Australian Event Award submissions close in 11 days. Here are some handy tips from their team on how to blitz your application.
1. Get your category right
2. Hit the criteria
Make sure you base your answers on the judging criteria for the category you’re entering – these are printed at the top of the online entry form. The judges have to actually put a score against each one of these criteria so write answers that help them rate you higher.
If you’re entering the achievement categories, don’t forget that your achievement must have occurred at an event anywhere in the world.
3. Videos?
Video – it’s not compulsory (except for Best Achievement in Entertainment) but think seriously about it. It gives the judges a real taste of the ‘feel’ of your event and gives the Event Awards a great set of promo material to use if you’re a finalist.
4. Evidence is king
If you make a claim in your entry form, make sure you back it up with some evidence. Avoid sweeping statements and give specific examples. Maybe add a quote or testimonial.
It’s not just about what you did- it’s how you did it! Discuss your event, product, service or organisation in your application by highlighting your strengths, illustrating how innovative and special your achievements have been.
5. Pay attention to the word limit
It’s there to help you focus your thoughts, so don’t exceed it. Keep your answers concise; use bullet points if they help.
6. Don’t get too technical
Keep your application simple and clear. Use plain English; watch out for jargon, acronyms and overuse of capitalisation. Remember, the clearer your application, the more compelling your message and the better your chance of winning.
7. Innovation
Innovation, technology and sustainability come in many forms. They can be anything that gives your event, product or service a competitive advantage. Think about elements that drive the environmental or/and economic sustainability aspect of your business.
8. Proofread
Show the first draft of the application to staff members who work in different areas of the company – they’ll provide a fresh pair of eyes and a different perspective. And ask someone to check the final draft for spelling and grammatical errors. These small steps make a big difference in terms of ensuring your application stands out from the competition.
9. A picture paints 1000 words
Use action shots of your event, service or product. Action shots capture more attention than posed or static ones. Think about how a photo can capture the essence of what you do.
10. Avoid repetition
Check your application to ensure your answers aren’t repetitive.
Use each question as an opportunity to tell the judges some more detail on your event or business. If you find yourself repeating the same information in another question, it is highly likely that you have overlooked or missed other important details.
11. The CSR question
Many of the categories have a question that requests information on how your work extended the Community Social Responsibility (CSR) of the event, product or service they are entering.
Our judging panel define CSR as ‘a commitment to operating in a way that takes into account not only the financial implications of decisions, but also the social impact it has on the community’.
Explain for us how you make sure that the decisions you make take into account community impact. For example, do you focus on the use of local products, do you actively engage with your local, state or national community, do you work with organised community groups or integrate with a charity?
12. Forget the formatting
Don’t worry about fancy formatting! Don’t waste time adding in fancy borders, logos & watermarks. The entry process is designed to be quick & easy.
The application process is all done online, so glossy presentation will not win an award – it is all about the content.
13. And remember
You don’t have to be the biggest or the most financially successful event or company to win. The judges are looking for innovation on whatever level it may occur. Good luck!
