When you hear the expression awards time, how many of you think about the beginning of a year filled with predictions, speculations and finally the Oscars, Grammys, Golden Globes and other awards? Many of you, right?!
But in parallel with the ultimate awards, agencies across the region have other types of awards in focus. At the end of autumn, preparations slowly heat up and the first applications are sent as a warm-up for the peak season in February. SomoBorac, BalCannes, MiXX, Effie, Grand Prix are IPRA are just some of the awards for which agencies from Croatia and the region regularly compete.
1. Preparation is half the battle won
There are rare moments of agency life in which there is a guaranteed period with less work. Instead of watching these moments go by, try to catch some of them and use them to check what each award application requires, so that you know how to organize yourself in time.
A table or list with application deadlines, links to application conditions, regulations or advice, will come in handy in critical moments – which are likely to happen. In addition to the deadlines for the application itself, it is not a bad idea to prepare for the cost of applications and check the payment deadlines!
2. K.I.S.S. as a start
How do you summarize the months of planning, implementing and living a campaign? To get started, you can always use the familiar K.I.S.S. (Keep it short and simple) principles.
Namely, some applications require filling out text application forms with a considerable number of words, but believe me, on those with a low word count, you will be able to hone your skill of summarizing multi-month campaigns in a few sentences. Do not be fooled, those shorter application forms will cost you more nerves and more time!
3. Video application form – best enemy or worst friend
Video application forms have become a standard and it is almost impossible to avoid this format in some form. In addition to taking the time to design the video, be sure to let your colleagues and co-workers know in a timely manner if you count on their help.
Before you start creating, check what lengths of video you need and try to stick to the optimal two-minute duration. In this way, you will be able to more easily adapt the video application form, with minor modifications, to the individual prize.
A special shoutout goes to designers, cameramen and producers! If we ask you for a thousand edits in the process, know that we appreciate you very much. One day we will make a video together that will be ready for the premiere without any changes!
4. Regulations, advisors and handbooks – check it all out!
If you are applying your campaign for the first or a hundredth time for a professional award, still check what is written in this year’s regulations or application conditions. Although the base is usually the same, the awards can introduce some small modifications from year to year as the market, campaigns, media and way of working change. The most common change is new categories that mostly adapt to current events in the profession, but sometimes these are bigger changes such as the concept of the entire application form.
If possible, for beginner applicants, we recommend looking at last year’s application forms and winners. In this way, you will get a picture of what must and can be contained in a quality video application form, and it will help you place your campaign in the right category and give a rounded picture of the meaning of the prize you are applying for.
5.Our dear, favourite colleagues…
If you follow the film and music awards season closely, then you must already have a favourite colleague who is happy to replace you on Mondays because you had to watch the Oscars broadcast until four in the morning. In addition to being your support in the application process, whether by bringing coffee, a therapeutic conversation or taking on some tasks, you can ask your colleagues to objectively review the (video) application form and give you their feedback. However, the favourite role of our colleagues is that of the loudest fans at the award ceremony!
6. When the going gets tough
Working hours ended 15 minutes ago, and you stayed to finish ‘this one last thing’. These are just some of the moments in which you test your own patience and dedication to the ultimate goal – for which all the effort will pay off. If you ever find yourself wondering ‘is it all worth it’ – well, it is! That moment when you find out that you have made it to the finals, and especially that you have won one of the awards, erases all the challenges you have faced. That sense of accomplishment and special value of your work will last longer than awards season!
Research published in the Journal of Vocational Behavior shows that winning a professional award is a great boost for the winner who will have a better performance compared to the period before, and the reward is also a quality indicator for clients.
7. Patience game
Once you have clicked on the famous submit or send, it is best to save the thought of the application somewhere deep and not think about it for a while because you did your best and squeezed the campaign in audiovisual and text form!
Waiting for the first results, or the list of finalists, is a special game of patience, but see it as an opportunity to build your mental resilience.
When the finalist release dates approach, a new thing comes into your business routine – a little rollercoaster of emotions and adrenaline as the page or profile of the award loads up to the crucial moment… And we believe in a positive outcome! If he is absent, this is only one application and one year, and the next season of awards will come soon.
In the end, all that remains is to wish luck and express our support to all colleagues: the award season is coming to a sweet end! We’ve got this!
