Award Submission Checklist: Everything You Need

Your Complete Award Submission Checklist

Missing a single detail can cost you a win. This comprehensive checklist covers every phase of the award submission process, from initial research through post-submission strategy. Bookmark this page and work through it systematically for every entry.

Phase 1: Research and Selection (6-8 Weeks Before Deadline)

Award evaluation:

• Identified the award program and specific category
• Read the complete eligibility criteria — confirmed you qualify
• Reviewed the judging criteria and scoring rubric
• Checked the submission deadline (and early-bird deadline if applicable)
• Confirmed the entry fee and secured budget approval
• Reviewed past winners in your target category
• Assessed competitive landscape — who else typically enters?

Strategic fit:

• The award aligns with your marketing and brand strategy
• Winning would provide meaningful industry credibility
• You have a strong enough achievement from the qualifying period
• The judge composition is relevant to your target audience

Phase 2: Evidence Gathering (4-6 Weeks Before)

Quantitative data:

• Revenue metrics (growth percentages, absolute numbers)
• Customer metrics (acquisition, retention, satisfaction scores)
• Operational metrics (efficiency gains, cost reductions, speed improvements)
• Scale metrics (users, customers, markets, geographies impacted)
• Comparative data (before vs. after, year-over-year, vs. industry benchmarks)

Qualitative evidence:

• Customer testimonials (with permission to use names and titles)
• Partner or stakeholder endorsements
• Internal team perspectives on the project's significance
• Third-party analyst or media commentary

Supporting materials:

• High-resolution images (product screenshots, team photos, event images)
• Video content (product demos, testimonials, case study videos)
• Press coverage links (verified and working)
• Project documentation or case studies
• Awards or recognitions already received for the same work

Phase 3: Writing (3-4 Weeks Before)

Structure and content:

• Created outline mapping to every judging criterion
• Written a compelling opening that leads with impact
• Described the challenge/opportunity with specific context
• Detailed your approach with enough specificity to demonstrate originality
• Presented results with verifiable metrics for each claim
• Connected achievements directly to award criteria
• Confirmed the narrative is within word count limits

Writing quality:

• Removed all vague superlatives ("best-in-class," "world-class," "innovative")
• Replaced every generic claim with a specific data point
• Used active voice throughout
• Ensured consistent tense (past tense for achievements, present for ongoing impact)
• Eliminated jargon or defined technical terms on first use
• Checked that the submission is readable by a smart non-specialist

Phase 4: Review and Polish (1-2 Weeks Before)

Internal review:

• Subject matter expert reviewed for accuracy
• Marketing team reviewed for brand voice and messaging
• Executive sponsor reviewed and approved
• At least one person outside the project team read for clarity

Quality assurance:

• Spell-check and grammar check completed
• All numbers verified against source data
• All hyperlinks tested and working
• All attachments open correctly and are properly formatted
• Formatting is clean with clear headings and visual hierarchy
• Word count is within specified limits

Phase 5: Submission (3-5 Days Before Deadline)

Technical submission:

• Created account on the award platform (if required)
• Completed all required form fields
• Uploaded all attachments in specified formats
• Paid entry fee and saved receipt
• Submitted the entry and received confirmation
• Saved a complete copy of everything submitted
• Screenshot the confirmation page

Calendar setup:

• Set reminder for results announcement date
• Blocked time for winner notification response (if applicable)
• Prepared draft press release for a potential win
• Alerted PR/communications team of the timeline

Phase 6: Post-Submission Strategy

If you win:

• Issue press release within 48 hours
• Post on all social media channels with official badges/logos
• Update website with award badge and link to announcement
• Update LinkedIn company page and personal profiles
• Add to email signature blocks for 6+ months
• Notify customers, partners, and stakeholders
• Brief sales team to incorporate into pitches and proposals
• Plan internal celebration and team recognition
• Write a retrospective blog post about the journey

Whether you win or not:

• Document lessons learned for next year's submissions
• Track any metrics influenced by the award announcement
• Update your awards submission database with outcome and notes
• Identify next target award and begin research cycle

Downloadable Tracking Template

For each award entry, track these fields in a spreadsheet:

Start your submission journey by finding the right awards in our directory.