Small awards aren’t so small. Research shows that winning small business awards has a number of positive effects and can launch further growth. Moreover, these competitions also bring many benefits to the participants who don’t end up winning.
If you’re looking for a fresh way to motivate your team while raising your business’s profile, then consider nominating them and yourself for awards. Here’s an explanation of how and why to launch this kind of initiative.
Why awards matter: Elevate your brand and expand your network
Earning accolades not only feels good but also brings tangible benefits to businesses. One study has found that award-winning companies outperform their rivals on several important measures, from sales volume to share price.
Another study has shown that victorious businesses see an immediate uptick in new orders. Moreover, these wins have a timeless quality — the winning enterprise can leverage them even in future years.
The same research also found that taking home a title inspires team members to rededicate themselves to their labor. In effect, external honors work like internal employee recognition awards on steroids. Submitting someone’s name for consideration is a great way to demonstrate appreciation for their work. In consequence, the employee gains renewed motivation to supply outstanding contributions to your organization.
Awards offer these advantages for multiple reasons.
Why certificates, plaques, and medals matter
When organizations announce their finalists and eventual award winners, the relevant businesses often get media opportunities, since journalists and editors are eager to hear what led to this success. For the most prestigious awards, a veritable frenzy of media coverage can boost brand awareness in a wave of organic PR that can reach those typically elusive target customers.
In addition, victors often receive an award trophy to display in their shop windows or an electronic badge to affix to their websites next to their logos. These catch the eye of passersby, leading them to think more highly of the establishment.
Along similar lines, another study has concluded that prizes act as a “signal” to consumers, reassuring them of the company’s high-quality products or services and taking away any feelings of uncertainty they may have harbored. In short, people want to buy the best, and a prestigious medal helps them quickly identify what the best is.
But that’s not all. Your outfit doesn’t even have to win to reap the benefits of submitting a nomination.
Not a finalist? Participants also benefit
Even enterprises that don’t take home the engraved plaque derive significant advantages just from their participation in these contests. Other studies have shown that, when entrepreneurs and business leaders use these tournaments as the reason to implement improvement plans, their employees report that the whole organization levels up.
In addition, many of these programs have awards ceremonies or offer other opportunities to network with other prominent executives or professionals. Congratulating someone on their win is a positive and natural way to introduce yourself and start a conversation.
Do a Google search on awards programs, and you’ll quickly find numerous possibilities. Here’s how to pick the right ones to enter.
Find the right competition
No matter what size your undertaking is or what style products or services you bring to market, there will be options designed to judge your offerings or other elements of your operations. Moreover, many of these organizations sponsor a wide range of categories and sub-categories of prizes.
Part of the challenge is finding just the right awards for which to compete. For the best chance of reaping substantial returns from a victory, consider the contests that would impress prospective customers the most. For the best chance of taking home the title, consider where your operation excels and locate the office awards that best dovetail with those accomplishments. For the best chance of pleasing and retaining your top talent, look for suitable employee awards that would be accessible to them and let them know that you’ve put their name up for consideration.
Now that you know which tournaments to enter, it’s time to get your application in good shape.
How to highlight your small business best: Learn from the winners
Although it may seem efficient to prepare a single file of materials and send it to multiple awards, this approach would be a mistake. Every committee is looking for something different, which means only custom packages have a chance at success, which means you will need to prepare your applications carefully and review them closely before delivery.
To understand what each separate panel of judges is looking for, take time to look over the honorees from previous years. For instance, who won the gold, silver, and bronze last year, and why? Figure out what the committee is hoping to find in this year’s selection and personalize your materials accordingly.
In general, the strongest applications go into gritty detail rather than merely trading in fluffly bromides. They supply actual figures or test results to back up their claims of effectiveness. They provide comments from happy customers who explain the positive effect the product or service has had on their lives. They include compelling stories that help the evaluators understand your shop’s mission and connect with you and your team.
There’s one sure way to lose, however, and that’s to neglect to make your nomination in the first place.
Nominate your team for small awards and take home the trophy in 2026
Picture hearing your name called at an awards gala and walking up on stage to claim your trophy award. Imagine taking the contemporary crystal slab and putting it on your desktop for all to see. This outcome is possible, but only if you apply.
Don’t get left out of the celebration! Find the right awards, craft compelling applications, and start winning the prizes you and your team deserve.
