10 x top tips to win an UnAward

Here are some valuable lessons and insights from past winners, judges and sponsors

by Darren caveney

Thanks to everyone who attended the recent webinar - How to win an UnAward.

We heard top tips and insights from past winners, judges and sponsors on how to get shortlisted and win an UnAward.

It was fascinating to listen to their insights, and my top 10 takes from the session were:

1.  Know your metrics (and include them) – Don’t be vague here, the judges are looking out for evidence of SMART objectives

2.  Include testimonials – Can you include testimonials from the your audiences on the work you have delivered?

3.  Data is your friend – what data was your work based on? Make sure you include them in your entry.

4.  What is creativity? Creativity comes in many forms. We tend to think of creativity as the visual elements but think more widely about it, for example where you creative with your use of data?

5.  Use the EAST framework when it comes to behaviour change work.

6.  The AMEC evaluation framework is a great resource and way to shape your work and entry content.

7.  Check out COMMS:FILES for inspiration and examples of previous entries.

8.  Can AI help you with your entry?

9.  Be creative with your entry. Comms people are creative writers so write your entry form creatively. One past winner shared that their entry included references to David Bowie and The Matrix.

10.  And, finally, don’t be scared to enter. So many people say that they “haven’t done anything good this year”. This isn’t true. Every team has done good and important work. Give it the chance to flourish and be noticed.

If you missed the webinar it’s really worth a listen - here’s the recording of the session.

The UnAwards close on 30 October, midnight, and are never ever extended.

Here’s the dedicated UnAwards website with everything you need to craft and enter your winning submission.

Good luck.

Darren Caveney is creator and owner of comms2point0 and Creative Communicators Ltd and creator of the UnAwards

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UNAWARDS 2024 TICKET SALES ARE LIVE

Tickets for the UnAwards 2024 ceremony are LIVE. Don’t leave it too long to grab yours…

by Darren Caveney

The 9th annual awards will be held at’s iconic home - the Everyman Cinema in the Mailbox in Birmingham - on Friday 6 December at 9.30am for a 10am start.

Tickets will cost just £30 + vat and are on sale now.

Please remember it’s always a sell out so please don’t be slow to buy

You can buy your tickets HERE

ALL NEW WEBINAR: HOW TO WIN AN UNAWARD

Winning an UnAward is a very special thing.

But how can you win one?

Find out exactly how by getting the inside track from past winners and current judges in this special new webinar.

by Darren Caveney

There’s plenty of time left to get your entries in to the 9th annual UnAwards.

I’ve seen first hand the difference an award shortlisting and win can make to an individual and to a team. Even an organisation. I truly believe that they’re a very important part of what we do.

External, independent recognition makes us feel good, yes, but it’s also an important endorsement that what we do makes a real difference and is considered to be good practice.

They look pretty good on the CV too.

I see brilliant work every single week on my travels around the UK working with teams.

But some teams are convinced that they haven’t done anything good enough to enter.

I disagree – everyone has delivered good and valued work in the past 12 months.

Now is the time to showcase your work – no one else will do this for you

It’s absolutely a time to be selfish and to spend some time on you and your work and to get an entry in, and see how far it can go.

The phrase “in it to win” is much over-used but it does however still ring true.

So what’s this new webinar?

It’s a one-ff chance to hear from past winners and current judges who will share their trade secrets about what has gone in to an UnAward win and, importantly, what the judges look for.

You can pitch in with questions to our extra special panel too.

Who is on the panel?

• Alan Oram – judge and director at Alive with Ideas

• Mandy Pearse - experienced award winner and judge

• Laurel Chilcot-Smithson - strategic communications manager at Hertfordshire Council

• Lindsay Coulson – experienced award winner

• Hannah Yorke - social and digital consultant at Orlo

• John-Paul Danon – judge and commercial director at CAN Digital

• Alex Waddington - owner of Whetstone Communications

• Chris Elias - communications lead at Perago

Plus, some previous winners and others involved in this year’s UnAwards.

When is it?

Wednesday 9 October – 12 noon - 1pm.

We thought it might be a good time at the end of the week to put work away and join a short, fun webinar aiming to inspire you for the final two weeks of the entry window.

Fancy it?

We’ll do it on Teams and you can register below.

if you can’t be there we’ll make the recording available.

But try to be there – it will be a fun hour that might just help you get an UnAward win.

REGISTER HERE

Darren Caveney is creator and owner of comms2point0 and Creative Communicators Ltd and creator of the UnAwards