Hello, Award-Winning-Copywriter Mel and Non-Award-Entering Ben here.
Today’s episode is called Handbags And Gladrags. It’s all about industry awards and whether they’re worth entering as an indie business owner.
Spoiler: Mel says yes.
Industry awards don’t always come with a great reputation. I (Ben) have definitely been a bit sniffy about them in the past.
But it’s been a lovely thing to see the joy and confidence that winning first place in the Brand Copywriting Category at the recent Women In Marketing Awards has brought Mel, as well as the deserved attention she’s received because of it.
She also took home a cool little award which looks like one of the crystals off The Crystal Maze. I always wanted to go on that show. Although I’d have probably got myself locked in in the Science zone.
Anyway, back to the show. We talked about why you should put yourself forward for awards in your industry. And what to look out for when checking if awards are reputable. Mel also talked about how the glow of winning reaches well beyond the adrenaline of the awards night. As well as the obvious confidence boost, the validation and promotion from industry peers and the feedback from the judge (copywriting legend Vikki Ross) has led directly on to Mel winning more work.
An award-winning podcaster
No, not one of us (yet). Although, on that, we did set ourselves a challenge of winning (or at least entering the indie business club podcast into) an award next year. Our voice note comes from expert producer and award-winning podcast host Charles Commins. Charles voicenoted us on his way to Football Supporters Association awards, where his pod It’s All Cobblers To Me was nominated for Best Club Podcast Of The Year. He spoke about how winning the award in 2021 gave him and his business that little extra bit of oomph.
Fab Fab’s fabulous shout-out
This week’s Your Friend And Mine is Fab Giovanetti, headteacher at the Alt Marketing School and host of Cowork Crew in Cambridge. Fab also hosts her own podcast, The Alt Marketing pod (which Mel and I have recently guested on :). She’s an absolute force for good and I’m so pleased she’s a friend-of-the-show.
Find us wherever you get your podcasts, and on the indie business club LinkedIn page.
See ya,
Mel & Ben
Find our producer, theme composer and tall Swift fan Ant Henderson on LinkedIn 🐶
🎙️ Spotify / Apple podcasts / Amazon Music and Audible
The back catalogue
Replays here…
13 You’re The Voice: Tone Of Voice ft Nick Parker, Rishi Dastidar and Amy Nolan
12 Plug In Baby: Software ft Jo Shock and Jack Chambers-Ward
11 Somebody Told Me: Referrals ft Bob Burg and Penni and Jo Pickering
10 Paranoid Android: AI vs creativity ft Tom Albrighton and Molly Scanlan
09 Shiny Happy People: Personal brands ft Lea Turner and Steve Folland
08 Chasing Rainbows: Business planning ft. Alastair Thomson and Melanie Johnson
07 A Design For Life: Creating for yourself with guest co-host Dan Nelken ft. Penny Brazier and The McKinneys
06 I Bet You Look Good On The Timeline ft. Dave Harland and Jonathan Wilcock
05 Flaming Lips: Public Speaking ft. Pascalle Bergmans, Becki Wilson and Nikki Pilkington
04 A Little Respect: Client Relationships ft. Jodie Newman and Sophie Cross
03 All Together Now: Communities ft. Mark Masters and Ant Henderson
02 It’s Oh So Quiet: Finding Clients ft. John Lyons and Bonnie Harrington
01 Fools Gold: Pricing your projects ft. Tom Garfield and Ange Lyons
00 What’s The Story? Podcast origins
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