Writing about how sensible you might be is bizarre. It goes in opposition to the whole lot we’re taught about modesty and never displaying off. Which is strictly why most B2B award entries learn like they have been written by somebody who’d relatively be doing actually anything.
Judges learn lots of of entries. They’re drained. They’re time-poor. They’ll spot waffle, jargon, and self-congratulatory fluff from a mile off. So if you wish to win enterprise awards that construct credibility and assist your model stand out, write an entry that’s as compelling because the work you’re getting into.
As a B2B PR agency that’s helped shoppers win a justifiable share of trade awards throughout sectors like marketing and tech, we all know how you can write a enterprise award entry. Listed here are our ten finest award entry suggestions for writing nominations that really land.
Bounce to part
- Treat the word count like a gift, not a prison
- Answer the question (and only the question)
- Check you’re actually eligible before you start
- Pick your category and commit
- Ditch the jargon
- Show, don’t tell
- Kill your darlings (especially the superlatives)
- Proofread like your reputation depends on it
- Stay on message
- Add supporting materials (if they help)
1. Deal with the phrase depend like a present, not a jail
The phrase depend isn’t there to torture you – it’s there to avoid wasting you from your self. It forces you to be ruthless, targeted, and attention-grabbing. Judges don’t need your life story; they need the great things, quick. If a piece permits 500 phrases, allocate them intentionally: 100 for context, 300 for story and outcomes, 100 for proof. Trim fluff such as you’re enhancing another person’s work.
Do that:
Paste the draft into a brand new doc and delete each sentence that doesn’t show influence. You’ll be amazed at how a lot sharper your story turns into.
2. Reply the query (and solely the query)
It sounds easy, however a variety of entries fail right here. Each sub‑query within the standards deserves its personal clear reply.
In the event that they ask for outcomes from Q3, don’t chuck in Q1 and Q2 for good measure. It doesn’t make you look thorough – it makes you appear to be you may’t comply with directions. Judges discover, and so they’re not impressed.
Instance:
As an alternative of itemizing each advertising success from 2022, concentrate on the one marketing campaign the award is for, and present the way it hit its KPIs through the said timescale.
3. Test you’re really eligible earlier than you begin
You possibly can’t win what you don’t qualify for. Sounds apparent, however you’d be amazed how many individuals get midway by an entry solely to understand they don’t qualify. Earlier than writing, learn each line of the entry standards: time frames, geography, firm measurement, and class focus.
We’ve seen groups spend hours on writing award entries that have been routinely dominated out. Stop that heartbreak. Eligibility checks additionally provide help to spot whether or not you want supporting supplies or references early on.
4. Decide your class and commit
If you happen to hedge your bets throughout a number of classes, your entry reads prefer it doesn’t know what it needs to be. Be sure that the whole lot you write is laser-focused on why you should win that award.
Select the class the place your story sings loudest, then form each sentence round it. Judges love coherence – a transparent thread from goal to final result.
Instance:
If you happen to’re going for “Finest Digital Transformation,” concentrate on the enterprise drawback the know-how solved, not the inner comms marketing campaign that ran alongside it. Save that for one more day (or class).
5. Ditch the jargon
Your entry could be learn by somebody who’s by no means labored in your trade, so in case you’re throwing round acronyms, technical phrases, and insider language, you’ll lose them. Award entry writing needs to be like explaining one thing to a good friend within the pub. Clear beats intelligent each time.
As an alternative of “leveraged cross‑purposeful alignment to drive incremental synergies,” strive “introduced gross sales and advertising collectively to generate 200 certified leads in six weeks.”
Bonus tip:
Learn your entry out loud. If it appears like one thing you’d by no means say to a good friend within the pub, rewrite it till it does. Easy language feels assured, not fundamental.
6. Present, don’t inform
“We’re revolutionary.” “We’re customer-focused.” “We’re award-winning.” Cool. Now show it.
Use case studies, testimonials, stats, and tales. Don’t simply say you’re sensible – present the judges how and why.
Instance:
Relatively than “We improved buyer expertise,” say “After bettering our onboarding workflow, NPS rose from 42 to 71 in three months.” A single factual sentence trumps 5 strains of superlatives.
If you happen to’ve bought a brief quote from a shopper, embody it. Judges need authenticity – it makes the information actual.
7. Kill your darlings (particularly the superlatives)
“Revolutionary.” “Recreation-changing.” “Finest-in-class.” Imply nothing. In case your work’s genuinely sensible, the proof will converse for itself. And please, please, please lose the exclamation marks.
Be ruthless when proofreading. Delete each adjective that doesn’t add precision. Exchange emotional language with quantitative proof: income development, satisfaction scores, engagement metrics.
From the choose’s perspective, inflated language indicators insecurity, not excellence.
8. Proofread like your popularity depends upon it
As a result of it does. Typos and grammatical howlers make you look careless. And in case you’re careless together with your award entry writing, judges assume you’re careless together with your work.
Learn it. Then learn it once more. Then get another person to learn it. If they will perceive it with out background data, you’re good. Use a spell-checker. Then learn it yet another time.
9. Keep on message
Each sentence ought to earn its place. If it’s in a roundabout way supporting your case for successful, minimize it. Be brutal. Exchange waffle with info, stats, and story. Your entry needs to be so tight there’s not a wasted phrase in sight.
Sensible train: spotlight verbs and numbers in your copy. If a paragraph lacks each, tighten it.
10. Add supporting supplies (if they assist)
Some awards ask for supporting paperwork. Some don’t.
Both manner, in case you’ve bought one thing that genuinely strengthens your case – a glowing testimonial, a pointy infographic, a brief video that brings your work to life – embody it.
Simply be sure it provides worth. Judges received’t thanks for a 40-slide deck they don’t want.
The underside line
Writing a successful award entry is about readability, confidence, and proof. Inform a compelling story. Again it up with proof. Make it not possible to disregard you.
If you happen to’d like assist from a specialist B2B PR company that is aware of how you can assist manufacturers flip their strongest work into award-winning tales, we’d love to talk.
Up to date by Caitlin Singh, Comms Marketing consultant at Definition on 05/01/2026.
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