Click here to get this post in PDF
Have you ever wished more people in your community understood the excellent products and services your business offers? Have you ever wanted to recognize and celebrate your staff for the exemplary work they do? Would you like to gain recognition yourself as a visionary entrepreneur?
Local business awards help business owners achieve all of these goals.
What’s a small business award?
Organizations of various kinds, including many chambers of commerce in local communities throughout the U.S., offer rewards. These competitions shine the spotlight on the best locally owned and operated businesses.
At the same time, participating in these contests is a great marketing strategy. Victors are usually determined by some kind of public vote or a committee of independent judges, which means that prominent leaders in your local area and prospective consumers will gain familiarity with your name and even sample your goods and services. As a result, your business can attract new business as your customer base expands, even if you don’t win the final trophy.
Honorees — especially if there is only one winner — gain even more credibility since earning accolades represents a substantial accomplishment. Indeed, studies show that business award champions often experience a surge in revenue.
But that’s not all. Many American business awards also include networking opportunities. Simply by becoming an applicant, successful business leaders can demonstrate their membership in the business community locally. This is a great way to gain introductions to your peers at the helm of businesses across the region.
If that wasn’t enough, it also positively impacts morale when leadership submits their team members for awards. Employees feel seen and validated for their efforts, which provides motivation to keep up the hard work.
To become an award recipient, the first thing to do is nominate yourself, your team, or your business for the right awards.
Mastering local awards and award categories
Award programs typically offer honors in several categories within a given geographic area. For instance, they can honor restaurants that serve different kinds of cuisine in a particular city or state. These programs can also recognize businesses that offer exceptional products or services, from service stations and grocery stores to wellness spas and hotels.
Many national award programs also acknowledge innovation with awards that celebrate nearly every aspect of running a business. There are accolades for excellence in customer service, positive company culture, and outstanding entrepreneurship, to name just a few options. Some of these programs also support innovative veteran-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, or minority-owned ones.
Other awards programs focus on excellence in different industries. For instance, check out the Stevie Awards, an international program that offers awards in dozens of subcategories for nearly every type of business.
Given the large number of recognition programs available, spend some time considering your business’s strengths, researching the competitions, and identifying those that would be the most promising. If there’s a certificate or medallion that commends businesses for doing something that yours does best, then that’s a good candidate for you to make a submission.
Tips for strengthening your application and becoming a winner
Once you’ve found the right contests, pay particular attention to any deadlines they might have. In many cases, applications are submitted at the end of the year, judging takes place in the spring, and awards ceremonies are held in the summer or fall. For instance, many contests for 2024 have already closed.
Some organizations vet contenders and name champions on an ongoing basis, however. The important thing is to understand the schedule for the awards you want to apply for and ensure you don’t miss that window.
It’s also a good idea to spend a substantial amount of time working on your application. Present as much factual evidence as possible to back up your claims about your business, including growth statistics, sales numbers, and testimonials from clients or your business partners.
In particular, check out last year’s awardees since this can give you insight into what the judges are looking for. Try to understand why the judges chose them and tailor your submission to highlight similar qualities in your own business.
Next, all you have to do is submit your nomination. While it’s normal to experience anxiety at this point in the process, keep in mind that those who don’t participate never even give themselves the chance to win.
Nominate yourself and your business in 2025!
The best businesses can go unrecognized, and entrepreneurs are often the unsung heroes in their communities. But there’s a way to acquire the recognition you deserve: applying for an award in 2025. While winners receive exclusive advantages, every participant benefits from greater visibility and access to networking events.
Vault to the forefront of your small business community. Go from unsung to unstoppable. Nominate your business for awards and watch your business grow!
You may also like:
The Art of Scaling Startups: 10 Expert Insights from Successful Entrepreneurs
Top Women Entrepreneurs in Dubai
Image attribution: https://www.canva.com/photos/MAEPOWzQcRc/
