Now is a good time to reflect on how far you’ve come. Whether a small business or enterprise-level global organization or if you’ve been in operation for one year or 30 years, marketing and communications played a role in your growth and success. Promote your good news and admirable client work with industry awards.
In light of the current pandemic, many recognition programs shifted to online judging, indefinite open calls for submissions, and a few even offer pro bono or discounted nominations. Most in-person celebration events have been canceled or are going virtual. Check the award program’s website for complete criteria and updates on entry deadlines and costs.
Here’s a roundup of 13 award entries to add to your marketing and communications plan:
Best For Colorado is organized by The Alliance Center and open to Colorado organizations that use business for good. Nominated programs are judged on their contributions to democracy, community and equity, environment, and community impact.
The Business Awards from the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce include honors to the local Large Nonprofit of the Year, Small Business of the Year, and Minority & Women-Owned Business of the Year in addition to other categories.
CoBiz Magazine hosts awards for Top Company, top CEO, and Top Family-Owned Company as well as others. These awards recognize leadership, successful programs and outcomes, and overcoming adversity in a variety of industries. Marketing, Communications, Healthcare, Tourism, and Startup organizations are a few Colorado industries represented in CoBiz’s awards program.
Colorado Companies to Watch recognizes entrepreneur-driven businesses throughout the state. These awards are specific to mid-sized growth companies with investment or grant funding.
Communicator Awards is a long-standing awards program honoring marketing and communications in areas of audio and podcasts, digital, video, mobile, measurement/impact, design and print, and integrated campaigns. Call of entry remains open for 2020!
Davey Awards is far and away the top awards program for small businesses around the world. Accolades are given for advertising and marketing, design, social media, mobile, websites, video, branding, experimental, and immersive.
Denver Business Journal holds award nominations throughout the year on various awards including the Outstanding Women In Business and Fast 50, the latter of which recognizes fast-growth private companies with $1M+ in gross revenue.
Hermes Creative Awards honors creative talent from around the world in categories such as Print Media, Public Relations/Communications, and Electronic/Social/Interactive Media. Nominations range from publications, collateral, websites, and videos, to advertising, marketing and communication campaigns, and programs. Call of entry remains open for 2020!
One Club for Creativity invites award nominations for the best work in advertising, design, illustration, photography, packaging, motion, and digital media. From the ONE Club to the ADC award, this organization highlights creative work from agencies and corporations.
Public Relations Society of America Colorado’s Gold Pick Award celebrates communications campaigns evaluated on each phase: research, planning, execution, and measurement. There’s also a Special Award where nominations are accepted for Rookie of the Year, Mentor of the Year, Media Person of the Year, as well as other categories.
Ragan Communications has a few awards with multiple categories for nomination within each. Awards are given in honor of nonprofit communications, employee communications, content marketing, and media relations, for example. From strategy to pitching and campaigns, Ragan offers an abundance of ways to recognize your marketing and communications successes.
The Marketing Alliance (formerly the Business Marketing Association) and the American Marketing Association of Colorado host The Fourteeners, an annual award for Colorado’s best B2B and B2C advertising and marketing campaigns, programs, assets, tools, and more.
Shorty Awards celebrates successful influencers and brands in a wide range of categories including Call to Action, Multicultural Community Engagement, Shoe-String Media Buying Strategy among many others.
Award nominations can also include consumer-driven honors such as “Best Of” and “Top” lists. These observations require consumers to nominate, campaign, and/or vote for their favorite companies, services, programs, or personalities. These efforts - even if your company doesn’t win the award - can boost social media engagement, drive website traffic, and increase brand awareness.
Don’t miss out on an opportunity to celebrate right now. All your hard work has paid off before and it will continue to reward you. Make award nominations part of your marketing strategy.
For over 18 years, C. Change Consulting has helped brands in the corporate, small business, nonprofit, and government sectors with marketing and communications strategy, research, planning, and execution. If you need COVID-19 marketing and communications assistance, please reach out for complimentary services.
*Honorable mentions to the highly-competitive and well-regarded Webby Awards, Content Marketing Awards, and Drum Marketing Awards.
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