The competition in the SME world is fierce. Global digital marketing campaigns can be ramped up quickly, and social media continues to make the world smaller, so businesses need to do everything they can to outdo their rivals. One way to achieve this is by winning a business award.
Awards can help businesses tap into new customers who may not have heard of them before, and can also help increase brand awareness and loyalty. This article will help you maximise the impact of an award among new and loyal customers, ensuring your accolades are silently working hard for you for years to come.
How can awards help businesses get more customers?
Awards can be a powerful marketing tool for businesses of all sizes. They’re attention-grabbing, help build brand trust, and winning an award can be a great way to boost your brand’s reputation and attract new customers, therefore increasing sales. Credibility is built when nurturing a customer base through professional and industry accolades. Awards can also be a source of pride for business owners, as they feel like they’ve achieved something significant in their field. This can motivate them to continue striving for and sharing recognition of their excellence, creating a sense of community among customers and staff alike.
In short, awards help businesses reach new markets with more customers; thus increasing profits and strengthening the bottom line.
Effective methods of using awards to attract customers
Issue a press release
Winning an award is a fantastic way to boost your business’s image and increase customer engagement. By attracting media attention, you can capitalise on the professional recognition and promote your products or services in new ways. Nominating yourself or your company for awards not only shows off what you’re capable of, but also recognizes the hard work put in by everyone at your business. This is something that should be publicised in a press release, and shared with customers, social media followers and other potential customers.
Creating a press release is easy, and can be a great way to introduce new customers and boost word-of-mouth referrals. You’ll need to research and find the right media contacts, or you can use a press release specialist from websites like Fiverr.com or PeoplePerHour.com.
Feature your awards on your website
Putting your awards on your website is a great way to promote and showcase them. Not only will this boost traffic and conversions, but it can also show that you are an authority in your field. Furthermore, customers may be more likely to make a purchase if they know that you are reputable and have the ability to provide quality customer service. Awards can even serve as testimonials for potential customers before making a purchase decision – showing them just how amazing the product or service really is.
Putting your awards on your website is easy, and can be done in a matter of minutes if you are using CMS software like WordPress. By creating an “award-winning” persona, you’ll help to create a lasting impression with customers and show them that you’re the go-to business for your particular sector.
Share your awards on social media
Whether you’ve just won an award or your business has been thriving for years, social media offers the perfect platform to share the news. Not only will it give customers a chance to enjoy your happy moments and congratulate you on success, but it can also boost your branding efforts. By showing off awards on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram etc., you are connecting with people who care about what’s going on in your industry and beyond. In turn, this helps build trust and loyalty among customers – something that can be hard to come by in the digital world.
It’s important to stay current with social media, as customers are always looking for new and innovative ways to connect. By sharing your awards and company news on social media regularly, you can keep your business top of mind and see a positive impact on lead generation and customer retention.
Twitter is a great way to connect with customers on a personal level. By sharing your award wins or other business milestones, you’re showing that you’re proud of what you’ve accomplished and are committed to continuing success. Not only does this show customers that you care about them and your industry, but it can also help boost brand awareness. By tweeting about awards regularly, not only will people in your target market see the news – but those who are interested in similar industries as well!
Like most modern social media platforms for businesses, Facebook is an intuitive and fast way to connect with customers and promote your business. You should absolutely share your awards with your audience on Facebook, where they can absorb and interact with your content in their own time.
You’ll be able to communicate critical information and developments directly with your target market by creating a Facebook page for your company. As a result of this, consumers will know that you’re involved and active on social media, which may lead to additional leads via CRM.
In addition, make sure to publish blog articles on your Facebook page blog section – this not only attracts new consumers but also informs them about the advantages of your company.
Instagram is a visual way to connect with your customers. By posting photos of your award wins, new products or services, or just everyday business updates, you’re showing customers that you care about them and are committed to providing the best possible experience. Additionally, by using hashtags on your images, you can draw attention to specific trends in the industry – helping customers learn more about what’s new and potential investments.
LinkedIn is a great way for businesses to connect with peers, as well as existing and potential clients. Not only is LinkedIn search engine friendly – making it easy for potential customers to find your business – but it also provides valuable networking opportunities. By creating a business profile and adding relevant blog content, you can attract new customers and boost your brand awareness.
Tell your customers via email
Email marketing is an effective way to communicate with customers and keep them updated on your latest news or offers. By sharing your accolades and awards, you automatically become an authority in your field. This can result in more leads being generated through CRM – as customers recognize that you know what you’re talking about!
As email marketing is personal and immediate, it’s a great way to convert more customers into brand loyalists. Remember to use email lead magnets (which offer something for free) for this purpose – these types of emails hook subscribers instantly and ensure they don’t miss out on any future updates from you.
Also make sure not to forget the power of storytelling when writing customer-friendly emails: it engages readers and makes them eager to hear all about what’s new at your business.
Include your awards in your email signature
Adding your award names and awards to your email signature is a great way to show customers that you’re serious about being the best in your field. This will encourage them to read your emails because they believe you’ll have something of value for them.
Celebrate with discounts and promotions for your customers
Giving your customers the best possible experience is essential for long-term success in business. By celebrating special occasions and events with discounts and promotions, you can encourage them to return frequently and strengthen the relationship you have with them. You could also choose to give back to the community by donating goods or time to charity events. Or, why not offer exclusive deals that only your customers can access? These small gestures will go a long way in building customer loyalty and promoting goodwill among fellow stakeholders within your business community. Connecting your award to customer loyalty is extremely powerful, as customers will be grateful and happy, and appreciate your attentiveness to their needs and preferences, whilst recognising your achievements as a company. Linking these emotions can have a huge impact.
Celebrate with your team
It is always a good idea to congratulate your team members on their hard work. This will let them know that you value their contribution and appreciate everything they do. It will also help build camaraderie and trust, which are essential ingredients in the success of any business. Give employees a pat on the back – they are the backbone of any business. They work hard to deliver customer service and excellence for you, so acknowledgement is always appreciated. You could award team members with certificates or small gifts that show your appreciation for their contributions after an award has been won. Or, you could organise a fun team activity or social event to celebrate their hard work and help build morale among the team.
Most importantly, your workforce are your biggest brand advocates and will tell their friends and family about their great experience with your business. This word-of-mouth marketing can be the difference between success and failure for any business, so make sure you are doing everything possible to create a positive customer experience.
Feature your award in display ads
Display ads are a great way to get your award noticed by potential customers. By featuring it prominently, you make sure that the viewer will be intrigued and want to learn more about what it is. Plus, good images and well-written copy will help promote your award in the best possible way.
Feature your award in your pay-per-click campaign
One of the best ways to draw attention to your award is by featuring it prominently in your pay-per-click (PPC) campaign. Even if it is just a few words such as “Award-Winning” or “Small Business of the Year 2022” in the copy. Make sure that it’s easy for visitors to find and click on, so they can learn more about what you’ve won and how they can get involved.
Talk about the importance of the award in your ads if you can, and on the landing page, emphasise its unique features, or even highlight some of the people who have benefited from it. Once a visitor knows about your award, there’s always a good chance that they’ll want to learn more.
Feature your award in your local business listing
Adding an award or plaque to your business listing is a great way of attracting new customers. Not only will this increase the visibility of your recognition of business excellence, but it can also put you ahead of the competition. It can help you build instant trust and credibility with potential customers, making them more likely to choose you over another business instead of opting for the unknown.
In summary: Spread the word – let everyone know about it!
It’s important to take advantage of any award opportunity that comes your way. This includes spreading the word about the award through email, social media, and other channels. In order to make sure you’re getting the most out of this amazing opportunity, it is essential to promote it consistently – even on occasions where there isn’t an official announcement! By doing so, not only will you ensure that as many people as possible know about the award but also build excitement amongst your target audience.
It’s true, winning awards is a great way to both celebrate your achievements and attract new customers. By understanding the benefits of winning an award and how to leverage it to your advantage, you can set yourself up for long-term success.
Enter the Business Awards UK for free now, and begin capitalising on your new recognition with previous winners!
