5 Do’s and Don’ts of Awards Management
A good awards program can garner you more benefits than one, however implementing such a program can be quite a task. The entire process of planning can be daunting and overwhelming to deal with. But the good news is that this is not impossible. With a good awards software and a list of what you should be and should not be doing, things can go on pretty smoothly. Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts to help simplify the process for you:
- Do have a bang-on website: Your awards website is the focus point to attract potential entrants. Having an informative and impressive site will ensure the credibility of your awards program and also render a high traffic.
- Do have an accurate plan: Planning is critical for your awards management. Never make the mistake of having approximate timelines, resulting in bottle necks throughout your program.
- Do invest in a marketing plan: Investing your time and money into marketing the awards than merely organizing it, can help reach the precise audience globally.
- Do have an impressive judging panel: Industry experts on the judging panel spells prestige and publicity. Spend time to choose your judges who lend legitimacy to your program and also be a marketing tool to attract potential entries.
- Do go online: Are you the kind to work your way into a tangled mess? If you are struggling to deal with the different systems of awards, turn to an awards management software to simplify your life. Automated awards management will make the entire process streamlined and hassle-free across all functions and requirements.
The do’s are never the difficult part of the awards program. Doing what you are not supposed to be the killer here:
- Don’t disconnect your awards and organization: Awards are a great tool for publicity and you are missing out if you don’t showcase your organization along with the program. Build your brand and reach out to the potential customers using the awards program.
- Don’t underestimate budgeting: Does this even need an explanation! Setting a budget is crucial to hold your program together until the end and have a tab on the costs and expenses. Avoid last minute crunches and invest time to chalk out a budget categorically.
- Don’t fail to categorize: Categorizing your awards will make it easy for the entrants to apply and place themselves. Plan carefully not to confuse the participants or reach out to the wrong audience, which nullifies all the efforts and time put towards marketing the awards program.
- Don’t underestimate your staff: The awards program runs on the dedication and commitment of your staff. Make sure you have a well-trained team and enough resources to work towards the success of the program. It is also crucial to train the staff as well as the judges on automated software that ease the entire awards management process.
- Don’t have a boring gala: People remember what they like the most and give them the best to remember about your program by making it fun. Nobody likes boring parties, or even worst they could remember it for the wrong reasons. Remember, this is the face of your company you are projecting and might be the biggest brand recall factor for years to come.
Even in the flurry of all the preparations, keep a watch on all that could go wrong and have a planned solution for every instance. Plan, invest, research and revisit to have an eventful awards program!