Free resources to scale your awards & contests
Guides and insights to support you in running the smoothest program possible, and scaling the impact of your competitions, awards, grants and more.
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Comparing Submission Management Platforms
Looking at different platforms can be confusing and time consuming. In this article, we compare 5 submissions management platforms and share some of the Pros and Cons, Key Strengths and who the platform might be useful for.
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Submissions Projection Calculator
Predict submission volumes, track progress, and benchmark your award performance against industry data.
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Measuring What (Actually) Matters
We run programs to make a difference, but can you point to specific people and say ‘this changed things for them’? Learn how to track impact with light-touch methods that participants barely notice.
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Hiring the Right Awards Coordinator
Finding the right Awards Coordinator can make or break your programme – the wrong hire leads to stressed staff, disappointed applicants, and damaged relationships. This complete guide includes job description templates, interview questions, and cost analysis to help you make…
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Turning Industry Connections Into Your Most Powerful Awards Marketing Channel
You’ve spent months crafting the perfect awards marketing campaign, yet entries aren’t flooding in. The problem isn’t your messaging – it’s that professionals no longer trust marketing channels for career decisions. Here’s how successful awards programs activate trusted industry voices…
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Why Public Voting Can Transform Your Awards
“I wanted this to be more of the people and not just from a small group of individuals,” explains one awards organizer who made the switch. The results speak for themselves: increased reach, enhanced credibility, and stories that “go a…
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Your Programme Failed, Now What? (Free Template)
So, your open call didn’t go as planned. Maybe entries were lower than expected, the timeline slipped, or feedback from artists, judges, or partners wasn’t as positive as you’d hoped. But this isn’t the end of your programme. It could…
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Everything that could go wrong with your Award (and how to stop it)
Whether it’s marketing challenges, technical issues, or unresponsive judges, awards rarely go exactly as planned. This article covers solutions to the most pressing problems.
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How to price your Award using AI: Prompts for every program
Setting the right price for award submissions is a delicate balancing act. Charge too much, you limit applicants; charge too little, you risk overwhelming costs. Discover powerful AI prompts that create pricing strategies perfectly tailored to your awards program.
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Online forms vs. Submission management platforms
While many event organizers start with a simple online form, as competitions grow in scale and complexity, a dedicated award management platform can provide a more structured and streamlined experience. Many organizers struggle with resource constraints, needing a solution that…
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From Launch to Selection: The right Competition Schedule for you
Planning an open call is exciting and a great chance to discover new talent. Whether it’s an award, residency, or commission, there are lots of things to consider.
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The Complete Guide to Managing Awards & Competitions
Whether you’re running competitions, grants, or awards, this guide covers the complete award management lifecycle from planning to execution.
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Running Open Calls: Essential Submissions Management Tips
Whether you’re hosting your first open call or looking to refine your process, our guest contributors share expert insights to help you succeed.
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The right venue for your open exhibition in London
Looking for the ideal East London venue to host your awards or exhibition celebration? Discover standout spaces, handpicked by Zealous, that promise to elevate your event and delight your guests.
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Predictions for creative opportunities in 2025
Discover the top creative sector trends and predictions for 2025, from AI innovation to community-driven opportunities.
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Choosing the right awards management platform for staff recognition awards
Managing Employee Recogition Awards can be overwhelming without the right tools. This article introduces 7 tools that simplify submissions, judging, and voting to help you focus on creating meaningful events.
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These 5 metrics will help you grow your Awards
Running a successful competition means knowing what’s working – and what isn’t. Learn the 5 key metrics that will help you understand your candidates’ journey and grow your program effectively.
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Reframing Open Calls: How To Create Non-Competitive Spaces
In this article, we’ll explore how shifting perspectives on creative competitions could make them friendlier, fairer, and more inclusive spaces.
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Real engagement begins when your open call ends
Hosting an open call is truly an enriching experience. It allows for you to discover new talent and support them, create connections, and foster creativity. However, once the opportunity is over, the real challenge—and the true potential for impact—emerges. This…
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How to craft the right awards commiseration email
As uncomfortable as it can be, sending out commiserations emails are part and parcel of running an opportunity. Luckily there are ways of turning disappointment into opportunity
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How to Run a Good Program with Reduced Resources
This article shares practical strategies for organisations to run impactful creative opportunities like open calls and competitions with limited resources.
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Tools to Manage Submissions – From Forms to Awards Management Platforms
Looking for a robust tool to manage growing submissions? We compare 5 solutions – from basic forms to full awards management platforms that scale with you.
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Get the pricing right for your awards/competitions
How to price your awards and competitions is a fine art. Discover best practice when setting your entry price, alternative ways of making money and the impact the wrong price can have on your awards.
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Alternatives to Submittable: Why Zealous Has You Covered
If you’re looking into signing up with Submittable or maybe you’re already using them, here are some reasons why you may want to try Zealous as an alternative to Submittable.
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Key sites to list your design awards on
Posting your design competition on a listing site might be a good way of sharing your contest to more people. We share our top directories to post your design competition on to get more entries.
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How To Run an Online Photo Contest (& Market It Like a Pro)
Learn the secrets to running an online photo contest with our expert guide to boosting entries and growing your campaign.
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Top listing sites for your Photography Competition
We’re here to help you get the word out for your photography competitions! Here’s a list of photography competition directories to start the process.
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Increase submissions to your awards through trust
If you are launching an award, it will be essential for you to build trust with anyone who might consider submitting to you. The longer your process and the bigger the submission fee, the more vital it will be to…
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Should you take award entry payments first or last?
Should you take payments upfront when candidates submit your award? The following article breaks down best practices when taking entry fees.
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Guy Meets Michelle, Director at UK New Artists
Our Founder at Zealous, Guy Armitage, had the opportunity to speak to Michelle Bowen at UK New Artists about their exciting programmes and managed to get some invaluable tips for emerging creatives too. You don’t want to miss this. Read…
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Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Organising Awards
Behind the glitz and glamour of an awards ceremony lies a meticulous planning process which, if not executed with precision, can lead to disappointment for all involved.
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Marketing Your Opportunity (Interview)
Looking back at Zealous Amplify: Mental Health and Wellbeing, community manager Bethan and marketing coordinator Carmela talk about all things marketing.
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Marketing your Award Effectively (even on shoestring budgets)
Without good marketing, no one will submit to your award/competition. Here are a few tips to increase exposure to your programme
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Choosing the best tools for managing submissions
Taking submissions can be a breeze or a nightmare; the deciding factor is your tools. Here are our top tips in picking the right ones for your needs.
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Maximising Engagement using Competitions
How to maximise engagement for your open call, create exposure for your brand, show support for your community & begin a meaningful dialogue.
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Writing the perfect guidelines for your competition
Writing good guidelines can make or break your competition. This article covers best practices to guarantee candidates apply with the right content for your needs.
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How to approach judges for competitions
Getting partners involved and securing high-level individuals to help you select winners is no easy task. But having someone recognisable on your panel is a big perk for candidates who want their work seen. Here are our top tips to…
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Drawing up your schedule
Timing is everything – opening your submissions at the wrong time or for too long could negatively impact the number of candidates who apply. Find out more on what to watch out for when crafting the schedule of your programme.
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Planning the selection process for your competition
Seeing submissions reach into the hundreds then into thousands is a real buzz. But that euphoria can quickly turn to dread if your process to select successful candidates isn’t built to cope.
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Establishing the perks for your competition
The only reason applicants will take the time to submit is that there’s something in it for them. Defining what’s in it for those selected, and understanding what you have available to you, could allow you to run a competition…
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Streamlining what you ask for from candidates
Asking candidates for the correct information when they submit is a fine art.
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Defining the purpose of your programme
Purpose is powerful. It allows you to inspire people to take part and measure your goals effectively once your program ends. Without a clearly articulated purpose, marketing your offering and getting candidates to submit will be an uphill struggle.
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7 Awards Platforms for the Creative Industries
Choosing the right process whilst taking entries could save you hundreds of hours of admin. To save you a little time we’ve compiled a list of the best submission platforms serving the creative eco-system at this time.
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Trends for Running Competitions in 2021
Much has changed in 2020. For that reason, we’ve compiled our top tips on things to take into consideration when planning & running a successful competition in 2021.
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Top sites to list your writing competition on
Boost submissions to your writing contests by listing them on these amazing sites.
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Creating opportunity in adversity
our months ago, the rules that governed society turned inside out. This left communities isolated, lead to freelancers losing their income and forced organisations to reinvent themselves. Cambridge City Council Supporting communities by commissioning talent With schools closed, parents working…
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Creating purpose in isolation
This is our time to prove that arts organisations are there for them even in the most adverse of times. Here’s how running a competition can help support our communities now in isolation, give our team a shared purpose and…
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Building inclusivity into your call out
Inclusion is often mentioned, but difficult to get right across all of your processes. Here is a brief guide on what to watch out for when running a call out.
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Writing Engaging Guidelines
Writing clear guidelines can make or break your competition. A lack of information could lead to the wrong content being submitted, too much, and candidates may skip it. Here are a few lessons we’ve learnt from hosting open calls.
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The Art of Engaging & Placemaking
This short guide highlights steps to better engage with your communities (team, stakeholders, clients, residents) through creative commissions.
