Plain sailing: how a smooth entry experience helps you make bigger waves

Not all awards entries are lost because the work wasn’t good enough. Some are lost long before the judging even begins - abandoned mid-form, never started, or quietly shelved because the process felt like more hassle than it was worth. The submission experience shapes who enters, and that shapes everything else.

A frustrating submission experience doesn’t just annoy entrants - it actively puts them off entering altogether. And fewer entries means less competition, less prestige and, ultimately, a less impactful awards programme. The entrant journey matters - a lot.

First impressions count
From the moment someone lands on your awards entry page, the experience should feel intuitive and welcoming. Clear information, well-structured categories, and straightforward eligibility criteria are crucial here. If entrants have to dig around to find basic details, you’ve already lost a lot of goodwill - and, potentially, their entry.

Think like an entrant
A good entry form guides people through the process rather than overwhelming them upfront. Logical question flow, helpful word count guidance, and the ability to save progress and return later all reduce the pressure on entrants.

Better still, make the form available to view before anyone commits to entering - so entrants know exactly what they're signing up for. It's a small move that the Awards Trust Mark recognises as best practice, and one that builds confidence from the outset.

The good news is, a dedicated awards management platform (such as AwardStage, wouldn’t you know?!) makes all of this super simple to set up and manage..

Communication is key
Nobody likes pressing send and hearing nothing but deafening silence - entrants want clear communication to reassure them throughout the awards process. Deadline reminders, updates on judging timelines, and automated submission confirmations all build trust, and keep people engaged with your programme long after they’ve hit submit. The right awards software will make comms like this a piece of cake.

From submission to celebration
The best awards experiences feel like a conversation, not a transaction. When the process is smooth - from registration through to results - entrants are far more likely to return next year, recommend the programme to peers, and engage enthusiastically with the wider awards community.

Getting the submission experience right is fundamental to running a credible, competitive awards programme. Entrants who feel valued at every stage are more likely to return, more likely to recommend, and more likely to put real effort into their entries. That's good for them, and it's great for your programme.

If you'd like to find out more about AwardStage, just drop us a line or request a demo - we'd love to chat to you!