On reflection, 2016 was an amazing year here at Adia PR.  We worked with a wide range of exciting entrepreneurs who had businesses to launch, products to promote, crowdfunding campaigns to fund and their own reputations to build and manage.  Here are just some of the highlights:

Awards

• Great British Entrepreneur Awards - Young Entrepreneur of the Year - Simon Crowther, Flood Protection Solutions
• Winner of First Women Awards (First Women of Business Services), WCIT Enterprise Awards (Female Entrepreneur) and Forward Ladies Women in Business Awards - Joanne Smith, Group CEO, TCC and RecordSure
• Winner of the Northern eCommerce Awards - Beer Hawk

Media Coverage

Extensive coverage in all the national British newspapers, London newspapers, international publications such as Forbes, womens and mens monthlies, trade publications, online business sites, BBC and other radio stations, Sky News and BBC News.

Crowdfunding

We have worked with a number of companies to help them successfully launch their Kickstarter campaigns and drive traffic to pledge their support.  One of our clients was selected to be among the first 6 companies to raise funding via TESCO's new food & drink crowdfunding platform called BACKIT.  Another great success!

This is what one of our clients said:

Adia PR was great to work with from brainstorming the best course of action through to executing tasks. I particularly liked the detailed plan presented at the start. This helped to bring clarity to the intensity of a 4 week Kickstarter campaign. Alison & her team were on call throughout & helped to raise awareness for our brand. Notable success was getting an article written in the 'i' Independent Paper, which brought in a significant trade order. The team want you to do well & explore the best avenues which will increase exposure in your chosen time.

Ed Flood - Evossi

Our business has doubled in size - both in terms of clients and staff.  I'm very thankful to everyone who played a part in helping us and am excited to see what 2017 has to offer.

I had the opportunity to give a seminar talk at The Business Show in December on why every business, small and large, should be doing PR.

It was great to see that the room was jam-packed and with people even standing at the back - I say this not for my ego but to stress how happy I am that business owners realise just how important PR is for the future success of their businesses. 

You can watch the talk here below.  Just a heads up... it's 33 mins long and there's a bit of background noise due to the exhibition going on outside of the room.  Feel free to share if you find it useful. 

​Ali Shadrack

I had the pleasure of attending the awards ceremony of the prestigious Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2015 in November.

Was I up for an award myself?  No actually not, BUT I did have three of my clients in the final.  Thank goodness in three different categories so there was no need for any awkward congratulations and commiserations around our table! Joanne Smith, CEO of RecordSure and The Consulting Consortium walked away with a Bronze Award in the E2E Scale Up category and Alison Edgar, CEO of Sales Coaching Solutions was awarded a Special Merit in the service category, so it was a successful night.  

The quality of the entrants was formidable and I know that many business owners, my own clients included, balk at the thought of entering such high profile awards.  But they shouldn't and nor should you.  Here are five good reasons why entering awards is great PR for your business...

1. Exposure - Simply being shortlisted, let alone winning, can improve brand awareness and promote your business to new customers.  Send out a press release to spread the word. The organisers of the award will also be keen to promote their shortlist so be proactive in contacting them and giving a quote to add in their own press releases and marketing.  
2. Credibility - By adding the award logo to your website, social media and any other marketing material, you will be letting others know that your work and success has been recognised (be it shortlist, finalist, winner).  Just like a great review it acts as a third party endorsement for your business boosting your credibility and reputation.  
3. Lead Generation - Winning a business award can open doors to gaining new clients, finding new stockists or distributors and breaking into new markets.  Simply attending award ceremonies offers the chance to meet a whole host of new contacts too.  I have met some of my best clients at these events as well as invaluable business contacts.
4. Measuring & Evaluation - Award entries are often a great opportunity for you to measure and evaluate how your business is actually doing.  The application is usually structured in a way to help you convey (to the judges) why your business stands out from the crowd, what have you done in the past year in terms of innovation, growth, customer service, employee mentoring, etc. You could unearth some invaluable information and identify great work that needs championing to other clients and areas that you're lacking in and need improvement. 
5. Employees & New Recruits - Use the awards to thank your staff for their part in the achievement.  It will boost their morale as much as yours as they can be proud to be part of a winning team.  Celebrate together by inviting them to the awards ceremony or organise your own special event after.  As people are naturally attracted to winning teams, you may also start attracting a higher level of talent when recruiting.  Success breeds success.

Writing award entries can be time consuming and there is a skill to it - that is different from promotional copywriting - the judges aren't looking for a sales pitch.  So, I do understand that when you're so busy, sitting down to write an award entry may be the last thing on your 'to do' list.  But don't dismiss it, outsource it instead to someone who has a good reputation for writing award winning entries.  Don't forget, you have to be in it to win it!!!

Feel free to drop me a line if I can be of service in identifying the awards that you should be entering and preparing your entry...

Ali Shadrack