If you’ve ever watched a competitor scoop a business award and thought, “How did they win that?”
Maybe you are delivering great results, your clients love you, and you're having a measurable impact on your people, community, even the world, but somehow, it’s them up there getting the trophy, the press coverage, and the LinkedIn kudos.
But here’s the thing;
It’s not that they’re doing better than you.
It’s because they submitted the best entry.
Award-winning brands aren’t simply lucky. They’re strategic.
It’s not the best businesses that win awards, it's the best entries
Yes, awards do go to brands doing impressive things. But they don’t always go to the most impressive brand.
To win an award you have to tell your story in a way that scores points with the judges. Winning an award isn’t just about performance, it’s about perception, positioning, and proof.
So your competitors may not be doing better than you. But what they do have is clarity on their strengths, a strategy to showcase them, and they position themselves as leaders;
They enter awards strategically
This is the biggest differentiator.
Your competitors aren’t panicking at the last minute when a deadline appears on their radar. They have a strategy and have mapped out which awards matter to their business, giving them the advantage of being able to plan their entries months in advance.
By having a strategy, they know;
- Which awards align with their goals
- Which categories will show off their best achievements
- What evidence and case studies they need to include
So instead of a rushed, last-minute entry, they can confidently submit a polished, compelling story designed to score points with the judges.
They know their strengths
And they've got the evidence to back it all up.
Award-winning brands don’t “hope” their work is good enough. They prove it with impact data that shows measurable results, testimonials that demonstrate real transformation, and case studies and real-life stories that resonate with the judges.
The key is knowing what your stengths are, then connecting the evidence so the judges know it's not just words but actual results and impact.
They position themselves as leaders
Your competitors are winning because they’re not pitching themselves as just another good business in your industry, they’re positioning themselves as a leading brand.
In their entry, they’re not afraid to say:
“We’ve achieved something exceptional”
“We’re innovating in our industry”
“We’ve delivered outstanding results”
They tell a clear, confident story. And they do it in a way that isn't bragging, because they have the evidence to back it up. Making it easy for a judge to score highly.
What you can learn from your competitors
If you want to compete with your competitors and beat them to the next trophy, here’s what you need to do;
- Start with an awards strategy: map out the awards you want to enter over the next 12 months. Choose with your goals in mind, as not all awards are created equal.
- List your strengths and build your bank of evidence: start gathering stats, testimonials, and standout stories that prove your achievements
- Enter early, not last-minute: start preparing an entry for an award with at least 4 weeks until the deadline, giving yourself time to draft, refine and polish so you can enter confidentally.
By doing these 3 things, you will give yourself a better chance of winning, enjoy the process of entering awards more, and get a much better ROI.
Supporting you to win
Winning awards is hard work, but you don't have to go it alone.
Join our next free awards masterclass and get the tools you need to succeed. Hosted by August Founder, international awards judge, and awards expert, Donna O'Toole, the masterclass is designed to help you on your journey, with an opportunity to ask your burning questions and get tailored insights.
Book your place now and learn the strategies used by the world’s most recognised brands.
