I know
you’re terribly busy. On most days most printers are stretched so thin
that squeezing in one more extra task seems next to impossible. Even so,
it would be a serious strategic error for you to skip making your submission to
the Canadian Printing Awards (CPAs) in time for the October-25th deadline. In fact, any
serious business owner or manager needs to make it a priority to enter awards
programs in their field because of the multitude of astonishing benefits
they’ll reap in return.
Here are seven of the biggest:
1.
Large-scale publicity – Arguably, awards are the most powerful and cost-effective
marketing tool. The publication, association, or trade show that
organizes an awards program will devote all its considerable resources to
publicizing the awards and participants before, during, and after the
event. Especially if you are a winner or finalist, you can continue to
publicize your own participation and successes in the awards program to your
customers, prospects, prospective investors, and trade media
indefinitely. Many awards, including the CPAs, come with an impressive
trophy you can display prominently at your company forever.
2.
A record of your achievements – Awards contests help you review your own progress and
evaluate your successes and the areas of your business that need
improvement. Initially you’ll perform this process when deciding which
projects and initiatives to submit to the contest. But also, while some
of the CPA award categories require you to submit only basic information with
the entry fee, others require more detailed documentation. The latter
categories not only help you document your progress but also result in a report
you can recycle many times in many ways to broadcast your achievements and
track your future progress.
3.
Networking opportunities and peer recognition – Awards competitions and ceremonies
attract the best companies and prominent business leaders. Thus they provide
an opportunity for you to show off and discuss your best achievements and
latest innovations with a discerning and appreciative audience.
Additionally, by attending the presentation ceremony or even by connecting with
fellow participants by phone, e-mail, or social media, you can build your
relationships and network with a prestigious new pool of contacts.
4.
A leg up on your competition – Entries, recognition, or wins all give you a tangible
edge over competitors and showcase your company as among the best in your
field.
5.
Support for your employer brand – Participants gain recognition in their industry as
award-winning employers whose companies and products make them leaders in their
field. This recognition makes your company a more attractive place to
work for top-performing new hires.
6.
Staff motivation, morale, and retention – Everyone wants to feel appreciated and part of a
successful organization. Participating in awards competitions sends your
staff the message that your company is worthy of recognition by a respected
external body. This realization raises staff’s motivation and
morale--especially if your company is astute enough to use your victories in
awards competitions as platforms to stage internal celebrations recognizing the
achievements of staff members who contributed to your success. It also
helps to buy staff tickets for the dinner where prizes are announced, held in
Toronto on November 21st. (Information
on ticket sales will be available shortly on the CPAs microsite at: http://www.printaction.com/CPA/ )
7.
A measure of your performance – Entering the awards gives you an unparalleled opportunity
to assess the strength of your entry against others in the same category and
gauge how your business stacks up against the very best. Frankly, you’d
be crazy not to take advantage of this opportunity for an economically priced
assessment from some of the industry’s most knowledgeable independent business
experts who judge the entries.
But
the craziest part is that you can reap all the above seven benefits for a cost
of between $90 and $110 per contest submission. (The actual cost depends
on the total number of submissions you make.) With 24 awards in diverse categories, it’s hard to imagine why any printing company of any size
wouldn’t take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the CPAs. To
get started immediately, click on: http://www.printaction.com/CPA/entryforms.html
Today’s
post resurrects a similar entry I made prior to last year’s Awards, but it
bears repeating because this content is truer than ever in 2013.
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