Made to measure: key metrics all awards should track

Running a successful awards programme is both an art and a science. While creativity and vision drive the show, it’s the cold, hard data that tells you whether your programme is truly hitting the mark. Having worked with tons of awards programmes, large and small, we know all about the numbers you need to watch to keep your awards on track.

Entry volume and growth rate should be your north star. Track not just total submissions, but year-on-year growth and category distribution. And keep an eye on conversion rates - if lots of people are starting an entry but not submitting it, it’s worth assessing your submission process to see what’s preventing them from sealing the deal.

Engagement metrics tell the real story of your programme’s health. Monitor email open rates, website session duration, and social media interactions. Obviously, the higher the engagement the better - low or declining metrics suggest your messaging might need a refresh.

Judge satisfaction scores are criminally undertracked. Happy judges are your best ambassadors, so make sure you know how they’re feeling. Check in with them about workload, judging set up, platform usability, and overall experience. Their feedback often reveals operational blind spots you’d otherwise miss.

Revenue per entry and cost per acquisition are the key to keeping your programme financially viable. Understanding these numbers helps you price strategically and invest your marketing budget where it will bring the best returns.

Finally, track post-event engagement – how many winners and participants remain connected to your programme throughout the year. Awards aren’t just annual events; they’re relationship-building platforms that provide a link to your target audience throughout the year.

Having a handle on these numbers will give you a valuable insight into the strengths and weaknesses of your awards. You can't improve what you don't measure, and any decisions you make should be driven by the hard data. Handily, AwardStage captures many of these metrics automatically, making it easy to see, at a glance, how well your awards are doing and - crucially - what you might need to work on.

If you’d like to find out how AwardStage can help you make a success of your awards, just drop us a line or book a call. We’d love to chat to you!