Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Raleigh Public Relations Society May luncheon, where a panel of past Sir Walter Raleigh Awards recipients shared advice on how to create award-winning entries. The group of panelists consisted of Raleigh PR agency experts including Clairemont’s very own CEO, Dana Hughens (did you know that last year, Clairemont Communications received 10 Sir Walter Raleigh Awards?).
I was excited to attend not just to hear Dana speak, but also because it was a great opportunity to jot down a few tips and tricks on how to make my own entries stand out. These are a few of my favorites:
1) Have someone from the outside review your entry. This may mean having your client proof the entry, but someone at your agency who isn’t on the account could also work.
2) Presentation is important. Impress the judges with your organizational skills and visual aesthetic.
3) Write your entry early. Even though Sir Walter Raleigh Award entries aren’t due until around June, it’s a great idea to get started early. If you complete a project in February, go ahead and write the entry in February!
4) Review previous entries for areas of improvement. Entered a similar campaign last year? Check your score sheets for judges’ feedback. It will help you improve your entry for this year.
5) Results should tie directly into your objectives. This may seem obvious, but oftentimes, judges struggle to draw a conclusion based on your results. Make it easy by restating your objectives alongside the results.
And last but not least…
6) Follow directions! Again, I may be stating the obvious here, but make sure that you’re answering each question listed in the call for entries. If the question doesn’t apply, figure out a way to answer it anyway.
I hope you find these tips as helpful as I do! I’d like to end with this quote from Dana:
“Ultimately, I urge you to let the awards criteria drive your work. You should always be thinking about how the work that you’re doing for your clients is measurable and will lead to results.”
Any more tips you’d like to share? We’d love to hear them!
