At Q2, we live all things tech marketing in the Washington D.C. region and beyond. Our people network with colleagues and peers. We give presentations to the industry. We talk with prospects, clients and partners. We contribute to the Technology Marketing Blog and other tech marketing blogs and print outlets. We’re regularly quoted in industry news outlets.

The point is, we have our finger on the proverbial pulse of what’s happening (and what’s not) in the wonderful world of tech marketing. And one of the things that’s not happening is a relatively straight-forward, fundamental program. That program is award opportunities.

As many of you probably know, awards exist for corporate governance, revenue growth, product innovation, social responsibility and more. Awards also exist for specific industries and solutions. What you probably also know is that many companies don’t take advantage of opportunities for which they are well qualified. You might even know that a little too well.

Executives understand the value of gaining credibility. Almost every one we talk with believes there would be a benefit in developing an ongoing award opportunity program. But still, when it comes to practice, many companies don’t pursue awards.  

The reason for this may be in the amount of lead time and planning required. While the level of effort in an award program isn’t daunting, it requires foresight. The opportunities should be amassed 12-months or more in advance, and continually monitored for changes and additional opportunities. Some are ongoing awards, and some change. An example is the Inc. 500, which has expanded to the Inc. 5000.

The second challenge may be lack of awareness of which organizations (media, industry associations, corporations, etc.) present awards. These can be found by paying close attention to industry news, media editorial calendars, and monitoring your competitors’ news coverage.

For more tips on how to develop an award program that increases your company’s exposure, contact info@q2marketing.com.