by Bright Ewuru | Sep 2, 2024 | Articles
First impressions matter.
The awards entry stage is crucial in the awards program lifecycle—your call for entry announces your awards program to the general public. Besides serving as an invitation, it sets the stage for the entire awards program.
As an awards manager, you want your call for entry to resonate with your target audience and compel them to enter the program. Let’s dive deeper into some actionable call-for-entry best practices that will hook your audience and ultimately drive the success of your awards program.
A captivating awards call for entry is essential because it:
Who do you want to enter the awards program? Is it individuals, organisations, students or established professionals?
Understanding your target audience is crucial because it ensures you tailor your messaging to their interests, challenges and motivations. This can effectively build an emotional connection and boost their desire to participate. It also ensures that you focus your marketing efforts by targeting specific channels where the audience is most active.
Defining your target audience also ensures that you emphasise benefits that are of value to them.
Your message to your target audience is the call for entry; it should capture their attention and drive them to enter the program. To ensure this, open up the message with an appealing headline that instantly communicates the essence and value of the awards program.
Include an introduction to the awards program, outlining its objectives, history and accomplishments. Highlight the benefits such as networking opportunities, prizes, recognition, development opportunities and more.
It’s important to provide vital information about how the awards program works, too. Include any information on your different categories of the awards program, the eligibility criteria and whether there will be any awards entry fees. Define the submission guidelines, judging process and judging panel to establish credibility and provide transparency.
Appealing visuals pick up where texts end.
You can implement infographics to make the information visually appealing and easily understandable. Short, upbeat video content can show exciting aspects of past seasons and plans for the current season, all to help drive more entries.
Consider using testimonials from past winners to build the credibility of your awards program and serve as an inspiration to your target audience. Success stories can also clarify expectations and boost the awards’ prestige.
Testimonials should illustrate the awards program experience and how participation and/or recognition in the program has positively affected the participant. Consider adding their pictures, videos and quotes to enhance authenticity.
Emphasise how long the entry period will last. Communicate the deadlines clearly and use incentives such as early-bird discounts to encourage early submissions.
Leverage your website, email newsletters and social media to keep your audience updated on the deadline. A countdown timer, or regular mention of limited spots, if applicable, can create a sense of urgency or scarcity that can help drive more entries.
A captivating call for entry must be appropriately promoted. Leverage a multi-channel promotion strategy to reach your target audience as much as possible.
Use your website, social media, email newsletters, industry forums and publications to share the news of your call to entry. Consider publishing a press release to help spread the word.
Don’t forget about entrants from past years and seasons. Entice them to return with an early bird pricing special or other attractive incentives.
In Award Force, you can leverage past entrants by using a filter to find all entrants in archived seasons of your program, making it fast and easy to send an invitation to all previous entrants.
Developing a compelling call for entry can give your awards program a dynamic kick-off and elevate your entire awards cycle. Use these tips to help get you started!
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