Entering Awards is about more than winning - but maximising your chances of winning is still the smart way to do it.
Entering awards programs is not a meaningless, feel-good exercise, according to Chris Colter, Chief Strategy & Product Officer at Initiative and Co-Chair of the MFA Awards. Quite the opposite – there are genuine commercial benefits to entering awards on behalf of your agency and your clients’ business, he told participants of the MFA Awards Entry Writing Clinic.
The clinic, hosted by Chris and Co-Chair Sophie Price, Chief Strategy Officer at EssenceMediacom, outlined reasons to enter the MFA Awards, a checklist for identifying the most award-worthy work and tips for making your entry the best it can be.
MFA members can access a recording of the MFA Awards Writing Clinic here
“We firmly believe great media deserves to be celebrated, it creates that inspirational benchmark for the industry to try to attain,” Chris said. “And it helps us all get better at what we do because we’re learning new ways to do things. Seeing the bold thinking being delivered by our fellow agencies helps us reshape the possibilities in media.
“It also strengthens client relationships by showing how committed we are to delivering results on their behalf.”
Chris outlined four commercial benefits to entering the MFA Awards:
1.
ELEVATION of pride in our people, our industry and our impact: entering the MFA Awards is a manifestation of our industry purpose of We Are The Changers. “The more you celebrate the impact we make, the more purpose your people feel,” Chris said.
2.
VALIDATION of the impact media agencies deliver on brands, businesses, and broader society and culture. It helps to improve the ROI factor that media brings to the table and gives potential clients informed confidence that you’re a business that can deliver the goods.
3.
INSPIRATION for what’s possible in media today and tomorrow.
4.
It provides EDUCATION on best practice media thinking in our market and beyond.
Sophie Price reminded participants that not all great work is necessarily award worthy. A key factor she added to the checklist, she said, was whether the campaign had an “I wish I’d thought of it” element.
Again, don’t underestimate the company-wide positive effects of entering the MFA Awards. Engagement in the awards, pride in the agency, connection and support across teams are all achieved as soon as the finalist list is announced. Whilst being a finalist is not guaranteed, missing out on this unifying opportunity is absolutely guaranteed if you don’t enter.
Awards are a win-win even if you don’t win.
You have until 3 May to enter the 2024 MFA Awards. Download the entry kit here.