Having a business that has won awards gives you a competitive advantage over your competitors. It gives instant credibility. Best Ice Cream, Internet Speed, Apprentice or Pie, they all demonstrate a commitment to excellence. Even if the award doesn’t have an accompanying massive cash prize, it can bring free PR and additional business.
The process and discipline of entering competitions brings its own benefits. If it’s a product or service that is entered into a competition, we look at how we can produce our best. If it’s our business itself, we examine systems and how our business looks and presents. This improves our business and increases our understanding of who we serve and how we bring value.
Having an award-winning business also makes you more credible and referable in BNI. If a member can say about another member “and they have won awards” then it’s easier to recommend each other.
•Not all industries have awards open to win. We’d all like an Oscar or to win best IPA, but there are cross industry awards that any business can enter.
•Local business organisations often have awards like top shop. The Westpac Business Awards are prestigious but time-consuming to enter, generally its needs outside help to complete a competitive entry.
•The David awards are specifically aimed at small businesses. They are open to enter right now. The David Awards acknowledge that New Zealand’s small, micro and home businesses more than hold their own against the better-known Goliaths in our Kiwi business landscape. In fact, size for size, they punch well above their weight.
•Entry is simple and can be self-completed.
Categories include;
Most Outstanding Fledgling Business, Most Outstanding Established Business, Most Innovative Business, Most Inspired Use of Marketing, Most Outstanding Social Impact, the Solo Meo and The Peoples’ Choice Award
So, there is something for everyone. BNI Members have a strong track record of winning the David Awards. Entries are free and close 5pm August 5th.
Shout about it
Don’t keep award wins to yourself. While businesses that are still promoting “best sausage roll 1976” are losing credibility by stretching a win a bit far, remind us of the more recent awards you have had. Add them to your emails, website, newsletters and other marketing materials.
It’s our nature not to brag but people do need to know how good you are.
