Award season is here, not just for actors but also for business executives. Why compete? Because recognition boosts employee morale, attracts talent and bolsters customer retention. Everyone wants to be on a winning team, and business awards come only to those who play the game.
Here’s where every marketing effort should start:
Best Place to Work Awards — These awards typically survey employees on criteria such as best culture, leadership, professional development, mentorship and work environment. Entry requires only filling out forms and providing employee emails, and the results can have a huge impact on company morale. Well-known programs are Great Place to Work, Inc. Best Workplaces, Glassdoor Best Places to Work, and Comparably Best Places to Work.
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year ® — EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year program has been celebrating the ambition to lead dynamic businesses for nearly four decades. The US schedule consists of 17 regional programs whose panels of independent judges select the regional award winners every June. Those winners compete for national recognition in November at the Strategic Growth Forum, where national finalists and award winners are announced. (Due March 3)
Inc. 5000 — Inc. 5000 is the hallmark of success for private companies. It celebrates innovation with a network of entrepreneurial leaders and makes an effective public relations showcase. The list ranks companies by overall revenue growth over a three-year period, with 5,000 individually profiled on Inc.com, of which the top 500 are featured in the magazine’s print issue. Inc. also ranks the fastest-growing companies by industry, metro area, revenue, and number of employees. (Due March 24)
Fast Company – On Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, architecture, robotics and transportation enterprises vie for one of the most recognized programs in business. The judges are the magazine’s editors and reporters, who consider how the innovation has impacted the company, industry and society. Small and innovative firms compete well, as proven by the success of Winc, Arterys and Sonder. (Due September 23)
Regional Business Journals — As the reigning “who’s who” for local businesses, these publications want to be in the know on area deals, events and trendsetters. Business journals have multiple award programs for all industries, with c-suite categories like Best CIO, Best CFO and Best Places to Work. The awards often culminate in events that offer opportunities for networking among business leaders. Some of the best are Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Orange County and Silicon Valley. (Deadlines vary and submission is typically free)
Winning recognition is only half of the opportunity. Spreading the news of the recognition to investors, customers, partners and employees is just as important. Share it on websites, social platforms, pitch decks and on internal communications channels.
Need to know more? Shoot us an email or give us a call.
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