And the Winner is...

If Ryan Seacrest teaches us anything, it’s that winning a contest is a great way to gain exposure and publicity among your target audience. But American Idol references aside, a growing number of corporations, nonprofits and universities are giving small companies a chance to make a name for themselves through contests. However, many small businesses aren’t taking advantage of this simple tool for growing their brand. Entering award competitions is a great way to inexpensively promote your business and reap significant rewards – even if you don’t win first place.

So now you’re thinking, “What could I win an award for?” Truthfully, there are so many opportunities available that you’re practically guaranteed to find something you qualify for. You’ll find categories from “Best Family-Owned Business” to “Most Promising Young Entrepreneur.”

It’s best to start small when delving into this world of award entries. Try local chapters of national organizations. It’s much easier to win these smaller competitions than try for the big stuff. It’s also important to note that judges treat your awards like resumes. If you can show previous victories, it makes your company more recognizable in the national contests.

Awards are just another proven way to enhance your brand. If you need some help finding the right award competition for you or your company, or if you need assistance writing and coordinating your entries, let us know. We’ve produced lots of “winners” and we’ll be glad to add you to the list!

SPEAKING OF WINNERS, WE ARE HONORED TO BE NAMED ONE OF THE TOP THREE PR FIRMS IN ST. LOUIS BY ST. LOUIS SMALL BUSINESS MONTHLY! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO VOTED FOR US!!!

Got Milk? ... Have Grammar?

Is your grammar better than a 5th grader? Maybe not. Most of us have forgotten some of the basic rules we learned in grade school (or grammar school, no pun intended). We all think that we have a pretty strong grasp on our native language, but there are so many mistakes that most people make without even thinking twice. You may even be guilty of some of these:

1. e.g. versus i.e. When writing, we seem to use these little Latin abbreviations interchangeably, but in fact, they are different. e.g. stands for the Latin phrase “example gratia,” meaning “for example,” which dictates that it can be followed by any number of examples. i.e. stands for the Latin phrase “id est,” meaning “that is,” which means that it should be followed by all applicable examples
2. Hopefully. Perhaps the most misused word in the English language that nobody talks about. We can almost guarantee you’re guilty of this one. Hopefully literally means “with hope”. It does not mean “it is hoped that”.
   (Right Way) John watched hopefully as the winning ticket was announced.
   (Wrong Way) Hopefully John wins the lottery so we can eat something other than Ramen Noodles.
   We told you that you may be guilty of this one.
3. Between versus Among. The basic rule of thumb here is to use between when you are describing two elements and use among when describing three or more. The distance between the two islands was discussed among the four captains.
4. Could care less. The correct phrase is “couldn’t care less”. If you “could care less” than why don’t you? If you “couldn’t care less” that means that your interest in the situation is already at rock bottom.
5. Got versus Have. We all remember this one from our school teachers, but it’s still worth mentioning. Got is the past tense of get. Have means you possess something. You got a rose from the bachelor. You have emotional issues if you’re a contestant on that show.

Now you can be that person everyone hates who corrects others’ bad grammar. More importantly, the use of proper grammar is essential in business. It definitely can reflect your level of competence when speaking with clients or business associates.

Want more examples? Send us an email!