by Bright Ewuru | Mar 11, 2024 | Articles
Creating an engaging awards program is a great way to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in your industry and community. But, if this is your first time creating such a program, there are some considerations to keep in mind. From collecting submissions to organising the prize and defining your scoring rubric—not to mention the awards ceremony should you plan to have one, there is a lot to consider!
Here’s an awards program planning checklist to help you plan and organise your awards program from scratch.
When planning your awards program, start by thinking about the awards structure and categories. The awards structure can give meaning and relevance to your awards program, and work to reflect the efforts and accomplishments of importance within your industry.
Offering multiple categories can help you recognise a range of achievements, which can work to encourage broader participation and foster inclusivity in your program.
When designing your awards, remember that the awards structure can be adjusted as necessary as your program and industry evolves. Keep the structure and categories flexible enough for relevant changes.
No doubt, you’ll want a fair and transparent awards program. This means it’s important to pay close attention to your judging rubric. The judging rubric ensures your award entrants are aware of how their submissions will be evaluated. It also guarantees that they’re all assessed based on the same criteria.
What’s more, a scoring rubric provides value to your judges by setting clear expectations regarding the assessment of submissions. It serves as a guide to help them make the best scoring decisions about each entry and provide informed feedback.
When creating your scoring rubric, make sure it’s relevant to the various categories being recognised. Consider offering a rubric for each category to help in proper evaluation.
It’s said that a prizefighter fights not merely for the sake of fighting, but for the prize at stake. When planning an awards program, it’s crucial to consider the prize. The prize can be the principal incentive for people and organisations to enter your awards program.
A high-quality prize attracts high-quality entrants; this amps the competitiveness, thrill and engagement of the program. The prize can also boost the program’s prestige and publicity—after all, a quality prize indicates that winning is a valuable accomplishment and is sure to generate a lot of media attention.
With a unique and valuable award, you can cut through the noise and set your awards program apart from others. It also helps inspire the continued pursuit of excellence among your entrants.
Some examples of worthwhile prizes could be a monetary or financial reward, a unique opportunity in your industry, marketing opportunities, a mentorship or more.
The awards entry form is the gateway to participation in your awards program; so it’s deserving of due attention. It provides entrants with details relating to eligibility and submission, thereby ensuring quality entries. Also, it serves to gather relevant information about the entrants themselves and their submissions.
When designing your awards entry form, tailor it to sync with any eligibility criteria you may have and the different categories of the awards program. Also, make it clear and accessible to all potential entrants. This will promote diversity and inclusion, starting with the submission process.
As you plan your awards program, it’s essential to consider technology to make the job easier, save you time and money and help you streamline the whole process. Leveraging awards management software can be a game changer!
Awards management software facilitates the collection, storage, use and analysis of program-related data. The insights can help you make informed decisions for the improvement of the awards program.
Award Force, for example, streamlines communication between your team of judges, eligibility managers and entrants. Through the use of automated notifications and transparent processes, everyone stays in the loop. It also has security features to protect participant data and ensure the integrity of the awards process.
Creating an awards program doesn’t have to be complex. By using these tips above, you can work to ensure your awards program is fair, inclusive, transparent, simple and prestigious. Want more help? Check out our ebook on how to build and manage a winning awards program .
Articles
Feature focus
How-to-guides
Press releases
Product updates