"You've got to be in it to win it" .... I think the first time I heard that was on a National Lottery advert.  It's true of course, but this phrase doesn't tell the whole story.  There are lots of reasons to enter for awards.  I've gone in for lots over the years in the fields of radio and voiceover.  Whether you win or not on the night, the process itself brings many benefits to individuals and teams alike.

Look back and remember your greatest work - My experience of running a local radio station is that everything hurtles along so quickly you don't have time to appreciate what you've done.  Awards season is the perfect time to take yourself out of the 'day to day' and look back over the past 12 months.  Remember, it's not just about what you enjoyed the most ... some of the most stressful endeavours may have had an impact you won't appreciate until much later.  What content had your audience engaging the most?  What made you laugh out loud until your face ached?  When did you have that MP or Councillor on the ropes about a contentious local issue?  What personal story made you cry?  Look back through your calendar and remember each and every guest, event, training course and celebration.  What impact did it have?

Bring your team together - Not everybody wants to be at the mic, but everyone appreciates being part of a winning team.  If you have a lot of output, ask your team to help find the golden nuggets which will go into the entry.  You might ask them to keep clips of their 'best bits' in a shared space, which saves time later.  When your entry is complete, share it with everyone and let them know how they all played a part in it. 

Marketing collateral - Your award entry is your shop window.  Once judging is over, you can use this marketing collateral all over the place, for example on your website and social media, out to your press list, to funders and potential partners.   Most award entries comprise audio and written parts, these may need tweaking for different audiences.

Fantastic PR - What are the PR opportunities around your award entry?  Do you need the public to vote for you?  Did you win or get nominated?  Whatever it is, make the most of it with pictures, video, reactions from your team, quotes etc.

In summary, taking the time to enter awards reaps many benefits.  "You've got to be in it to win it" takes on a whole new meaning!