenue increases, or team expansion stats. Real-world data paired with relevant examples will make your entry more robust and convincing.
-
DON’T Exaggerate or Misrepresent
While it may be tempting to enhance certain achievements or construct exaggerated narratives, honesty should remain your guiding principle. Judges are experienced professionals who can often detect overstated or false claims. Misrepresentation risks disqualification and could also harm your business’s reputation in the long run. Would you really want to win based on lies?
Focus instead on presenting your strongest, most authentic accomplishments. Where challenges are part of the story, don’t shy away from discussing them – this adds a layer of realism and resilience to your narrative. Your honesty will resonate far more than any overstated success story.
-
DO Proofread and Review
Grammatical errors, typos or unclear responses can undermine even the strongest submission. An incomplete or sloppy application suggests a lack of professionalism and preparedness, which won’t help your case with judges.
Draft your responses in Word or Google Docs, use spelling and grammar tools, and read your work aloud to ensure clarity and flow. To avoid mistakes, review your entry multiple times. Having a trusted colleague or external reviewer proofread the submission can provide fresh perspectives and help catch errors you may have missed. A polished, error-free submission reflects the same high standards you uphold in your business.
-
DON’T Miss Deadlines
Submission deadlines are non-negotiable, and being late almost always leads to disqualification. Avoid the stress of last-minute submissions by planning ahead.
Check the deadline as soon as you decide to apply and mark it prominently on your calendar. Factor in buffer time for internal reviews, supplementary material gathering, and any potential technical hiccups with online submissions. Submitting early not only lowers your stress but also signals to the organisers that you’re organised and prepared – qualities they’re likely to appreciate.
Don’t ask for an extension. It makes you look unprofessional. After all, would an award-winning business need an extension? NO!
-
DO Celebrate—Regardless of the Outcome
Entering business awards is about much more than winning. Regardless of the outcome, the process itself is a valuable opportunity to reflect on and celebrate your team’s hard work, growth and accomplishments.
Share the experience publicly by showcasing your application process or celebrating being shortlisted on your website and social media channels. This engages your audience and signals your confidence and ambition. If you don’t win, use the judges’ feedback (if provided) to strengthen future applications. And when the next opportunity arises, you’ll be even better prepared to shine.
Recapping the 9 Do’s and Don’ts for Entering Business Awards
Entering business awards is no small undertaking, but with the right approach, it’s an investment that can pay off in credibility, exposure and a stronger industry reputation. Start by focusing on the awards most relevant to your strengths, write a compelling and honest submission, and be meticulous about reviewing every detail. Even if you don’t walk away with a trophy, the process itself can propel your business forward and highlight everything that makes your brand exceptional.
Want to know more about the do’s and don’ts of entering business awards? Check out Awards Ready. We’ve put together a handy digital product containing everything we’ve learned through writing hundreds of award submissions. It includes a 40-page PDF workbook with fillable sections, step-by-step instructions for a winning award submission, secret judge’s tips, sample winning entries and two handy checklists. Awards Ready is all here in one neat package.
The Professional Writer’s copywriting services are tailored to help you connect with, engage and convert your ideal clients. We specialise in writing standout business award submissions that grab the judges’ attention and set you apart from your competitors. We also create compelling capability statements, website copy, team profiles, and more. Ready to showcase your business at its best? Visit our Contact page and let us know how we can assist you.
And don’t forget to share this article with anyone who might find it helpful—just click the sharing buttons below or connect with Lyndall on LinkedIn to keep the conversation going!
