8 Top Tips for Writing a Stand-Out Award Entry
Writing an award entry can be a pretty daunting task, especially when you’ve got a million other things to be focusing on. That’s why we’ve put together this blog containing our top tips for writing a stand-out award entry. Whether you’ve entered plenty of awards before or you’re new to the whole thing, this blog will give you some much-needed inspiration and guidance when you come to planning and writing your upcoming award entries.
The 2021 Digital Women Awards are fast-approaching, and we’re on a mission to encourage as many women as possible to enter themselves or nominate fellow women so that we can celebrate the most extraordinary achievements across digital spaces. The Digital Women Awards brings together a diverse range of women, all united by their success in and passion for digital. Head to the Digital Women Awards site for more details.
Top tips for writing a great award entry:
Give yourself enough time
Although writing your award entry might not be at the top of your priority list (we know you’ve probably got plenty of other plates to juggle), try not to leave it until the last minute to write and submit your application. Scheduling in some time sooner rather than later will allow you to really think about your entry and thus write a more convincing, less rushed application.
FYI: The deadline for entries to the Digital Women Awards is 14th February, with the shortlist being announced on 8th March (International Women’s Day) 2021.
Research the categories available
Before you start writing your entry, make sure you have a look at the categories available to enter and that you’ve chosen the one most suitable for you. If it’s relevant for you, you might apply to multiple categories to maximise your chances of being shortlisted and recognised for your hard work. Once you’ve decided on which categories are best suited, check the requirements for each category and tailor your entries accordingly, making sure to hit all of the necessary criteria.
Inject some personality
It might be tempting to keep your award entry on the more formal, professional side. While it’s a good idea to write clearly and without mistakes (see next point), it’s also important to inject your personality into your entry. Don’t be afraid to add a little humour and some personal anecdotes if they spice up your application a bit!
Read, proofread and proofread again!
After you’ve dedicated your valuable time to writing your very best award application, the last thing you want is for it to be full of little mistakes. Little mistakes, after all, add up quickly and may distract away from all of the fantastic things you’re showcasing to the judges. So, read it, proofread it, then proofread it one more time – just to be safe!
Write your entry in a separate document first
Talking of proofreading, it will be much easier to make corrections and adapt your application as you go if you write it in a separate document. Then, once you’re definitely happy with your entry, you can copy and paste your answers into the submission form feeling confident that it’s of the highest quality. Plus, separate documents have spell check, so you’ve got an extra layer of proofreading built in!
Give your best examples
While you and your community know just how great you are, the judges won’t necessarily know that before they read your application. That’s why it’s so important that you backup why you deserve to win the award with examples and evidence. Don’t let the judges take your word for how amazing you are – prove it to them.
Ask your friends, family and co-workers
Sometimes it’s hard to see just how great we are and the impact our work makes on those around us. If you find yourself struggling to think of things to write, maybe even reluctant to send off your application, then reach out to your co-workers or your friends and family. We guarantee they’ll have plenty of fantastic things to say about you which will help you to level-up your application and inspire you to give yourself the opportunity you deserve.
Relax, have fun and be yourself
Our final top tip is perhaps the most important of all: Relax, enjoy the process and be yourself. Of course, everyone enters awards with the hope of winning something, but it’s not the be all and end all. Even if you don’t get shortlisted, you’ll gain so much from applying, whether that be making new connections in the Digital Women community, giving you something to aim for and focus your energy on, or simply realising how amazing you are when you’re forced to write it all of the best bits about yourself down in front of you. As our Social Media Manager Jade’s favourite quote says, “Always be yourself, otherwise the people looking for you won’t be able to find you.”
The Digital Women Awards 2021
Nominations for the Digital Women Awards 2021 are now open. Here are a couple of key dates for your diary:
14th February: The deadline for award nominations. Don’t wait for a nomination; we encourage you to recognise your own excellence and put yourself forward for the awards!
8th March (International Women’s Day): We’ll be announcing the shortlist (decided by our expert judging panel).
Get your applications at the ready! Enter the Digital Women Awards 2021 here: https://digitalwomenawards.com/categories-and-enter
