by
David Prior
UPDATE: This year’s event is now going to be held virtually
There are just over three weeks to go until the deadline for entries to this year’s Prolific North Awards.
This year’s ceremony – sponsored by YouGov – will be hosted on September 8th at The Point at Lancashire Cricket Club, the eighth year the awards have been held.
If you haven’t already, you can download the entry form here
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Our sector has never experienced such a tumultuous period, but as we gradually emerge into more normal times, the need to recognise and reward achievement has arguably never been greater.
But as well as a means of showing appreciation to your team, it can also promote your business to new customers and act as a respected endorsement for your organisation.
Leeds PR and social media agency Prohibition PR took home both the Best Integrated Campaign and Small PR Agency of the Year gongs at last year’s awards.
Director Will Ockenden said the recognition “has opened doors to us, and got us on a few pitch lists”.
His advice for those entering this year? “Don’t spread yourself too thin. We’ve always entered the categories where we’ve got a real story to tell – either amazing creative, or game-changing results.”
Alex Cairns, MD of Manchester-based Move Marketing, took home the title of Small Integrated Agency of the Year last year in only the agency’s second year in operation.
“The other category finalists had far bigger teams than Move so we went into it as a massive underdog,” said Alex.
“That in itself is testament to the integrity of the Prolific North Awards which we see as one of the most prestigious awards programmes in the industry. We were proud and humbled to win.”
Last year’s Large Digital Agency of the Year award went to Manchester’s Dept.
Brian Robinson, Managing Director of Dept in the UK, said it was a “very proud moment” for the team.
“As a relatively new name in the UK digital scene, winning the award really indicated that we have a place on the map now,” he said. “It’s extremely motivating to be recognised by the industry for driving innovation,delivering great results for our clients, and creating a company culture that our Deptsters are proud to be part of.”
There are a number of things you can do to give your company the best chance of being shortlisted, and ultimately winning, a coveted award.
1. Follow the entry instructions
Start by visiting the How to Enter page – and you should also read the Terms & Conditions of entry. Take note of the format your entry needs to be in, the time limits for work entered, how to make payment for your entry, the deadline date, the word count etc. Judges don’t appreciate incorrect or late entries.
2. Pick the right category
You won’t have a chance of winning if you enter your work into the wrong category – read the description thoroughly. Remember that you aren’t restricted to entering one category. If your campaign fits into more than one category you can enter as many as you wish but do ensure you tailor each entry form to the specific category criteria.
3. Read the judging criteria
Ensure your entry covers the judging criteria for the category you are entering, and answers all questions for your category. Judges can only mark you on what is included in your entry form so make sure all important information is included and all criteria adhered to.
4. Stick within the word limit
Judges may mark entries down, or even disqualify them, if they exceed the stated word limit. Please ensure your answers are clear and succinct – don’t waffle! Judges love clear, concise entries – use bullet points or infographics to effectively illustrate points.
5. Link your results to your objectives
If there is one thing that judges hate, it’s when outcomes don’t bear any relation to the objectives.
6. Evidence your results
Judges love quantified results and want to see some proof of what you’ve achieved – include facts and figures, quotes from clients or the media, pictures and graphs.
7. Get the judges’ attention
Remember that judges will be reading a large number of entries, so you need to make your entry memorable. Make sure your entry is passionate, tells an interesting story and is backed up with statistics and evidence.
8. Watch your language
Always write in clear, concise English, avoid jargon and never copy and paste from existing materials. Do ask someone to check your entry reads well and is free of typos.
9. Take your time
Winning award entries take time and effort to perfect. Again we’d highly recommend you get someone to proof read your entry before you submit it.
10. Get approval
If you are submitting work on behalf of a client, make sure they are happy for you to do so. It would be devastating to spend days writing an entry and then have to withdraw it.
11. Provide supporting materials
Use a selection of documents and URLs to provide context and background to your entry. These can be in Word, PDF or JPEG format and must be below 2MB each. If you would like to submit a video as supporting evidence, upload this to an online platform such as Youtube or Vimeo and provide the link to the video in the URL section of the entry form.
12. Picture perfect
Attach a logo along with your entry form. This will be used in the awards presentation on the night should you be shortlisted. Ensure this represents your organisation and any clients you are working on behalf.
For more on the judging criteria, and to see who’s on this year’s judging panel, follow this link.
