How To Promote Your Award

When the "founding fathers" of ICDA came together for our first "continental congress" in 1992--two years before declaring our independence as a newly incorporated association of awards, we agreed that getting recognition for our awards and for the recipients of our awards was one of our greatest challenges. We have searched for the right mix of marketing and public relations; of timing and special events; of venues and associated VIP's; of in-house public relations expertise to public relations firms.

It seems to me that Grant Oliphant, director of communications at the Heinz Family Foundation, who spoke to our group at our 3rd Conference on the World of Awards, on this topic has come as close to anyone in outlining a formula for success. It was so good, in fact, that we thought we should share it on our web page.

While readers will literally have to read between the lines of his outline, the principles here enunciated are fundamental to success. Now, on to the presentation.