What Is an Award Entry?
An award entry is a written submission, usually with a short summary and supporting evidence, that asks a panel of judges to score a company, team, person, product or campaign against a programme's published category criteria.
The entry is the only thing most judges see. They do not know your company, and they compare you with other entrants in the same category. A good entry is therefore closer to an evidence file than a brochure: each criterion is answered in turn, with numbers, dates and a source a judge could check. Before writing, it is worth knowing what awards cost and what they signal; our report on what business awards cost sets out published fees, and who picks the companies on Forbes, TIME and Fortune lists covers the editorial lists that cannot be entered at all.
How to Write an Award Entry at a Glance
| Step | Action | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose a programme and check who judges and what it costs | A shortlist you can justify internally |
| 2 | Pick one category and copy its criteria into your draft | Headings that mirror the scoring criteria |
| 3 | Confirm the eligibility period | Every result in the entry falls inside it |
| 4 | Gather evidence for each criterion | Numbers, dates, quotes and sources on file |
| 5 | Write to the word limit, criterion by criterion | A draft under the limit with no unsupported claims |
| 6 | Write the summary and package supporting material | Summary, image and links that open in seconds |
| 7 | Submit and pay before the deadline you budgeted for | A confirmation and receipt |
| 8 | Use the result accurately and ask for feedback | A dated, correctly worded announcement or a lessons file |
Time: two to four working days per entry, mostly evidence gathering (our estimate). Tools: a document, the programme's entry kit, a results spreadsheet. Cost: the entry fee, which the programmes publish; see the chart below. Skill level: intermediate.
What You Need Before Starting
- The programme's current rules, category criteria and fee page, saved with the date you read them.
- Results data for the eligibility period, with the system or report each figure came from.
- Permission to name clients, customers or partners, and to quote them.
- A current boilerplate and bio; see how to write a company boilerplate and how to write an executive bio for media.
- A high-resolution image, logo or headshot in the format the category asks for.
Step 1: Choose a Programme You Can Defend
Pick programmes where the judges, the criteria and the fee are published. That information tells you what the result will mean to anyone who reads it later.
Process: for each candidate, note who judges, how entries are scored, the fee per entry and whether results are published with the winning work. Best in Biz says its judges are editors, writers and contributors from business, trade, technology and broadcast outlets (Best in Biz). The American Business Awards say each judging committee has 10 to 30 members, and that “Judges’ average scores will determine the Stevie Award winners” (Stevie Awards). The CIPR publishes a winning 1,000-word entry online as a case study. Expected result: a shortlist with a reason for each. Common mistake: entering every programme that emails you.
US dollars per submission, as listed by each programme
Source: Globee Awards business entry kit; Best in Biz entry fees; Webby Awards eligibility and fees. Read October 10, 2026.
Fees are per category entered. Best in Biz and Globee also publish intermediate deadlines; Globee's individual categories cost $352 to $440 and its research paper category up to $2,400. Prices change each cycle.
Step 2: Pick One Category and Mirror Its Criteria
Choose the category whose criteria your evidence answers best, then use those criteria as your headings. Judges score against the criteria, so an entry that follows them is easier to mark.
The CIPR tells entrants the entry must “cover the criteria outlined for the category you're entering” and warns that categories cannot be changed once judging has begun (CIPR). The Webby Awards publish criteria by category type; for Advertising, Media and PR they are Creativity, Execution, Innovation, Brand Integration and Overall Experience (Webby Awards). Expected result: a draft skeleton with one heading per criterion. Common mistake: writing one general story and pasting it into several categories.
Step 3: Confirm the Eligibility Period
Check the dates your work must fall within before writing a word. Results from outside the window can lose marks or make the entry ineligible.
The Stevie Awards advise that entries “focus extensively on achievements during the eligibility period” and say judges “will not give high scores to your entries if they don't” (Stevie Awards entry tips). The Webby Awards say work published once “must have been originally published in or after October 2025” and must stay live from the date of entry through mid 2027 (Webby Awards). Expected result: a start and end date at the top of your draft. Common mistake: leading with a result from two years ago.
Step 4: Gather Evidence for Each Criterion
Collect one or two pieces of evidence per criterion: a number with its baseline, a date, a named source, or a short quote from a customer or partner.
Best in Biz suggests bullet points, data and statistics, and short case studies or quotes from users, customers or employees, and says quality matters more than length (Best in Biz). For campaign entries, report outcomes separately from outputs: coverage counts are outputs, while traffic, enquiries or sales are outcomes. Our guide to measuring whether a placement worked shows how to separate them. Expected result: an evidence table with a source for every figure. Common mistake: percentages with no baseline (“up 300%” from what?).
Step 5: Write to the Word Limit, Criterion by Criterion
Write each section as claim, evidence, result. Stop at the published limit; do not rely on supporting files to carry the argument.
Words, as stated by each programme
Source: CIPR, what to include and rules of entry (2026 cycle); Best in Biz entry fees and requirements. Read October 10, 2026.
Best in Biz states its lengths without saying whether they are maximums; the CIPR says entries over 1,000 words may be disqualified. The Stevie Awards pages we read did not state word limits.
Process: open with one sentence saying what you did and for whom. Under each criterion, state the objective, what you did, and the measured result with its source. Use plain words; judges come from different industries. Keep a running word count, because the CIPR says entries over its limit may be disqualified, and Best in Biz asks for a 500-word description while noting that more is not always better. Expected result: a draft under the limit in which every figure appears in your evidence table. Common mistake: adjectives in place of results (“industry-leading”, “game-changing”).
Step 6: Write the Summary and Package Supporting Material
Write the short summary last, then attach only material that helps a judge verify the entry fast.
The CIPR asks for a 30-word summary in the third person, a category-specific image and a logo, with optional images, press clippings and video links in one PDF of no more than four pages (CIPR). The Stevie Awards say judges “tend to give lower scores to nominations that have no supporting materials or links”, prefer hosted video on YouTube or Vimeo over downloads, and advise testing every link (Stevie Awards). If you link coverage, link the article itself; our press kit explainer covers images and credits. Expected result: a summary, an image and links that open without a login. Common mistake: a shared drive link that asks the judge to request access.
Step 7: Submit and Pay Before the Deadline You Budgeted For
Submit through the programme's online system, keep the confirmation, and pay by the stated date.
Programmes price by deadline. Best in Biz says fees rise by $50 at each later deadline. The CIPR says entry fees for its 2026 cycle had to be paid by 17:00 GMT on 1 April 2026, and offered no discount for multiple entries. The American Business Awards calendar for 2027 lists entries opening on October 7, 2026 and a primary entry deadline of February 10, 2027 (Stevie Awards). Write offline first; the Stevie Awards recommend it so that you keep a permanent record. Expected result: a confirmation email and receipt filed with the entry. Common mistake: pasting into the form at the last minute and losing formatting or text.
Step 8: Use the Result Accurately and Ask for Feedback
If you win or are shortlisted, announce it with the exact programme name, year, category and level. If you do not, ask for scores or comments.
The American Business Awards say judges' comments are made available anonymously in entrants' accounts when winners are announced. The CIPR gives numerical scores on request to entries that were not shortlisted, with a short written comment for low-scoring entries (CIPR). Announce a win on a dated page in your online newsroom or with a press release, and describe it precisely. A paid-entry award is not the same as independent coverage; for how one demanding reader, Wikipedia, weighs sources, see does coverage get you a Wikipedia article? Expected result: an accurate announcement, or a feedback file for next year. Common mistake: calling a shortlist place a win.
How to Verify It Worked
- Accepted: the entry appears as submitted in your account, with a confirmation and a paid receipt.
- Compliant: the word count is under the limit, all criteria are answered in the entry, and every link opens in a private browser window.
- Result recorded: win, shortlist or not placed is logged with the judges' scores or comments where offered.
How to Choose What to Enter
| Situation | Recommended approach | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Strong measured results in the eligibility period | Enter the one category whose criteria match them | Judges score against criteria |
| Good work, weak data | Wait a cycle and collect baselines | Unsupported claims score poorly |
| Limited budget | One programme, earliest deadline | Fees rise at each deadline |
| Need recognition from peers in one profession | A professional body's awards | Criteria and judges come from that field |
| Need independent editorial recognition | Earned coverage or editorial lists, not paid entries | Editorial selection cannot be bought with an entry fee |
| Work is a campaign with video | Programmes that accept hosted video links | Judges have minutes, not hours |
Common Problems and Fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Draft is far over the limit | Background and process take up space | Cut context to two sentences; keep results |
| Client will not be named | No permission in contract | Ask early, or describe the client by sector and size |
| Results cannot be verified | No baseline or tracking | Use only figures with a source; drop the rest |
| Low scores with no reason | Criteria not addressed in order | Request feedback; rewrite with criteria as headings |
| Links fail during judging | Private or expiring links | Use public, hosted links and test them before submitting |
What Not to Do
- Do not exceed the word limit. Consequence: possible disqualification under the CIPR rules. Correction: cut to the limit before submitting.
- Do not hide the argument in attachments. Consequence: criteria judged unanswered. Correction: answer every criterion in the entry text.
- Do not inflate results. Consequence: credibility lost with judges who are often journalists. Correction: report figures with baselines and sources.
- Do not describe a paid-entry award as independent coverage. Consequence: readers and editors discount it. Correction: name the programme, year and category plainly.
- Do not submit the same text to several categories unchanged. Consequence: weak fit with each set of criteria. Correction: rewrite for each category.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should an award entry be?
As long as the programme allows and no longer. The CIPR Excellence Awards set a 1,000-word limit with a 30-word summary; Best in Biz asks for a 500-word description plus a 100-word background. Check the current entry kit for the programme you enter.
What do award judges look for?
Evidence against the category criteria. The Stevie Awards say judges score on a 1 to 10 scale, give lower scores when there are no supporting materials, and expect achievements from the eligibility period. The Webby Awards publish named criteria for each category type.
Can I reuse the same entry for several categories?
You can reuse evidence, but rewrite the text for each category, because each one is scored against its own criteria. Fees are usually charged per category entered.
How much does it cost to enter a business award?
Published fees vary by programme, category and deadline. Best in Biz lists $475 to $625 for a North American company category entry, Globee lists $592 to $740 for a company category, and the Webby Awards list $525 to $595 for a general single entry. Prices change each cycle.
Should I include supporting material?
Yes, if the programme allows it and it helps a judge verify a claim quickly. Keep the argument in the entry text, use public hosted links, and follow format limits such as the CIPR's single PDF of no more than four pages.
Is an award win the same as media coverage?
No. An award is a result from a programme you entered, often for a fee. Report it accurately and separately from earned coverage, which an editor chose to publish.
Sources and Methodology
This guide is built from the entry rules, fee pages and judging pages of five awards programmes listed below, read on October 10, 2026. We did not enter any programme, act as a judge or test how entries are scored. Programmes revise rules and fees each cycle; the CIPR figures describe its 2026 rules, and the next cycle may differ. Quoted wording is from the pages listed. Time estimates are ours.
- professional body Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Excellence rules of entry, word limit, fees and feedback. Read October 10, 2026.
- professional body Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Excellence 2026: what to include, entry, summary, image and supporting PDF. Read October 10, 2026.
- programme Stevie Awards, American Business Awards: Judging and Awards Process. Read October 10, 2026.
- programme Stevie Awards, Entry Preparation Tips, and American Business Awards calendar. Read October 10, 2026.
- programme Best in Biz Awards, Entry Fees, including entry requirements and judging. Read October 10, 2026.
- programme Globee Awards, Entry Kit: Business Awards, fees by deadline. Read October 10, 2026.
- programme The Webby Awards, Eligibility, Guidelines and Fees and Judging Criteria. Read October 10, 2026.
- own data Media Morpheus Research, What Do Business Awards Cost, and Do They Mean Anything?