Professional service firms invest enormous efforts - and expense - in award competitions in the quest for a recognisable edge. As Andy Warhol observed, we all get 15 minutes of fame - don’t squander the promotional opportunities an award win affords you and your firm.
If you're a winner, be a grinner. Congratulations on your win ! You should be rightly proud. And, you should get to work at maximising the prestige and potential of your win.
Here are some simply implemented promotional tips to help you spread the word and make the most of an award.
Get in touch
Awards are a great reason to get in touch with your clients and other supporters to share the good news and thank them for their support. Spread the news with a letter or email and attach any press clippings about your win.
Promotional materials
Update your promotional materials with the good news. There is no need to reprint items, add award details to email signatures and electronically overprint on your letterhead and feature on your website home page. If the organisation bestowing the award provides an image for this purpose, even better: use it.
Celebrations
Depending on the award (and appropriateness) you may want to host small celebratory events to thank clients who nominated or voted for you. Or, as a further morale booster for your staff, watch them swell with pride when you host an event to thank them.
On show
Don’t forget to display certificate or award itself prominently in your reception area and client areas of your offices.
Advertising and recruitment materials
Mention your status as an award winner in any future advertisements or job opportunities - to reinforce your firm as a “winner” and success story.
Point of difference
Wins can be important evidence to back up claims in your tenders, proposals and credentials documents. Get together the story of how and why you won - create a case study or snapshot and include it with these documents.
Speaking gigs
Use your win as a hook to gain speaking engagements, now you are a more widely recognised expert. Remember to include award details in your speaker biographies.
Awards have currency for around 12 months, or until the next competition … so make the most of it to stretch your 15 minutes of fame through the year. Do it now !
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