The 2025 Call for Entries for the AMEC Global Communication Effectiveness Awards is now open. Former judges and multiple gold Awards winning entrants have shared key tips and pointers for achieving success in Award writing.

The recent North America Chapter’s Guided Growth mentorship series featured a panel of experts with over 100 awards among them. They emphasized the importance of measurable outcomes, integrating data from various sources, and the value of storytelling in award submissions. Collaboration with clients and agencies was highlighted as crucial. These insights underscored how awards serve as more than just shiny trophies but as a platform for introspection, narrative building, and demonstrating tangible impact within the industry’s shift towards data-driven strategies.

Read more on what our expert panel advise entrants to consider and focus on when writing your Award winning submissions including:

  • Common pitfalls in AMEC Award entries
  • Key strategies to focus on to improve award entries
  • Why having a Award winning Case Studies are so important
  • Expert Panel advice summary

Key tips for writing award-winning AMEC entries

  1. Tell a compelling story: Focus on creating a narrative that clearly demonstrates the strategic approach and impact of your communication work.
  2. Provide clear evidence: Use quantitative and qualitative data to substantiate your claims and show measurable outcomes.
  3. Align with award categories: Carefully review the specific category requirements and ensure your entry matches the criteria precisely.
  4. Demonstrate business impact: Show how your communication efforts directly contributed to broader business or organizational goals.
  5. Be concise and specific: Use clear, precise language and avoid jargon. Make every word count in your limited word count.
  6. Use visual elements: Include graphics, charts, or infographics that help illustrate your results and make your entry more engaging.
  7. Highlight innovation: Showcase unique approaches, creative strategies, or novel solutions that set your work apart.
  8. Proofread thoroughly: Ensure your entry is free of grammatical errors and presents a professional, polished presentation.

These tips are drawn from the expertise of award-winning communication professionals and can help improve the quality of your AMEC Award submission. Further more they discussed some of the common pitfalls:

Common pitfalls in AMEC Award entries include:

  1. Focusing on outputs instead of outcomes: Many entries highlight activities rather than demonstrating real business impact.
  2. Lack of clear measurement: Failing to provide concrete, measurable results that show the value of the communication work.
  3. Overcomplicated narratives: Trying to include too much information instead of crafting a clear, concise story.
  4. Insufficient data integration: Not connecting communication efforts to broader business objectives or using multiple data sources.
  5. Generic language: Using vague descriptions that don’t differentiate the work or show its unique value.
  6. Neglecting to explain context: Not adequately setting up the challenge or problem the communication strategy addressed.
  7. Poor storytelling: Presenting facts without creating a compelling narrative arc.
  8. Inadequate proofreading: Submitting entries with grammatical errors or unclear explanations.
  9. Overlooking category specifics: Not tailoring the entry precisely to the award category requirements.
  10. Lack of reflection: Failing to show how the work led to learning or improvements in future communication strategies.

Avoiding these pitfalls can significantly improve the quality of your AMEC Award entry.

Expert Panel Advice:

  1. Collaborate with clients: Work closely with clients to gather comprehensive information and fill in potential gaps in your entry.
  2. Be honest about limitations: If you have constraints in data or access, acknowledge them transparently and explain how you would ideally approach the project.
  3. Integrate multiple data sources: Combine media metrics, consumer research, and operational KPIs to create a holistic view of impact.
  4. Don’t hesitate to submit: Even if you’re unsure about an entry, give it a try. You can learn and improve with each submission.
  5. Consider blinded entries: If client confidentiality is an issue, you can still submit a strong entry without naming the client.
  6. Reflect on your work: Use the award writing process as an opportunity for continuous improvement and learning.
  7. Show human impact: Go beyond technical metrics to demonstrate how your work created meaningful change.
  8. Bring diversity of thought: Involve multiple perspectives when crafting your entry to strengthen the narrative.

The panelists emphasized that award entries are not just about winning trophies, but about recognizing excellence, sharing best practices, and driving the industry forward.

To improve award entries, focus on these key strategies:

  1. Storytelling Techniques: Create a clear narrative arc, Explain the challenge, approach, and impact, Use a compelling “hook” to engage judges, Keep language punchy and concise
  1. Data Integration: Move beyond simple output metrics, Connect communication efforts to business outcomes, Use multiple data sources, Show predictive and actionable insights
  1. Demonstrate Value, Quantify impact with specific results, Explain how insights drove decision-making, Highlight behavior or strategic changes, Show return on investment
  1. Technical Refinement: First draft is always rough – keep revising, Get multiple perspectives, Proofread carefully, Use visual elements like charts/graphics
  1. Collaboration: Work closely with clients, Get input from different team members, Challenge each other’s thinking, Be transparent about project limitations
  1. Continuous Learning: Reflect on your work critically, Use award process for professional development, Ask for judge feedback, Learn from previous successful entries

The key is transforming data into a compelling story that demonstrates meaningful communication impact.

Why Case studies are crucial in AMEC Award entries:

  1. Storytelling Vehicle: Provide a narrative framework for your work, Demonstrate strategic thinking, Show the journey from challenge to solution
  1. Evidence of Impact: Quantify communication outcomes, Link communication efforts to business results, Prove value beyond traditional metrics
  1. Industry Learning: Share best practices, Highlight innovative approaches, Contribute to collective professional knowledge
  1. Credibility: Offer transparent and verifiable information, Show methodological rigor, Demonstrate professional excellence
  1. Benchmarking: Set industry standards, Inspire other communication professionals, Showcase what’s possible in measurement
  1. Networking Opportunity: Create conversation starters, Build professional reputation, Attract potential clients or collaborators
  1. Continuous Improvement: Force critical reflection on your work, Identify strengths and areas for development, Encourage strategic thinking

The panelists emphasized that case studies are not just about winning awards, but about advancing the communication measurement profession through shared insights and excellence.

Key Highlights:

– Take a moment to pause and reflect deeply on your accomplishments.

– Emphasize storytelling over technical details, focusing on human impact and significance.

– Showcase how your individual contributions align with the broader project goals.

– Understand that the first draft of an entry is a starting point; refinement is key.

– Utilize awards to elevate clients by recognizing their actions on insights and reinforcing their industry leadership.

You can watch the highlights here and the full panel recording is available here.

Our thanks to Maya Koleva, Commetric for moderating and Grace Blankenburg, Ketchum Elise Misse, Megan Gonzalez, Edelman and Angela Dwyer, Fullintel for participating with the North American Chapter’s Lauren Hasse, Ketchum facilitating this fantastic panel.

A previous session is also available from professional Award writer Steph Bridgeman of Experienced Media Analysts who has years of experience writing Award winning submissions for clients and for winning herself as her consultancy won AMEC small communications, research and measurement team (organisation) of the year in 2023 and was again highly commended in 2024. See More Hints & Tips on Award writing

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