Savvy Tips

• Share the Call for Entries with all communicators and marketers in your organization.  If you are a member, anyone in your organization can enter at the member rate.  Please make sure that all entrants are aware of the full requirements for an entry - the call to enter is posted on the website.
  
  
• A specific entry can be entered in more than one category, but the full package including fee must be completed for each category entered.
  
  
• Keep your packaging simple.  3CMA mails the entries to the judges and often has to pull an entry apart so that it can be mailed with the other entries in the category.
  
  
• Information submitted with the on-line short descriptor form must be the same as the information on the actual entry form.  The same entrant name, etc. should be used.
  
  
• Review the checklist on the entry form to be sure all required elements have been covered.
  
  
• Posters - If a Poster is the subject of an entry, please send it as printed.  However, if a poster is an element in the collateral for an entry, please send a photograph.  As collateral, posters are difficult to include in the package of entries sent to the judging team.
  
  
• Time Questions - Please call the 3CMA office with any questions about time periods for the entry.  The definition of a time period will vary from one type of entry to another.  One example is an event or program such as Citizen Participation or Visioning that has been in the planning stages for several years and just happened.  This is a legitimate entry.
  
  
• When making payment by check or money order for multiple Savvy entries, one check can be used for all entries being submitted.

PREPARING A WINNING SAVVY ENTRY

by Michelle Van Dyke, Hillsborough County, FL

• Validates the success of projects and initiatives
• Reinforces the value of public information programs
• Underscores your importance to the organization
• Reinforces basic public relations principles of problem-solving, research, setting objectives and documenting results
• Makes you feel good about yourself and the job you are doing

• Objectives should be clear and concise.
• Set reasonable goals that are achievable and can be proven.
• Don't be afraid to be honest - if you had a problem to overcome, say so!

• Contests of this nature are often highly competitive.  A poorly-written cover letter will sink a good project, just as a well-written cover letter cannot win an award for a mediocre program.
• Enter your project in the right category.
• Follow the entry guidelines carefully.  If the guidelines for a cover letter ask entrants to describe specific elements (problem statement, target audience, objectives, etc.), it's a sure bet these areas will actually be listed on the judging sheets.  Address each element individually and specifically.
• Don't make the judges hunt and peck.  use subheads and bullets to make the cover letter easier to read.  If you have several objectives, list them in alpha or numeric order (A, B, C or 1, 2, 3), then reference each letter or number in your documentation of results.
• Use human check!  Spell check programs often miss grammatical errors and homonyms.  Ask someone else to proof your cover letter if possible.
• Don't be trite.  Avoid overused phrases like "unique opportunity."
• Be forthright.  Don't try to impress the judges by bamboozling them with bureaucratic or textbook terms.
• Don't forget to include support materials (letters, newspaper clippings, etc.), if applicable, that help document your results.  But...
• ...don't overwhelm the judges with unnecessary paper.  Pick the best of your support documents to include in your entry package.

• If you think you might be working on an award-winning project, keep a file in which you can stash all your notes, maps, diagrams, hard copies of e-mail messages, newspaper clippings, check lists, letters, etc.  It's much easier to write your cover letter and assemble the entry with this in hand than to try to pull it all together on deadline, particularly if several months have passes since the completion of the project.
• If you plan on entering the same project into other competitions, make extra copies of your support materials, dubs of videos, copies of photos, etc., at one time.
• Make a hard copy of your entry form and cover letter for future reference.

• It is very difficult for videos to win public relations contests.  Remember that you are being scored on how well you meet your objectives, in addition to the quality of the video.
• Take the time to watch your dub to make sure the image and audio level are good.
• Put TRT (total running time) on the video label to help the judges manage their time.
• Videotaped coverage of events, parades, speeches and conferences generally ARE NOT competitive - just boring.
• Longer does not mean better.
• Don't forget to document your results.  The simple act of producing the video does not mean you have met your objectives, nor does the fact that people asked for copes (unless you know why they want the copies).

• Let your boss and your boss' boss - and especially your elected officials - know if you have won an award.
• Don't forget to list the accomplishment in your employee newsletter.
• Send a news release to the appropriate publications.

Early Entry Deadline - May 2, 2008
Final Entry Deadline - May 30, 2008