Congratulations—you just received an award! Whether you earned a spot on a “Best of the Best” industry list or “Top Professionals” directory, awards are a can’t-miss opportunity to build your thought leadership platform, strengthen your brand, demonstrate credibility, and highlight your expertise.
Professional awards can establish you as an expert in your field and increase visibility with target audiences. Awards can expand visibility for your personal or corporate brand while also opening doors for future opportunities. Awards are also fun! Winning an award is an exciting achievement and should be a highlight in your career trajectory.
Seven Tips to Leverage Awards
An award in itself is a significant accomplishment. But don’t leave the trophy on a shelf to collect dust. Here are seven ways to actively promote your accomplishment:
1. Create and Distribute a Press Release and Add It to Your Press Kit.
Writing and distributing a press release to announce your accomplishment should be the first thing you do after receiving the good news. Contact industry journalists who write for relevant publications and offer an exclusive interview or a story angle. A feature article will boost your visibility and provide further credibility to your thought leadership platform. Add the release and any media coverage you obtain to your press kit.
2. Share the Award News with Your Existing Network.
As an existing or aspiring thought leader, you likely already have a robust LinkedIn network of connections. Add the award to your LinkedIn profile, then click “share with your network.” Be sure to add any relevant hashtags to your post. Do the same on any other social media platforms you are active on. Be sure to tag the presenter of the award as well as other winners, finalists and nominees to gain exposure to their followers. The frenzy of likes, comments, and shares that your connections will give to your announcement will significantly increase the reach of your news, boosting your visibility and credibility to those outside your network.
3. Write a Blog Post.
Everyone loves a good story. Earning your award didn’t happen overnight, and now is the perfect time to share the story of how you got here. But don’t make the blog post a self-serving, all-about-you article. Share actionable, practical insights about your journey to earn the award. Not only will the background details boost your credibility, but readers will genuinely appreciate the time you took to share your experience. Giving back to those in your industry will pay off in the long run, especially when it comes to establishing yourself as a well-respected thought leader.
4. Add the Award Logo to Marketing Materials.
Winning an award typically comes with a logo or insignia that can be used in email signatures, business cards, websites, marketing materials, paid advertising and social media channels. If trade shows and speaking engagements are part of your marketing plan, include the award logo on booth designs and handouts. Don’t forget to add “award-winning” to your bio or company description.
5. Connect with Other Award Winners.
If there are multiple or past winners of the award, connect with them in person and online. You and your peers can brainstorm new ideas, discuss tips to overcome common challenges and debate industry trends. This will help grow your network and provide inspiration as you look to the next step in your thought leadership journey.
6. Add Awards to Your Elevator Pitch.
Consider adding the news of your award to your elevator pitch when you speak at networking events or conferences. It might feel strange to be self-promotional right off the bat, but others will be impressed by your achievement, and it will immediately establish your credibility and recognition within your industry.
7. Thank Those Who Helped You Get There.
You didn’t win an award without the help of others. Consider sending an email or handwritten thank you card to your mentors, colleagues and anyone else who contributed to your accomplishment. This simple act of gratefulness will help maintain your professional relationships and solidify your reputation within your industry.
What If I Didn’t Win the Award?
If you were nominated for an award and didn’t win, that’s okay! You can still use these tips to build your visibility, credibility and name recognition in your marketplace. Nominations are an honor and should be treated as such and represent an opportunity to build your thought leadership brand.
All of this might feel a bit too self-promotional for some. But you took the time to complete and submit the application, and the judges reviewed your work and deemed it worthy of recognition. Set your humility aside and let your network, followers, peers and industry celebrate with you. Want to chat about how to leverage your awards to expand your personal or corporate brand? We can help! Click here to schedule a call with one of our experts.
