And the Oscar goes to… your podcast!
While the Academy Awards do not recognize the best in podcasting (yet!), there are numerous award competitions that honor a variety of podcast genres, episodes, hosts, and beyond. Why should you submit your podcast for awards consideration? And how can you strengthen your podcast entry to increase the chances of bringing home a trophy?
The Podglomerate is here with a list of tips for how to submit your show for awards and why it matters.
Why do podcast awards matter?
Participating in awards can offer numerous benefits beyond just winning. Whether you become a nominee, a finalist, or even an award winner, entering into a podcast awards competition enhances visibility, builds credibility, and showcases expertise within the audio space. The updated moniker of being an “award-nominated” or “award-winning” show can help attract guests and collaborators, increase media exposure and the potential for podcast app feature opportunities, and open up avenues for monetization.
What should you know about submitting your podcast for awards
Successful podcast award submissions can take a good deal of time and effort. Before you begin the process, it’s important to first know your marketing budget, as award submissions can vary from being free to enter to costing hundreds of dollars per entry. Likewise, which entry category (or categories) makes the most sense given your goals? For instance, do you want to submit yourself for “Best Host” or “Best Producer,” or perhaps look to awards categories like “Best [Insert Genre] Podcast” or “Best Episode?” If you’re curious if a category is a good fit, check out the previous year’s nominees and/or winners listed on the specific awards’ website to gauge what jurors and voters are looking for in a “Best Podcast.”
After you have these details ironed out, then it’s time to prepare your submission materials. In most cases, podcast awards will want to receive some written copy about your entry (why the show/episode/host is the best at what they do), along with podcast links and/or audio examples. Be sure to check your submission materials align.
Once you submit your materials, bookmark the date/month the awards announcement is set to take place and be sure to follow the awards on social media and/or their email newsletter and be on the lookout for any awards updates.
Whether you become a nominee, a finalist, or an award winner, be sure to seize the moment! Promote the award announcement on your various channels (social media, email newsletter, etc.) and let your podcast audience know about this big news and thank them for their support. Likewise, be sure to update your podcast materials (podcast metadata/description, website, etc.) with the moniker of “award-nominated” or “award-winning” and incorporate that into your outreach (for guest bookings, cross-promotions, etc.).
And the big question… which podcast awards should you enter?
Needless to say, there are a lot of podcast, audio, and media awards out there! See below for our top three awards, and be sure to head over to our guide here to learn which best podcast awards should be on your radar this year.
Have questions? Interested in having The Podglomerate help you with this podcast awards process? Email us at [email protected] to learn more about our services.
