What to look for in a business award writer

A great business award writer can be the difference between a ho-hum entry and a winning one. But if you’re new to the world of business awards, entering can feel like threading a needle. For a successful award entry, it’s not enough to simply be deserving – your entry needs to weave a narrative that sings your praises, provides concrete evidence, and fits neatly within set guidelines and word counts. Not a professional writer yourself, or simply don’t have the time to spend meticulously crafting an award submission? That’s where a professional business award writer comes in.

What does a business award writer do?

When you hire a professional award writer, you can expect them to: Write a compelling submission: your award writer will write the textual parts of award entries; that is, they craft responses to the questions posed in the award entry. This ranges from a concise couple of hundred words to upwards of 10,000 words. Draw out relevant information: It’s not just about using the right words but asking the right questions. A business award writer focuses on the specific information that the judges are looking for in that category. Tailoring their approach to the unique criteria of each award, they ensure that no stone is left unturned. Make your personality shine: Award writers use the power of language to ensure you are conveyed authentically. After all, your personality is one of the many elements which make you and your business unique. Be concise: Award writers are skilled at breaking down complex concepts, ensuring only the relevant details are included to meet the word limit. This is especially crucial when you’re pitching for recognition for a team, project or large initiative. Save you time: One of the primary roadblocks for many deserving candidates is time. Busy professionals will often shy away from an award entry for this reason and if it’s your first time writing an award entry, it’s going to take you longer. Award writers are time savers, streamlining the process so you can continue to focus on what you do best. Play by the rules: Compliance is key. Every award has its set of entry guidelines and overlooking even one can spell doom for your application. This includes adhering to strict word counts. Adhering to them without diluting content is a fine art – and business award writers are the maestros of this delicate balance. Unlock hidden benefits: An often-overlooked benefit of the award application process is the introspection it offers. As a busy professional, it can be rare to find time to take a deep dive into your business’s achievements and challenges, but this process can uncover useful insights, helping you to strengthen your business. Now, imagine you have a professional award writer on your side, asking questions that you may not think of. Their expertise not only amplifies your current achievements but might also ignite the spark for future innovations.

What makes a good business award writer?

It’s not just what a good business award writer does, it’s how they do it. These are the qualities that makes an average award writer exceptional: Masterful interviewing techniques: Their ability to obtain detailed and relevant information from your interview ensures time isn’t wasted getting off-track. They get the information that is most relevant to that particular award. For example, say you’re entering in the ‘Marketer of the Year’ category, they’ll ask you about your campaigns, results, pinpoint what worked, and the lessons learned. Attuned listening skills: A great award writer actually spends a lot of their time listening. During the interview, they’ll pay full attention to what you’re saying, then actively respond to what you share to explore more fully your achievements and challenges. This is how they unearth the best concrete evidence, building a submission that’s backed by facts. Unwavering persistence: Remember how we said award submissions take time? Crafting a great award submission is rarely a straightforward task. It requires revisits, refinements, and sometimes even restructuring of sections. An excellent business award writer will persist until every facet of the application resonates with authenticity and impact. Courtesy: A skilled award writer will push you to uncover exactly what makes you and your business truly unique and better than everyone else. Every submission needs a “so what” factor to explain why you are truly award-worthy. A great writer will maintain the delicate balance of pushing for these details, while remaining courteous. An innate curiosity: Award writing is a niche specialty, sought by people who have a genuine curiosity about people and business. This trait drives them to delve deeper, uncovering facets that even you might have overlooked.

What should you look for in a business award writer?

Proven experience: Have they spent significant time in the trenches, crafting successful award submissions across various industries and categories? An experienced writer brings a wealth of knowledge, understanding the nuances and intricacies of different award categories and tailoring your story to fit the mould. An impressive success rate: Experience is one thing, but results are what truly matter. Inquire about their track record. How often do their clients come out on top? A writer with a high success rate is not only adept at writing but understands what judges are looking for and how to present your achievements in the best light. Exceptional writing skills: Beyond experience and results, a great award submission needs to be engaging, memorable, and impactful. A business award writer should possess the writing skills to weave your achievements, challenges, and vision into a compelling narrative, making your submission stand out.

How to get the most from your award entry writer

Naturally, when you’ve invested in an award writer, you’re going to want to get the most value from them. This is how to make sure that every minute and word, counts:

1. Preparation is Key

Before diving into the interview, familiarise yourself with the award questions. Though you don’t need to pen any answers (that’s why you’ve hired a professional writer, after all!), having an idea of what you’d like to include in the submission will make the discussion more productive and greatly improve the quality of your content. In our experience, when an award entry is not successful, it’s often because the entrant has given only a cursory glance to the award entry questions before they speak with our award entry writer. This is especially so when case studies or specific examples are required. Skimming back over your calendar or seeking input from colleagues can jog your memory and help you provide the best examples and detail. The deeper your recollection, the richer the content for your submission.

2. Embrace your achievements

Self-promotion might feel unnatural for you, but now’s not the time to be modest. Speak up about your accomplishments. Your award writer won’t think you’re big noting yourself; allow yourself to shine!

3. Authenticity above all

It might sound clichéd, but honesty and just being yourself in the interview is the best approach. Judges can spot embellishments, and they know that every success story comes with challenges. The way you navigate these challenges often speaks volumes about your capabilities. So, be upfront about both your victories and the obstacles you’ve overcome.

4. Give them – and yourself – enough time

While having an award writer on your side will reduce the amount of time you need to put into the submission, you still need to dedicate the time (and headspace) to the submission. Allocate sufficient time for interviews, gathering evidence, and reviewing drafts. Creating a stellar entry involves multiple phases and ensuring you don’t rush through them can make a difference in the final output. It’s time well invested!

5. Evidence is king

Backing up your claims with tangible evidence adds credibility and without it, your submission may lack conviction. Whether it’s performance metrics, client testimonials, or case studies, this data paints a more holistic picture of your achievements. It’s easy to lose track of every bit of positive feedback or great review, so it can be useful to create a folder where your team can stash these details throughout the year. It’s amazing how helpful this becomes when you decide it’s time to showcase your accomplishments.

6. Don’t overlook supporting materials

Many award programs require supporting materials, and while some might be labelled as “optional,” we always advise our clients to treat them as mandatory. Any chance to further showcase your story should be grabbed with both hands. After all, that extra video or document could be the distinguishing factor that sets your entry apart. Stepping into the arena of business awards is a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on your successes. With an experienced award writer by your side, you can trust that your hard work will be presented professionally, and the process will be simplified.

Success!

Let’s talk numbers – at Award Writers, a whopping 95% of the award entries we write are shortlisted. Of these, 73% clinch the win. And guess what? This win rate is the result of experience, with our experienced writers putting their magic touch to over 70 award entries each year. Thinking of diving into the awards circuit? With Proof Communications by your side, it’s more than just an entry; it’s your success story waiting to be told. Contact us on 0448 566 377 or 02 8036 5532 or head to the contact page.