Here, former Maryland Chapter President Jeffrey A. Davis, APR shares his tips on how to get that entry noticed.
And Jeff should know. He is not only a past winner and a past senior judge, but also just won a 2016 Silver Anvil for his collaboration with Judy Phair, APR, Fellow PRSA on behalf of client the Council of Independent Colleges in Washington, D.C., for “Securing America’s Future: The Power of Liberal Arts Education.”
Tips:
- Look at your entry through the eyes of the judges and realize they are going through multiple entries and making quick judgements about the strength of your submission.
- Is the summary written in a light, understandable way that flows easily? Or do the judges have to pause, re-read sections and work to understand what you’re trying to say?
- Match measurable goals with measurable results. The final numbers don’t need to match (not all programs magically meet a set of specific goals), but it helps to know what you set out to measure.
- For programs, simply printing out the results of web research usually isn’t strong enough for a winning campaign. Judges look for primary research to supplement downloaded web pages.
- Find ways to flag key elements of your entry – use headlines or other techniques to outline major points and draw attention to areas you want to highlight.
- Finally, recruit a “judge” from within your organization who was not part of the campaign or entry process. Ask for a quick read and instant comments about what flowed, what didn’t and what improvements they suggest.
