Any business that wants to boost reputation, expand industry recognition, and increase overall visibility needs a solid awards and speaking program. But, winning awards and securing speaking placements is not as straightforward as many think. Just finding an opportunity, completing an application, and hitting submit will not necessarily get you the wins you are seeking. There must be a more thoughtful and ongoing approach.
The reality is implementing these into your business takes time, effort, and planning that goes beyond a quick search or AI-prompt. Just submitting an application is not the same as building a successful program. Even the strongest companies can be overlooked not because they don’t have compelling stories or an innovative product, but because they miss the critical planning and positioning phase.
Here are the top five reasons your award and speaking submission may be missing their mark:
Positioning Awards and Speaking Submissions Wrong
One of the most common mistakes companies make is not knowing how to approach awards and speaking opportunities. Nobody wants to review a speaking submission that reads like a promotional pamphlet or company sales pitch. Event organizers are looking for educational, timely, and insightful content that drives value to their audience.
On the other hand, awards submissions that rely on broad company messaging and don’t provide clear proof or impact metrics can quickly get lost in a sea of submissions. The best submissions understand what each opportunity brings and positions your company accordingly with unique positioning points and metrics that backs up those claims.
Prioritizing Speed and Volume in Awards/Speaking Submissions Over Value
Just because you submit an application quickly doesn’t mean you submitted it effectively. Rushing applications can lead to lack of substance and alignment the audience or judging criteria needs.
When speed becomes the main priority, important details can be overlooked. Some applications want you to include the extra details like examples of prior speaking experience, supporting documentation, measurable metrics, or additional content that could strengthen your submissions. Taking the time to read through each question, understand what is being asked, and tailoring your responses will make the difference between being considered and being passed. Make sure your team isn’t wasting their time by submitting information that hasn’t been thoughtfully put together.
Pursuing Speaking and Award Opportunities Without Proper Research
Not every opportunity will be a fit for your company just because it’s within your industry. Many opportunities have fine line requirements that must be met in order to be considered.
Speaking opportunities require research into who has spoken previously, what themes the event is looking for, what current conversations are happening in the industry and how your company’s perspective fits into that.
Some awards come with specific requirements like employee count, revenue visibility, membership requirements, company age, or geographical limitations. Missing these details can result in your submission being automatically disqualified.
Missing Speaking and Award Deadlines
Tracking deadlines, maintaining calendars, monitoring annual application windows, and identifying early bird opportunities all play a major role in success.
Some awards open around the same time each year, while others can shift timelines without much notice. Conferences can change formats, location, or submission windows. Without a system in place to stay ahead of these changes, opportunities can be missed before you even realize they were available.
Submitting Speaking/Award Opportunities As A One-Time Effort
One submission should never be the end. Too often companies submit to an award or speaking opportunity, face rejection, and move on. If a submission is not selected that doesn’t mean the opportunity is gone. Reviewing feedback, refining your messaging, strengthening your proof points and reapplying the next year can lead to success.
Simultaneously, if you landed the stage spot or award win, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply again. Recognition isn’t built through a one and done effort. There is always an opportunity to continue that momentum and submit the following year, especially if it brings industry acknowledgement.
To build a long term and successful awards and speaking program there needs to be consistency, dedication, and intentional effort. The strongest programs are not built through rushed submissions or one-off attempts, but through thoughtful planning and strategy. If you’re unsure where to start, have questions about whether your business is ready for an awards or speaking program, or just need support building a process that works, partnering with a PR team that can successfully implement and manage these efforts will make all the difference.