Congratulations from the King, what an award gets you

Taking part in a competition can bring your business a lot. What exactly depends on the type of competition. Basically, you can at least think of:

• Visibility for your product or business

Participating in a contest creates visibility because you are mentioned on the website or during an event, for example. Are you judged well or do you win the competition? Then the chance of media attention is even greater.

• Expanding your network

In a competition, you can get in touch with the jury, experts and/or other participants. Expand your network so you can increase your knowledge and reach potential clients. This could be a municipality or the national government, but also other entrepreneurs or consumers.

• Recognition

By winning a competition, experts indicate that your business or product meets a certain standard. For example, you offer a healthy company culture or solve a social problem. The recognition given by the judges can make potential customers, partners, or investors trust you and want to work with you.

• Feedback on your product or business

Experts give their opinions, often including tips for improvement, on your product or business. With this knowledge, you can make your improvements.

This is how you know if your participation is successful

Taking part in a competition takes time. Time for registering and possibly also for the award ceremony, or media attention that follows, such as interviews with the press. So, make sure that participating in a competition actually pays off.

Here are 5 tips:

• Choose a competition that matches your business goals

Only enter a competition if the theme is in line with your business goals. Are you a sustainable entrepreneur? Then opt for a sustainability award. Is your customer base regional? Then consider a local entrepreneurial competition via your province or municipality.

• Check the conditions

Some competitions have entry requirements, such as turnover, market or number of participants. Avoid spending time on registration when you do not (yet) meet the conditions.

• Do not register until your business is ready

A first impression always remains. So, make sure you register when your business is actually ready. In some cases, it is better to wait a year. For instance, because you are working on a new product or process optimisation. If in doubt, contact the organisation.

• Include registration in your marketing strategy

Entering or winning a competition can bring your business a lot. But you also want it to actually deliver what you want. So, make participating in a competition part of your marketing strategy and focus it on your business goals. For example, do you want more international customers or are you looking for new employees?

• Prepare your registration properly

Gather all the information and documents you need for your registration. Make sure your details are correct and clear. Ask a colleague or friend to check your registration. Ask someone who is not familiar with your business to double check, to avoid tunnel vision.