Tips and Terms and Conditions for Entering CRN Awards 2013

Top Ten Tips:

1. Decide which categories you are going to enter and read the criteria fully before starting your entry. The criteria tell you everything you need to know about the award and the types of company it is covering. It also tells you what information to include. Remember we cover the UK market.

2. When writing your entry - keep it concise - don't ramble and include loads of marketing/corporate speak - it does not sit well with the judges. Imagine you are reading it aloud to a room full of people. Get to the point as quickly as you can. Also imagine you are having to read and judge 300+ entries - what would make yours stand out from the crowd?

3. Make sure your company actually fits the description of the award category - if the entry is for SMB reseller of the Year for example - make sure your company does actually service the SMB market and the percentage of SMB business you do matches the requirements. If you only have one or two SMB customers, maybe you are better suited to the Mid-Market or Enterprise category.

4. If you are entering multiple award categories - don't just include the same entry - make sure it is tailored to that category. The judges are not stupid and will notice duplication of entry and it could cost you a place on the shortlist. If you don't have time to put in a proper entry for each category - it is often better not to.

5. Always include facts and figures - if you are making a claim about being the best at something - back that claim up with something tangible. Anyone can claim they are the best - proving it is the difficult part.

6. Resellers - explain what value you are providing to your end user customers - why are they using your company, what do you offer them that nobody else can? What value do you offer your vendor partners? Why do they continue to work with you? Explaining both ends of the spectrum will make the entry more rounded.

7. Distributors - explain what value you are providing to your resellers - why are they using your services, what do you offer that makes you stand out from the crowd? Also what value do you bring to your vendor partners? Why do they continue to work with you?

8. Vendors - explain what support you are offering your UK resellers and distributors. Why do they continue to work with you? How are you demonstrating that the channel is your preferred route to market? What value do you provide to your channel partners? Please make your entry UK relevant.

9. Testimonials - include testimonials - resellers these should be from your customers, distributors from your resellers or vendors, and vendors from your distributors or resellers (not end users). Again make sure the testimonials are interesting to read and are not full of corporate/marketing speak and keep them short and to the point.

10. Attachments - the judges are not huge fans of attachments as they have 300+ entries to read and just do not have the time to open mounds of attachments. If you can avoid including them - so much the better - but if you must include them - please keep them short and remember - less is more.

Entry Terms and Conditions

• All products and services must have been available in the UK after July 2012.
• Companies entered must have been trading in the UK for at least 12 months prior to the entry deadline.
• Projects/programmes must have been completed between July 2012 and July 2013 and MUST be UK-based.
• You may enter one or more of the categories but MUST stick to the word count.
• All material submitted will remain strictly confidential to the judges.
• Descriptions of submissions from winners and finalists may be published in connection with the Awards. Entrants may, however, mark certain sensitive parts of their entry 'not for publication' such as exact budget figures/financial results etc.
• The judges reserve the right to amend category selections where appropriate.
• The judges reserve the right to disqualify any entry not meeting the expected standard of entry.
• The judges' decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into before or after the judging.
• Incisive Media is not liable for any costs incurred by applicants in the evaluation and judging process.
• Entries not made through the online submission system will not be accepted.
• Shortlisted companies will be notified in advance of the presentation of the awards.
• The winners and judges commended of each category will be announced at the presentation of the Awards; under no circumstances will the details be disclosed before that time.
• No entry will be read by someone from the same peer group - for example a distributor will not judge another distributor, a reseller will not judge another reseller, a vendor will not judge another vendor.
• Entries received after the final closing date WILL NOT be accepted. The onus is on YOU to ensure your entry is received BY THE CLOSING DATE.