How to win business awards: Your bite-size guide
Winning industry awards isn’t just a vanity play – it’s a powerful way to boost credibility, raise brand awareness, and stand out in your field. Well-earned recognition can open doors for your business.
But if you’ve never entered before, or you keep trying and aren’t getting to the finalists spots, it’s time to rethink your approach.
This guide breaks down everything you need to create a standout submission, from picking the right awards to target in the first place, to crafting entries that actually win.
Here are the questions we hear most often, and the answers you need to succeed.
Frequently asked questions
Awards provide a stamp of credibility, offering third-party validation of your business’s success. They enhance brand visibility, attract new clients, help customer retention, and position you as an industry leader. Additionally, winning (or even being shortlisted) can be a great morale booster for your team.
Read more about how to turn awards into strategic growth here.
- Research industry-specific awards relevant to your niche or sector.
- Check past winners to see if your business fits the profile.
- Assess the judging criteria to ensure you meet the requirements.
- Consider the prestige and credibility of the awarding body.
- Prioritise awards that align with your business goals.
- Understand the criteria: Carefully read and map your entry to the judging guidelines.
- Prove your claims: Use data, testimonials, and case studies to back up your achievements.
- Demonstrate channel value: Show how your business supports partners and end-users.
- Be concise and engaging: Avoid jargon and focus on clear, impactful storytelling.
- Use video testimonials: A short, polished video can add credibility and personality.
- Tell a story: Judges don’t want to be bombarded with jargon-filled tech specs, so create a narrative that shows your real-world impact.
Very! Testimonials from customers, partners, or vendors act as social proof of your achievements. Include short, impactful quotes that highlight measurable results. Video testimonials are even better, as they add authenticity and increase engagement.
- Include network expansion metrics, profit amplification, or improvements in partner engagement.
- Use graphs, charts, and infographics to visually represent your success.
- Provide clear before-and-after comparisons.
- Reference case studies that demonstrate real-world impact for your customers.
Absolutely! A short, high-quality video (under 5 minutes) with captions and clear messaging helps your submission stand out. Videos bring your story to life, showcasing your impact in a dynamic way that words alone can’t.
- Not aligning your submission with the award criteria.
- Failing to provide evidence to support claims.
- Using the same submission for multiple categories without tailoring it.
- Overloading your entry with jargon and unnecessary details.
- Submitting generic testimonials instead of compelling case studies.
- Highlight your unique selling points clearly.
- Show customer feedback and industry comparisons.
- Turn your case studies into stories of transformation.
- Case studies demonstrating real-world impact.
- Performance reports with measurable success metrics.
- Partner testimonials to validate your contributions.
- Videos that illustrate your achievements effectively.
- Use bullet points and headers for easy readability.
- Include visuals like infographics and graphs.
- Attach necessary files but keep them concise.
- Avoid long, unstructured text blocks.
Yes, if you’re entering UK-based awards, ensure your case studies, data, and testimonials highlight your impact in the UK market. For international awards, use global projects as evidence.
Your final checklist before submitting
Follow these tips and you’ll submit a well-crafted, compelling entry that leaves no room for doubt. And even if you don’t win, you’ve got a stack of strong case studies and a clear narrative you can use in sales calls and pitches.
Thinking of entering an industry award in 2025?
To give you a head-start with your submissions we’ve created this handy awards calendar that gives you essential details on the major telecoms and IoT awards.
Start planning your entries now, and never lose track of a deadline again.
Meet Laura, our dynamic Marketing Manager who oversees all our projects, bringing expertise that’s as robust as her strategies. She has worked with BAE Systems, Thales, and Leonardo.
