The NatWest EWiF Awards are coming and there are many beneficial reasons as to why you should consider entering! Whether your business is just starting out or is firmly established, entering the awards could help your business’s success and advance your brand. Here are our five top reasons to enter!
1. PR Opportunities
Generating great PR for your business is one of the many benefits of award nominations. If you are a finalist, this, on its own, can give you great credibility, award press is always good press. By writing blogs, articles and sending PR out into your local community, you are using the awards as self-promotion.
Award wins can open great PR opportunities for you and your business. Opportunities you may not even know exist! For example, Fiona Simpson, ARTventurers franchisor, found herself writing an article for Forbes online, after her 2018 win. Click here to read her wonderful piece. “Being approached by Forbes to be one of their writers on the subject of franchising came completely out of the blue, but I firmly believe came on the back of my EWIF awards win.” Fiona said.
2. Increased Credibility
Julie Houston, Right at Home franchisee and winner of New Woman Franchisee of the Year 2018, found her award win a fantastic asset to her business. It allowed her to be recognised in her local community as an award-winning business owner, giving her credibility and trustworthiness. ‘Winners’ or ‘finalist’ logos can be displayed on websites, collateral and on social media; making the most of the win/nomination, long after the awards are over.
3. Maximise your brand visibility
Social media coverage makes for a wonderful tool when nominated for an award, allowing you to build up a campaign and a following of your awards journey. Tagging the award organisation and the sponsors can also help gain exposure of you and your brand. Displaying the credentials in your office, on exhibition stands or even on company clothing provides you with branding opportunities. Your company’s branding can quickly become cemented by award credibility.
4. Opportunity to reflect
The process of writing your awards entry can also be very beneficial for you and your team. By collating all your accomplishments from the past year, you can reflect on your success and best practice methods. It may also help you to set goals, ambitions and build on your achievements in the coming year.
5. Boost staff moral
Being recognised for services, in any workplace, is the result of fantastic teamwork. Julie Houston, Right at Home, says of winning her EWIF award, “It’s been really good for the team’s morale; we’ve done a lot of celebrating. The award gives us credibility and visibility in the local community,” With a fantastic team behind her and an already successful Right at Home franchise, an EWIF award was the icing on the cake for Julie. “We’ve shared our wins through social media and in various articles and it’s really helped our brand.”
Speaking as winner of Woman Franchisor of The Year 2018, Fiona Simpson adds, “I was thrilled for all of the ARTventurers team. We very much have a team approach at ARTventurers and wouldn’t be the business it is without the passion, enthusiasm and support of all of our franchisees.”
So, what are you waiting for?
Use award nominations to skyrocket your brand and to build exposure within the franchise industry!
If you would like to enter EWIF Awards, click here for more information.