Danielle S. Russell, CAE, C.Dir’s Post

Hey club organisers, association leaders, and grassroots champions! 👋 We want to hear from you - what kinds of badges, medals, or awards does your group currently use? Whether it's milestone pins for long-time members, trophies for top volunteers, or name tags for events - we know the world of club/association rewards can get pretty complex. So many things to think about, from the design to how you hand them out. That's why we're reaching out to you all. What challenges have you run into when setting up a member award programme? What features do you look for in high-quality club/association merchandise? Share your thoughts with us in the comments! Your feedback will really help us understand what organisations like yours need, so we can make our products and services even better. Can't wait to hear how your club or association celebrates and motivates its members. Let's chat! 💬 #ClubBadges #MemberAwards #AssociationRecognition

Hey club organisers, association leaders, and grassroots champions! 👋 We want to hear from you - what kinds of badges, medals, or awards does your group currently use? Whether it's milestone pins for long-time members, trophies for top volunteers, or name tags for events - we know the world of club/association rewards can get pretty complex. So many things to think about, from the design to how you hand them out. That's why we're reaching out to you all. What challenges have you run into when setting up a member award programme? What features do you look for in high-quality club/association merchandise? Share your thoughts with us in the comments! Your feedback will really help us understand what organisations like yours need, so we can make our products and services even better. Can't wait to hear how your club or association celebrates and motivates its members. Let's chat! 💬 #ClubBadges #MemberAwards #AssociationRecognition

When we say that an ad “sells”, it means more than money. A successful ad predisposes people to give you their attention, time, vote, good will, devotion and, yes, their money. Advertising exists to predispose people with values and beliefs that benefit them and our brands. That is why I loved my time in ad agencies and then continued as a client to value my ad agencies so much. If an ad achieves this kind of business success, it is doing its job. If it wins awards, that’s welcome gravy. From my professional experience, I can attest that it feels great to receive an award. It feels better to drive business results Tony Chapman’s posts are full of insight. The one I am reposting below made me reflect that ads that are created with the intent of winning creative awards are not really ads. They may be art but not ads. David Ogilvy’s wise words still resonate: “if it doesn’t sell, it is not creative” Thank you Tony for reminding us marketers how important it is to focus on meaningful work. #Marketing #branding #management #mentoring

Meaningful work is the essence of our industry. It means it matters. It is significant, relevant, material, telling, weighty, and worthwhile. It makes the audience think, feel, and act. It drives market share and feeds the salaries of the brand's employees and everyone within the supply chain. The opposite is inconsequential. It doesn't matter. For over a decade, even longer, I have challenged the advertising agency's obsession with chasing glass. Here is an article from 2014, as I am leaving the advertising world, with a call out to clients and advertisers. https://lnkd.in/d8n9Y8vY I have always said that this sector would be revered if even half the time and money their internal teams invested in competing for the thousands of gold awards were diverted to solving society's biggest problems. They would have clients banging on the door and looking for real solutions. Many associations and magazines depend on profits from awards shows, but a healthier industry would lead to healthier businesses. In my upcoming interview with Frank Palmer for the American Marketing Association (AMA), Toronto, he voiced a similar sentiment. in a few seconds, Zulu Alpha Kilo Inc., in this brilliant parody, said what I had felt for years. Enough is enough. Please take a look at this fantastic ad and share it. Now, let's get the top minds of their agencies focused on affordable housing, the growing social divide, keeping young males in schools, donating organs, eliminating food waste, and so much more. Those working on these initiatives will feel much better by improving our world. The owners of agencies can move the millions they spend into hiring and training staff. And for the brilliant creative talent in Canada, is this not the purposeful work you got into the industry for, the work that truly matters? Thoughts? https://lnkd.in/gWYGr2-8 #chatterthatmatters #awards #whatmatters #humanity Mike Sutton Canadian Marketing Association Brunico Communications Millennial Award Show Brick Award Creative Circle Awards Creative Retail Awards American Advertising Awards - Los Angeles etc. Broken Heart Love Affair Rethink FCB Canada Bob's Your Uncle Cossette Bensimon Byrne Leo Burnett LG2 Sid Lee john st. Anomaly No Fixed Address Inc. Fuse Scott Knox ICA - Institute of Canadian Agencies Alison Simpson Mary Maddever The Clio Awards Midfield mike power Arron Brailsford Nick Dean Facebook Marketing & Ads Christina Martucci

It seems to be awards season in the online business world. This post is a bit of a brain fart around them. I'd love your thoughts. Every other post I'm seeing just now is big round tables, fancy frocks and celebration 🍾 😀 It's lovely to see so many of my friends attending these events and collecting trophies. I admit I am getting FOMO. I've not entered any myself for a few years now but I'm think I might have a pop in 2025. When I've entered before I found the application process in itself was a great opportunity to reflect and see how far I'd come. 💚 Some awards are judged - these feel like fairer, more credible ones ❤️ Some you enter and then get your mates to vote - these feel more like a popularity contest A lot of the awards ceremonies are businesses in themselves. You can even pay someone to help you write your applications. By the time you've bought your ticket, a new frock and paid for a hotel it's a "dear do" as my nana used to say. But is it worth it, does it make you appear better at what you do, more credible to potential clients etc 🤔 or is it just a validating ego boost? At the end of the day who doesn't like a gold star 🌟 and to be acknowledged for doing a good job. If you see "award winning" do you automatically think they must be good? I suppose it depends what the award is for and how relevant they are to what you do. There's a big difference in being award winning in your area of expertise as opposed to a more generic category. How long does the award winning status last? I've won loads of awards in my time - particularly when I worked for Virgin Cosmetics 20 years ago. I also won awards at school, do they still count? Can I claim to be award winning now, still? 🤔😄 So tell me, are you swayed by award winning status when you're investing in a purchase? photos of me with Sir Richard Branson in my award winning hey days.

We don’t work for the trophies. We put our heart into our work, and if awards follow, they’re simply the footprints of our commitment. #Dedication #Effort #SuccessMindset #TrueFulfillment #FocusOnTheJourney #PassionInWork #QuietPersistence #fourletter #fourletteradvertising #fourletterdigital

Awards season is upon us again. Don't get caught scrambling! Here's your essential starter pack to dominate the competition: The Essentials: Every contender needs a battle plan. Here's what you'll need to fight (and win!): Awards Calendar: Knowledge is power! Map out your award targets by researching relevant awards in your industry and their deadlines. Pro tip: mark them in your calendar well in advance to avoid last-minute panic. ️ Submission Guidelines: Read the submission guidelines carefully. Then, read them again. Don't let a technicality trip you up at the finish line. Winning Entries: Learn from the best! Analyse past winners in each category. Understand what the judges are looking for – what made these entries stand out from the crowd? Analyse their strengths and tailor your approach accordingly. ✨ Need a seasoned team to craft a winning submission and navigate the complexities of awards season? Green Door Co is here to help! We have a proven track record of securing accolades for our clients. Let's chat about your award goals – we'd be happy to put our expertise to work for you! ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g-B2d59j

Time flies! Three years ago this week, Midnight Blue Marketing won best new business at St Albans District Chamber of Commerce Community Business Awards. We are back this year as a finalist for small to medium size business. Why should you enter awards? 💫 Boosts credibility, to be recognised as the best in your field 💫 Improves team morale 💫 Expands your network - at the awards night and the PR around it 💫 And to have a shiny trophy to put in the office and shout about on LinkedIn! 😁 That first win, certainly opened doors for us, sparked conversations and gave us credibility in what we do (as well as a reputation for knowing how to celebrate). We now love celebrating with our clients. Roots Federation who were last years winners and looking forward to celebrating with I Support Behaviour on Friday. Writing an application also helps you pause and reflect on what you have done and how far you have come. It is all too easy to jump on the hamster wheel and we are looking forward to celebrating on Friday with everyone who has helped us to get to where we are today. #BusinessAwards #BusinessGrowth #CelebratingSucess

The whole business awards scene feels a bit iffy. Are these awards really based on merit, or is it all just a big game of who knows who and who's got the deepest pockets? The truth is, the selection process for many of these awards is shrouded in secrecy. It's often industry insiders and sponsors calling the shots, which can lead to some serious bias. And let's not forget those hefty entry and sponsorship fees – it's almost like you have to pay to play. But even if you do win, what do you really get? An overpriced trophy and some bragging rights? Is that really worth the time, effort, and money you poured into it? And who's really benefiting here? It seems like the organizers are the ones raking in the dough, while folks like us wonder if any of this actually matters. This whole system feels like a sham. It's not just devaluing real achievements, it also creates a culture where connections and cash are more important than hard work and innovation. It's sending the wrong message to up-and-coming businesses, making them think that success is all about schmoozing and spending big. Instead of focusing on awards, maybe companies should focus on things that actually matter, like developing new products, taking care of employees, and giving back to the community. Chasing after trophies might be fun, but it shouldn't come at the expense of what really matters. So, are business awards really worth it? Maybe it's time for a closer look and asking some tough questions. Maybe it's time for change.

Investing in a client event, engaging your team to work together more effectively, want to make the most of the educational programs you are running? This week's question was about how to maximize ROI. Let us know your best ideas! #clientevents #staffappreciation #teambuilding ://https://lnkd.in/e7_hjJtZ