Document how the award has impacted your business since the win or nomination, and include this information in future award submissions or business proposals. Demonstrable evidence of how awards have positively impacted your business adds another layer of credibility that’s hard to ignore.

Applying for business awards is more than just filling out a form and crossing your fingers. It’s a strategic process that requires careful planning, compelling storytelling, and, above all, a strong understanding of your business’s strengths and achievements. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to enhance your chances of winning a business award.

1. Use video and other aesthetic content to stop the mindless scrolling. You are aiming to disrupt people long enough that they stop, read and engage with your post, rather than scrolling right past it.  Social media campaigns incorporating user-generated content (UGC) get 50% more engagement. UGC results in 29% higher conversion rates than campaigns that don’t use it. Approximately 70% of brands believe that UGC helps them connect better with customers on social media. Source:  Search Logistics
2. Post frequently and consistently – but don’t overpost: if you have two great things to share, schedule one for the next day.  Avoid sharing a bunch of posts in quick succession, or disappearing for weeks at a time.
3. Quality over quantity – whilst posting consistently is key, the algorithm will favour good quality content.  Quality content builds trust and a following. The value of social media marketing to businesses isn’t just in the ability to promote content to the masses, it’s in the ability to promote quality content that builds a community and virtual following over time.   
4. Engage with other users’ content – if you create a relationship with another account, they are more likely to see your content in their feed.
5. Follow relevant industry news sources – they are likely to give you tips on algorithm changes.
6. Experiment with different content types and strategies – your users might prefer articles over videos, or be online in the morning rather than the evening.
7. Keep an eye on trends/trending content to see what users are consuming – if you jump on a trend, there is more chance users will see that. 
8. You may need to spend a bit extra to get the ball rolling, with paid ads and boosts aimed to put your content in the faces of the audience, who then will see more of your content in the future. 
9. Be sure to check in on your social media performance: a sudden drop in engagement despite consistent posting could indicate a change in an algorithm. 
10. Using search engine optimization (SEO) can dramatically help you skyrocket within the algorithm because it means your keywords will jump right to the relevant audience. 

Social media platforms are constantly changing the game, so the best thing you can do is stay in the loop. Make sure you’re subscribing to podcasts or social media accounts (funny that!) that will show you updates and hot tips for algorithms. Or if you’re time-poor, get an expert Marketing agency like Reputation by Design to do it for you – there’s nothing better than having someone else stay on top of these changes, so you can stay on top of growing your business.

Social media marketing is much more than just posting content to a platform – it requires a well-thought-out social media marketing strategy. 

Here are some steps to get started:

Determine your target audience

Determining your target audience is a crucial step in creating a successful social media marketing strategy. Your target audience is the group of people who are most likely to be interested in your product or service, and who are most likely to engage with your brand on social media. Here are some factors to consider when determining your target audience:

• Demographics: Consider the age, gender, location, income level, education level, and other relevant demographics of your ideal customer. 
• Types of products: Consider the type of products or services you offer and how they may appeal to certain demographics. For example, a clothing brand targeting young adults will have a different target audience than a retirement planning service targeting older adults.
• Psychographics: Psychographics refer to the attitudes, interests, and values of your target audience. Consider the values and beliefs that your target audience holds, and how your brand aligns with those values.

By understanding your target audience, you can create content that resonates with them and speaks to their needs and interests. This can help you build a loyal following on social media and grow your brand over time. Additionally, understanding your target audience can help you choose the right social media platforms to use, as different platforms have different user demographics and preferences.

Pick a social media platform to use

With so many social media platforms out there, it can be overwhelming to choose which one(s) to use. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular platforms in 2023 and their audience data pulled from Smart Insights:

Facebook: The largest social media platform, with over 2.8 billion monthly active users. Facebook is a great platform for businesses targeting a broad audience.

Instagram: A visual platform with over 2 billion monthly active users. Instagram is ideal for businesses targeting a younger audience and those with visually appealing products or services.

Snapchat: A platform popular with younger audiences, with over 630 million daily active users. Snapchat is a great platform for businesses looking to create fun and engaging content.

Twitter: A platform with over 192 million daily active users. Twitter is a great platform for businesses looking to share news and updates quickly.

TikTok: A video-sharing platform with over 1 billion monthly active users. TikTok is ideal for businesses targeting a younger audience and those with visually appealing products or services.

LinkedIn: A professional platform with over 740 million members. LinkedIn is a great platform for B2B businesses and those targeting professionals.

YouTube: A video-sharing platform with over 2 billion monthly active users. YouTube is ideal for businesses with video content and those targeting a broad audience.

Pinterest: A visual platform with over 400 million monthly active users. Pinterest is ideal for businesses with visually appealing products or services.

Create a content strategy 

Once you’ve figured out your target audience and have chosen a platform(s), it’s time to create a content strategy. This is where you will consider the type of content that will resonate with your audience, such as photos, videos, or blog posts. Depending on the platform(s) you choose, be sure you are up to date on its latest trends. 

Next, determine your posting frequency – how often you will post. Scheduling your content and posts is a great way to ensure that you are consistently delivering content to your audience to stay top of mind and increase engagement. This also ensures that you don’t forget to post! 

To stay on top of your posting frequency, it’s best to have a library of content ready to be posted at any time instead of creating new content every time. 

There are various tools available that can help you store and schedule your content in advance, such as Loomly, which we use for many of our clients.

Measure KPIs

Determine which KPIs you will use in your social media marketing strategy.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are measurable values that help you track the success of your social media marketing efforts. This information will provide valuable insights into your audience’s behaviour and help you identify areas for improvement in your strategy.

 Here are some common social media KPIs to consider:

• Engagement rate: Engagement rate is the percentage of your audience that interacts with your content. This includes likes, comments, shares, and other interactions. A high engagement rate is a good indicator that your content is resonating with your audience.
• Follower growth rate: Follower growth rate is the rate at which your social media following is growing. This KPI can help you track the effectiveness of your social media strategy in attracting and retaining followers.
• Impressions: Impressions refer to the number of times your content is displayed on a social media platform. This KPI can help you track the reach of your content and identify opportunities to expand your audience.
• Click-through rate (CTR): Click-through rate is the percentage of people who click on a link in your social media content. This KPI can help you measure the effectiveness of your calls-to-action and track the traffic generated from your social media accounts to your website.
• Conversion rate: Conversion rate is the percentage of people who take a desired action, such as making a purchase or filling out a form, after interacting with your social media content. This KPI can help you track the effectiveness of your social media strategy in driving conversions and generating revenue.
• Customer acquisition cost (CAC): Customer acquisition cost is the cost of acquiring a new customer through your social media marketing efforts. This KPI can help you measure the ROI of your social media marketing efforts and identify areas for improvement in your customer acquisition strategy.

By tracking KPIs, you will be able to measure your efforts and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Social Media Management with Reputation by Design

Social media marketing can be a powerful tool for small businesses looking to grow their brand and connect with their audience. However, managing your social media accounts can be time-consuming and overwhelming, especially for small businesses with limited resources. That’s where social media management services can be beneficial. 

At Reputation By Design, we provide organic social media management services to help businesses grow their brand and connect with their audience on social media. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your brand grow online. 

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is the practice of optimising your website and its content to increase its visibility and ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). The primary goal of SEO is to generate organic traffic by making it easier for search engines to find, crawl, and index your website, which can result in higher visibility and a greater chance of being clicked on by users. SEO is composed of three primary categories.

On-page optimisation, which involves optimising content and keyword usage to match search intent; 

Off-page optimisation, which involves earning backlinks from other authoritative websites, and; 

Technical SEO, which is focused on optimising the backend of your website for faster load times and improved user experience, which can positively impact your search engine rankings. 

By employing a range of SEO techniques, businesses can drive targeted traffic to their website, increase brand awareness, and boost their online presence. SEO is a slow-burner, it takes time to build up authority and traffic, but if done correctly, it can be one of the most cost-effective types of digital marketing. 

With just under 50% of businesses choosing to perform some form of SEO, it’s important to jump on the wagon now, or risk getting left behind! 

What about Voice search optimisation?

Voice search optimisation (VSO) refers to the practice of optimising a website or other digital content to improve its suitability for queries performed using voice search technology, such as those conducted through virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant. 

Good VSO involves the use of conversational language, long-tail keywords, and natural language queries, to ensure that it is more easily discoverable and understandable by voice search algorithms. As voice search continues to become more prevalent, VSO is becoming increasingly important for businesses and individuals looking to stay competitive in the digital landscape.

Search engine marketing (SEM)