3 minute read
MARKETING YOUR BRAND
MARKETING YOUR BRAND Winning Goals
Share the accomplishment of being selected to receive the PR%F Awards
By Debbie Hall
Ask any parent about trophies and awards, and they will either show a bedroom (or two) filled with childhood accomplishments or these special mementos packed away. But what about awards for brands? Recognition, especially by peers and experts in the industry, adds value, profit possibilities, and panache. For winners of the PR%F Awards, many opportunities are presented to share in the success and growth of the brand.
PR%F Awards does not charge licensing fees for uses of all graphics and logos and encourages all winners to use all of these tools. Winners can buy bottle hangers, stickers and more merchandise to help promote winning medals at firstinprint.com/ printing/proofawards. Sales Director for Tequila Kostiv. “Especially during Covid-19, when I was sending out emails, especially to people who had not tried our tequila, I would showcase the awards it won.”
First, if a brand participates in a trade show with a booth, it is important to proudly display the awards in booth signage and trade show pamphlets. It is also beneficial to hang or wrap the PR%F Award medal on the bottle or can for eye-catching photos to share on social media and email blasts.
“We are a small brand, and winning awards helps us. We love to brag about them and help us reach more people,” says Jill Lawton, National Secondly, encourage the brand staff to showcase the brand’s victory and spread the news by posting on social media. It is critical to thank them for their work in helping the brand achieve the medal or award and make time for staff buyin and recognition promotes a sense of pride and gratitude for work well done which helps promote a positive work environment. If possible, make time for the staff to go live on social media in an effort to share exciting information or new product presentations with staff and vendors with clients,
fans, and followers. Going live on social media for highly promoted product launches, presentations or celebrations with staff is a powerful, authentic
tool for building brand credibility and visibility with clients, vendors, and fans. Be sure to post on LinkedIn to include professional connections, adding the awards into the Accomplishments section under Honors and Awards.
Next, make sure to email a press release to publicize success at the PR%F Awards, especially on Twitter, the source for many news feeds. By taking the time to personally reach out to writers and reporters who cover the food and beverage industry, this will increase the probability that press releases will be forwarded to their readers. Successful PR%F medalist brand press releases which get circulated at a larger scale usually include information about the behind the scenes story on a brand, or how the brand impacts the industry. If the brand has been able to further its profits as a result of the PR%F Awards medals or received distribution or shelf space because of its PR%F Awards exposure to buyers and distributors, make sure to mention that as well.
Finally, the PR&F Awards encourages brands to use the free licensing logo to showcase on the brand’s homepage, which will last beyond the initial announcement of the award. By including the brand’s news on the website, adding it to footers on marketing materials and email signatures, and including it in presentations to vendors, prospects, and customers, the winning brand is sure to achieve maximum exposure and draw potential clients and high volume buyers. Publicizing the winning of the PR%F Awards is not bragging but a celebration of a proud accomplishment. Using today’s avenues of social media, online and offline advertising, podcast interviews, and updated website content sharing the brand or product will help going to the top of the beverage industry.
The original world-class, credible, double-blind tasting competition with buyers from across the US rating spirits, wines, and beverages in a 100-point rating system. PLUS - The Total Package Competition!
