Are Awards worth it?

Last week was all about awards entries here at Emily Crosby Media - the early bird deadline for the British Podcast Awards was the 27th April, so I've been editing show reels and writing supporting statements to get my shows ready to enter.

Now that I've submitted them, it's time to pick my outfit and start practicing my thank you speech, Gwyneth Paltrow-style, right?

But are awards worth it? It seems like a lot of work to enter.
What if we don't win? Or even get nominated? I think they have value even then.

Firstly, I don't think all awards are worth it. Not all awards are created equal and some seem to exist just to make the organisers money, or to give their friends prizes. When I'm choosing whether to enter projects for awards, one of my first tasks is to look at the judging panel. I want to see a diverse range of backgrounds represented, both in terms of race, gender and ability, but also industry experience. If all the judges are white men and women in suits, I'm out.
My next task is to look at the past winners - have shows like mine - independent, small productions - won in the past, or is it just the usual suspects?

Once I’ve decided which awards to enter, it’s time to create the submission. This can seem like a daunting task, even if you think the awards themselves are worthwhile, but I think the process has merit for your production, whether you win or not.
Taking the time to pick out your best bits, and write a statement about the value of your show can help you to take stock of how much you've achieved, but it can also help you to pinpoint your weaknesses. If you're struggling to find clips with great sound, or finding it hard to define your audience, perhaps these should be your next tasks to improve your show?
I keep a running list while I make my entry, that I can follow up later to make next year’s submission even better.

And finally, if you do get a nomination, or a win, awards give you the perfect excuse to shout about your success.
Winning a well-known accolade can give you legitimacy in the eyes of potential audience, get you extra publicity from the awarding body, and boost your enthusiasm. I’ll be sure to let you know if any of my shows get nominated this year.

Now, keep your fingers crossed for me!