'We've won this business award and now we're doing X' press release - ideas and inspiration needed, please!

[Saffra]

My online bridal accessories retail business has been shortlisted for two business awards. I'll find out in the next few weeks if we've won, which is very exciting.

I've been thinking of how I should promote the wins (if we do!). As well as the usual things (social media, telling customers/suppliers/everyone etc.), it's been suggested to me that I create a press release along the lines of 'We've won this award so now we are doing X'.

i.e. creating a newsworthy spin (as winning alone is not really a big deal for the national press, there's got to be another 'new' news element in there) for the press release.

I'm feeling a bit uninspired and can't think what that 'X' could be. In theory, it could be anything, e.g. launching a new product range (although that's not particularly feasible in such a short space of time).

Any ideas, please? I need some inspiration!

What is the award and why are you nominated? What is your USP?

Feel free to PM, I am a National Comms Manager should be able to help.

Can you run a promotion linked to the award somehow? Or go something like give a 14% discount to anyone purchasing accessories before Feb 14th if they gave a copy of the newspaper article with them (also helps you see what papers your target market reads)?

Congrats on your shortlisting.

I don't know much about your LOB, except that I got married last year and it seemed to me that for accessories ideas, people go to the big sites like OnceWed, Style Me Pretty etc. and their UK counterparts over the traditional press. How about doing a special Valentine's Day shoot and trying to get it featured on one of those sites 'to celebrate your big win'?

Three replies already, thank you!

Softlysoftly - Both are national wedding industry awards that celebrate the best suppliers within the industry. Our USPs are our product range and personal service. Yes, I'll PM you, thank you.

FamiliesShareGerms - we do promotions already. These are already featured on blogs (without the award winning spin thing).

Claudeekishi - Thanks for the suggestion, yes, we do have some UK blogs too, although I think that a shoot will take too long to plan - would miss the boat for both the award (which is what I want to promote/leverage) and Valentines too.

Award wins not usually of interest for national press, unless it's something huge. you may get coverage in business press - often awards have a media sponsor, so you should liaise with the organisers to find out what thy've teed up.

otherwise, it's great accolade to use on your website and in marketing materials, and definitely shoot about it in social media, but otherwise limited PR value,