why are awards a useful part of your pr campaign
TRANSCRIPT
Rachel Hargrave
Agency Director
What is PR?
Public Relations (PR) is all about reputation - the result ofwhat you do, what you say and what others say aboutyou.
PR is the discipline which looks after and nurtures yourreputation, with the aim of earning understanding andsupport, influencing opinion and behaviour and ultimatelybuilding your profile so people can make clear decisionsabout, for instance, working with you.
PR is the planned and sustained effort to establish andmaintain goodwill and mutual understanding between anorganisation and its chosen audience(s).
…And how do you ‘do’ PR?
It’s all about blending a clear strategy,
created to support your core campaign
objectives (what does success look like to
you?), with a creative approach that’s
measured to ensure positive results.
In short it’s all about story.
Powerful storytelling will make you
memorable, relatable and visible!
January February March April May
WebsiteUpdates
Blog
Social Media
Press Packs
PressRelease(s)
ForwardFeatures
Awards
Exhibitions
Networking
Guest Lectures
Sponsorship
Cost
Results
Awards
1. (Credible) awards raise your profile
2. Are newsworthy with some being supported by media which guarantees coverage (online and / or offline)
3. Confirm that you are great at what you say you are great at
4. Create content (and content is King!) which you can run out across social media, newsletters, blogs, press releases to other media
5. Offer face-to-face opportunities including the ability to use the awards lunch / dinner to host clients, potential clients etc.
Awards
• Best Business Awards (national)
• Enterprising Women Awards (regional)
• Leicester Mercury Business Awards
(local)
Awards
• Best Business Awards (national)
• www.bestbusinessawards.co.uk
• Entry Deadline 31st January 2017
• One of the UKs highest profile awards
• NOTE: there is a cost to entering this one (£195 + VAT per category entered or £150 + VAT per category when you enter 3 or more categories)
Best Business Awards: Categories
• Best Marketing
• Best Innovation
• Best Employer
• Best Strategic Design / Creative
• Best Customer Focus
• Best Corporate Social Responsibility
• Best New Product / Service (less than 2 years old)
• Best Product / Service Range
• Best SME
• Best Large Business
• Best New Business
• Outstanding Personal Achievement
• Outstanding Entrepreneur and Outstanding Female Entrepreneur
• Outstanding Non-Executive Director
Awards
• Enterprising Women (regional)
• www.emc-dnl.co.uk or email
[email protected] for the forms
• Entry deadline 8th January 2017
• NOTE: no cost to enter
Enterprising Women: Categories
• Business Woman of the Year
• Enterprising New Business Woman of the
Year
• Female Employee of the Year
• Team of the Year
• Community Champion of the Year
• Apprentice of the Year
• Inspirational Woman of the Year
Awards
• Leicester Mercury Business Awards
(local)
• www.leicestermercurybusinessawards.
co.uk
• Entry deadline 27th January 2017
• NOTE: no cost to enter
Leicester Mercury Business
Awards: Categories
• Company of the Year
• Small Business of the Year
• New Business of the Year
• Business Entrepreneur of the Year
• Services Award
• Sales and Marketing Award
• Retail Business of the Year• Excellence in Science & Technology Award
• Apprentice Employer of the Year
• Creative Industries Business of the Year
• Excellence in Manufacturing Award
• International Trade Award
• Contribution to the Community Award• Not-For-Profit Organisation Award
What You Need To Think About
• DON’T leave it to the day before to write your entry (the IoD regional awards take me 3 hours per entry when I am first writing an Award entry for a client; that’s after I’ve gathered all the information pertinent to the awards – so another 30 – 60 mins there too!)
• If you are struggling ask a friend, colleague or even a family member to tell you why you are so good at X or what you did in Y. You can’t afford to be modest but you don’t want to come across as the ‘big I am’ – it’s a balance
What You Need To Think About
• Even if the award entry is online write it offline and keep a copy;• You may need to refer to it prior to an interview
with the judges
• You can use the information you’ve submitted here on other Award applications (where relevant) which will speed up the process the next time around
• DO consider what you are going to send in to support your Award application (assuming there is an opportunity to do so)
Last Three Things To Think About
• Choose wisely and make it a planned part
of your marketing and PR activity
• Enjoy the process and learn from it
• Good luck!
Contacting RDZ PR Ltd
3 Barrow Road
Sileby
Leicestershire
LE12 7LW
T: 01509 813 913
Rachel Hargrave: Agency Director
M: 07976 806 578
