How to Promote Your Achievements through Existing Communication Channels
Awards season is here, and it’s not all about the Oscars or Grammys. For nonprofits and socially responsible businesses, the opportunity to be recognized is a year-round event. Whether you’re aiming for an individual, team, or organizational award, or even networking at an upcoming ceremony, there are endless ways to shine, make an impact, and get noticed.
At Teak Media, we’ve talked before about the reward of awards, including how to research, evaluate, and apply for the right opportunities for your organization. Now, let’s take it a step further. Once you’ve secured an award, it’s time to leverage that recognition and turn it into powerful promotional opportunities that will elevate your brand and amplify your impact.
Traditional Media
Awards deserve the spotlight, so let your local media outlets know about them. Share award news via press releases or event photos with cutlines in both print and online publications. Many award hosts provide media kits that include templated press releases with a quote from the awarding organization you can personalize and distribute in your local media markets. Keep an eye on whether the host is already distributing media to avoid duplicating efforts with the same outlets. Also, watch out for embargoes. Sometimes, you’re not allowed to announce the award until a specific date and time, so be mindful of those details. If you’re sharing a photo, make sure to include a caption and identify the people in the photo by first and last name and affiliation from left to right, as well as credit the photographer. Any resulting traditional media stories lend third party credibility to your good news, enable it to reach a larger audience, and can be shared on social media.
Social Media
Sharing achievements across your organization’s platforms not only celebrates your success but also boosts your organization’s visibility. Post about the award on your main accounts, as well as your employees’ professional LinkedIn pages. Include details about why your team, volunteer, or organization was chosen, and pair it with a branded image or a photo from the ceremony.
Don’t forget about your cover photos and banners. Award logos from the host organization can help reinforce your credibility and expand your reach. By tagging the award host and using their logo, you tap into their audience and increase your chances of connecting with like-minded individuals and organizations.
Website + Boilerplate
Your organization’s website is the perfect place to showcase awards. Whether it’s on its own page under a specified News & Awards section or displayed proudly on your homepage, this is an opportunity to build credibility with your visitors. Additionally, you can add mentioned of recent awards in your organization’s boilerplate. Highlighting these accomplishments gives third-party credibility to your efforts and sets you apart from others in your field.
If the award was specific to an employee, feature the announcement through your blog, on their staff profile as well as their LinkedIn page. A personal touch can show just how impactful your team’s work is, while making the employee feel appreciated.
Email Signature
It’s the small things that make a difference, like adding an award logo to employee email signatures. Not only does it provide a subtle but constant reminder of your success, it also positions your organization as an elite group that’s part of an exclusive circle. Every email sent becomes a chance to reinforce your brand’s excellence.
Newsletters & E-Blasts
Recent awards make fantastic content for your newsletters and e-blasts. Share a heartfelt update about the experience of receiving the award, along with photos and links to event galleries. This helps readers feel like they are a part of the journey, and it’s a great opportunity to remind them of how their support helps fuel your mission.
Don’t hesitate to include a call-to-action for donations, volunteers, or other support. Awards are a great way to strengthen your case for continued investment in your work.
Annual Report
Awards are part of your organization’s story, so they deserve a spot in your annual report or yearbook. Featuring your accomplishments not only celebrates the past year’s wins, but it also sets the stage for the work still to come. And as always, photos speak volumes. Be sure to include them to really capture the essence of your recognition.
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. Check out our services to learn more about how we can help your organization to identify, apply for, secure and promote awards for your organization.
