How to highlight your business success

Do you consistently allocate budget dollars in marketing your business? Paid marketing can be an essential piece of your overall strategy, but if you’re not already utilizing free resources to showcase your business success, now is the time to start.

One way to get exposure for your business is to find free resources, awards, and programs available in your local area. Your business is worth bragging about; consider checking out the free resources below to help you highlight your values, achievements, and credibility.

Chambers of Commerce

Check with the local chamber. The Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce has honored businesses in the past with awards such as Philanthropic Business of the Year and Small Business of the Year. You can find more information by visiting the chamber website.

While there is an investment involved in joining the chamber, there’s no additional investment for any awards.

BBB Serving Central Oklahoma

Your local BBB honors businesses with the Torch Award for Ethics. These international awards are open to all for-profit businesses in North America that provide goods or services. Winners of the local award are then entered into the international awards. For more information about the Torch Awards, contact BBB.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Typically honored during Small Business Week, the first business week in May, the SBA honors nominees in the following categories:

• Small Business Person of the Year
• Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year
• Small Business Subcontractor of the Year

For more information about SBA awards and programs, follow this link to learn more about historical awards and applications.

The Journal Record

Each year, the media company The Journal Record highlights businesses owners and professionals for the great work they do in Oklahoma. Everything from Woman of the Year to Excellence in Construction awards is highlighted. For more details about these awards, check out The Journal Record event page. Some awards to consider applying for are Best Places to Work and Most Admired CEOs; these nomination-centric awards are a great opportunity to highlight your culture, values, and leadership style.

The awards and annual events listed above are not an exhaustive list of all the awards offered in Oklahoma. It can be difficult to brag about your business, but consider the hard work you’re most proud of and go after an award that honors the work you do. Accept and share your accolades with excitement, thank those who made your work possible, and don’t hesitate to share your successes on social media.