Awards management tips for busy people

Managing an awards program is a demanding commitment. From marketing the program to supervising the evaluation of submissions and everything in between, awards managers can find themselves stretched thin by a myriad of responsibilities. 

That’s why it’s imperative to implement strategies that can save time and ease the burden for both awards managers and other stakeholders.

Here are six awards management tips to help you gain back precious time.   

1. Create a detailed awards website

A detailed awards website can smooth awards management for occupied awards managers. The website functions as the central storehouse for all relevant information, a hub where you can post important information to keep everyone in your awards community updated. Its round-the-clock accessibility grants interested persons unfettered access to all your important information. 

This frees up time for awards managers, saving you the time and manual work of replying personally to countless inquiries.

Your awards website can also double as a feedback collection tool. Including surveys, polls or feedback forms allows stakeholders to offer suggestions or provide feedback on their experience. This can help awards managers seamlessly gauge the stakeholders’ satisfaction levels.

2. Leverage awards software

Awards software saves a lot of time for awards managers in various ways. Firstly, it serves as the main platform for the digital management of multiple aspects of the awards process. This reduces the chances of errors and oversight that could plague occupied awards managers. 

Also, awards management software allows integration with other tools, making it possible for awards managers to connect it to tools such as customer relationship management, email systems or even payment and invoice systems. This streamlines workflows and erases awards managers’ need to manually enter data. 

With awards software, awards managers can scale their awards program, easily growing entry submissions and possible revenue. And, perhaps most importantly, you can build privacy, security and compliance in your awards program, safeguarding your program and your data.          

3. Automate awards communications

Automated communications can take work off your plate by helping your awards community stay up to date on their awards progress.  

Communications can be triggered by designated events such as submissions, approaching due dates or general program updates. 

Awards managers won’t need to fret about consistency in messaging or personalisation; automated communications can use templates and personalisation tokens.     

4. Set up automatic checks for entrant eligibility

Another efficient award management tip is to automate entry eligibility checks. This saves time by eliminating the need for a manual review of each submission for confirmation of eligibility. 

By allowing only eligible entrants to proceed with their submission, automatic entry eligibility checks save everyone’s time. Judges spend time evaluating only eligible entries while program managers benefit from reduced entry management overhead. Also, the instant feedback on the eligibility status preempts unnecessary efforts on the part of the ineligible entrants.     

5. Track program stats and progress with a dashboard

Awards managers need to have an eye on their awards program, even as they juggle other related tasks. A tracking dashboard helps managers monitor the awards program on the go by providing real-time insight into vital metrics. The dashboard should track statistics such as the number of submissions received, entries still in progress, and more.   

This type of dashboard can provide quick progress updates on your program, present your data in an easily digestible way, and foster easy communication with filtered sets of program users.         

6. Create a streamlined judging process      

Busy awards managers can profit from a smooth judging process. A streamlined judging process defines the evaluation criteria for judges, ensuring a standard and consistent assessment.

An easy judging process will save your judges valuable time and ensure they want to participate again, season after season. 

Awards management involves a diversity of roles which can require awards managers to wear many hats. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. Implement some of these time-saving tips above to give you back the gift of time—all so you can spend it on more important things.