How to write an Oscar-worthy winning award submission
Writing a Winning Award Entry – TWI’s Top 5 Tips
1. Read the criteria
Your business might comfortably be best in its category, but if what makes you great isn’t down on the entry form, and relevant to the award criteria, it counts for nothing. If it says 200 words, it means 200 words. You may have a lot to say, so you’ll need to be concise.
TWI’s Top Tip: Think about everything that’s great about your business and try to relate it to a specific section of the award criteria.
2. Less is more.
Make sure everything you include is relevant and interesting. Just as you need to stay under the word count, if you can say it in less words, that’s good too.
2B. But don’t let that stop you from giving full explanations.
Use as much or as little information as you need to make a strong, relevant point which sells your business.
TWI’s Top Tip: Imagine you are on the judging panel reading not only yours, but another five, five dozen or even five hundred entries which, in all likelihood, will be quite similar. Do you want to read the same buzz-words over and over again?
3. Reference your successes
Anyone can say their business can do something, not everyone can prove it! Talk about the clients you have helped, talk about your CSR, your positive impact on the community, talk about any area of the business you are proud of and, where possible, evidence it.
TWI’s Top Tip: A real life example or statistic makes a much stronger point than just another unsubstantiated claim.
4. Dont make sily errors,
Mistakes in any format or media make your business look like it makes mistakes, the wrong impression for an awards submission and for business in general! Yes, we did that on purpose!
TWI’s Top Tip: Double check, triple check, then check again if necessary. Get an external proof read, or use an app like Grammarly to check your content.
5. WTMOTS know what you’re talking about?
Would the man on the street (WTMOTS) know what you’re talking about? Industry language might be second nature to you, but it may not be to the judges.
TWI’s Top Tip: Unless the award is specific to your industry be aware of how your entry will come across to the uninitiated. This includes acronyms – it is good practice to spell them out the first time you use them.
6. You don’t always have to follow the rules
You can talk about almost anything good about your business in your award entry, just as long as you’re creative in finding a way to relate it to the awards criteria.
TWI’s Top Tip: Think about how to deliver really exciting supporting evidence. We like to produce an award-branded magazine with infographics and images backing up the points made in the text submission – you could even produce a video if the guidelines allow it.
You’ve written a great entry, now click here to find out how to make the most of your award win!
If you need some help writing an award-winning entry, or have won an award and want to shout about it, contact us on 01473 326907 or email kate@twi.agency
