6 Strategies to maximise engagement in your awards program

One of the many benefits of running an awards program is to engage your community. So, how can you maximise participation to make sure your entrants and community are fully engaged in your awards program?

Engagement is important—it can impact your awards program’s long-term success by boosting visibility, generate revenue opportunities, build a strong network and enhance your organisation’s reputation.

Improving involvement in your awards program doesn’t have to be an uphill battle. Let’s consider six practical ways to maximise engagement and program participation.

1. Leverage social media to connect with your community

Integrating social media into your awards program can be a game-changer. To boost entry and participation with social media content, it’s important to use eye-catching visuals. Pictures of past and present participants and event footage can help draw attention and build excitement around your awards program.

Participants can also share such content. Make it easy for entrants and program participants to share their entries and program status.

Try running targeted ads on various social media platforms to reach specific demographics. And create a unique program hashtag to encourage your participants to share content that helps boost the award program’s discoverability and help you track related content and conversations across social platforms.

Share user-generated content and behind-the-scenes content about your program to demonstrate authenticity. Interactive features on various social platforms such as polls and live streams can also build excitement and help you interact with your audience in real time.

2. Create a strong communication plan

Keep your audience and program participants in the loop at all times with clear, consistent and targeted communication. This creates trust, builds awareness and can help boost excitement.

Reminders of deadlines can motivate intending entrants to apply. Updates can keep everyone in alignment in the event of unexpected changes, ensuring that no participant is left behind.

3. Implement incentives for entry and participation

Consider adding a layer of excitement to your awards program by incentivising entry and participation. Incentives can make your awards program more appealing and attract a wider range of entrants.

You can facilitate entry by implementing an early-bird discount, allowing early entrants to pay lower award entry fees. A first-time participant discount can gently nudge hesitant potential entrants to enter.

It can be helpful to offer rewards for referrals; participants are likely to refer more entrants to the awards program if there’s a benefit. Recognise entrants who enter the program multiple times by offering discounts or veteran status badges. This can encourage continued participation.

4. Emphasise your credibility

Showcase the prestige if your awards program to help attract a wider pool and a higher calibre of entrants. A credible awards program can encourage returning entrants. It can also encourage all participants to share their positive experiences; word-of-mouth promotion is powerful.

Here are some sure-fire ways to position your awards program as credible:

• Showcase the program’s history and legacy
• Invite an experienced panel of judges and highlight their expertise
• Be clear about your judging criteria
• Leverage powerful awards management software to create an easy experience for all participants
• Share testimonials and endorsements
• Build a strong online presence
• Offer valuable awards prizes and benefits
• Showcase program sponsors across your awards lifecycle

5. Showcase past winners

Another effective strategy to maximise engagement and participation in your awards program is highlighting the past winners. People might be reluctant to enter your awards program because they doubt the possibility of winning. Showing multiple past winners proves that success is achievable.

This can inspire potential entrants, particularly relatable ones, and drive entry. It can also give insight into what submissions are more likely to win, resulting in higher-quality submissions.

6. Spotlight your entrants

Spotlighting entrants can increase engagement and participation in your awards program. While this can give the entrants a sense of validation, it can also motivate others to apply.

Each entrant’s story can offer unique relatable content that resonates with various segments of your audience. Highlighting their journeys and challenges can inspire similar audience members to participate. Sharing stories about your entrants can emphasise the diversity of your participants—another encouraging factor.

Keeping your entrants front and centre can foster a sense of community, enhance their engagement and ensure their returning participation.

A buzzing awards program is every awards manager’s goal. Try implementing these tips above to spark engagement and participation in your awards program.