There are plenty of award programs, and participation requires a commitment of budget and time, but it can be well worth the investment of money and extra work entries create. From the largest multinationals to high-growth indies and from brands to suppliers, winning an accolade sets your business apart, but your bottom line may be the big winner.
Winning a BeautyMatter Award is no accident. We've created a transparent process and level playing field. For us, it's not a popularity contest, and you cannot buy your way to a win. So, what does it take to win? Our independent judges review every entry (and samples where appropriate) in their entirety. Finalists and winners are based purely on the merit of the entry.
"The winners last year really stood out because they went above and beyond with the information supplied, and they gave the judges a sneak peek behind the curtain to show the impact the submission made," shared Anna Vale, Global Integrated Marketing and Communications Advisor.
Writing award entries doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming, but does require focus and planning. Here are some tips to create a winning submission.
Pick the right award. Review award descriptions and focus on awards that relate to your strengths to increase your chances of winning. Look beyond the obvious, like new product awards, and explore opportunities that highlight other aspects of your business—like marketing, content, technology, and community.
Take time to understand the criteria. Carefully read through the award description, instructions given, and each piece of information requested. Identify key stakeholders required to create the entry. Take notes to provide informed requests for information and assets.
Take ownership. Everyone is busy, so it's common to delegate completing award submissions to agency partners. Ensure you have input regarding the categories you will be submitting to, visibility of the submission process, and final approval before the entry is submitted. Every award program is different; don't simply cut and paste.
Get the basics right. Make sure to answer each question completely and directly. Don't beat around the bush. Include any relevant industry information to provide our judges with context for your team's accomplishments.
Consider the audience. The independent judges are subject-matter experts and will evaluate a lot of entries. Make your entry memorable and easy to review, and go beyond the obvious; really dig into what differentiates your submission with quantitative and qualitative data.
Organize assets and develop a plan. Gather the information and create an outline. Great award entries tell a story. They have a beginning, middle, and end, with interesting details interspersed along the way. Avoid bombarding the reader with repetitive information or one stat after another.
Crafting the entry. Don't mindlessly cut and paste information from your website or previous award submissions. Review the entry criteria and ensure you are addressing the requested information. Consider incorporating data, testimonials, or social proof to support accomplishments or claims. Present information clearly and concisely. For example, data is often easiest to digest as bullet points.
Keep it simple. Leave the industry jargon at home. Craft a story and be specific about what you did and how you did it. Remember, less is more. Be selective about the details you choose to include. Consider using quotes from senior executives or agency partners to help break up the text and emphasize the key points you want to make.
Consider the supporting assets. Photos, videos, and renderings can be powerful touchpoints to supplement an entry. For marketing and design awards, these elements are crucial for evaluating the submission. Clinical studies and scientific data provide important context for knowledgeable judges when reviewing product innovation entries.
Refine the entry. After you've created a first draft and compiled all the information, start refining it. Take a hard edit of the information, think about the tone of voice, and get a fresh set of eyes on the content. Does it effectively communicate the accomplishment and reflect the personality of your business or the work itself?
Final review. Before submitting, circulate the entry to a diverse group of team members for feedback. Ask them if it's easy to understand and to share what they think are the key takeaways from the entry. Take the input and do one last revision.
Planning for efficiency. Consider organizing and storing key information and assets of an interesting project or new launch as it's happening. Taking this approach will make preparing award entries more efficient.
Whatever the outcome, the process of preparing award submissions can be a valuable exercise in understanding the impact of your work. The potential exposure gained from being a finalist or winning an award can unlock recognition from retailers or investors if you are a brand, or new clients or collaborators, if you are an agency, tech solution, or supplier.
If you don't enter, you cannot win, so begin your 2025 BeautyMatter Award submission here.