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Written by: Courtney Browning40 under 40, Top Financial Advisory Firm, Fastest Growing RIA, Best Place to Work—you’ve seen the lists. Perhaps even your competition is on them. Want to know how you can win awards and accolades for your financial business? Those that rank your business strictly on hard facts, (like AUM via SEC or FINRA data, or your reported growth of revenue and employees,) and Those based on more subjective criteria that require nominations to compete. Each award will have its own judging criteria, so it is helpful to identify specific opportunities to target. However, if your goal is to build an all-around award-winning reputation, here are some things to work on to increase your odds: Being a published author or media authority on a topic. Reaching a large number of people through a specific effort (i.e., live events, campaigns, etc.) Measured growth resulting from an innovation (i.e., growing 3x in a year.) Demonstrating leadership toward an idea or movement (i.e., financial literacy, holistic planning, etc.) Focus your efforts: Concentrate on supporting one or two specific organizations or causes each year. Creating opportunities for your staff and clients to give back can be a great way to maximize your impact. (Check out our past blog for tips on choosing a charity .) Remember to track metrics : The number of hours volunteered, funds raised or other sizeable impacts of your efforts will be much more meaningful than simply listing organizations you support. Personal stories of lives affected in your community can be powerful as well. Consider photo-ops: Many publications will want to include photos as part of their feature story of award winners, so make sure to capture great images whenever possible. Keep in mind rights restrictions, especially if you are volunteering with children, and focus on group photos of your staff involvement. Unique benefits : Corporate culture awards will want to highlight any unique perks you offer your employees. Keep in mind the ongoing trend toward work-life balance . These may include things such as: Flex-time Telecommuting Team retreats Bring your pets to work Concierge services Employee stock ownership Financial planning services Free daily lunch Game room/areas Great healthcare coverage Matching employee contributions Onsite childcare Onsite fitness facility Paid maternity/paternity/caregiver leave Paid time off for community service Profit sharing Ride-sharing/transportation from work Stress relief breaks Support groups Tuition reimbursement Unlimited paid time off Focus on training and feedback : Part of having a strong culture is setting clear standards. Create a structured process for providing ongoing training and employee feedback, and establish clearly defined goals and a team vision. Then make sure your whole team is working together toward reaching them. These awards will often survey your employee’s feedback, so everyone needs to be united on the same page. For additional insights, check out the five key similarities of “winning” workplaces shared by InvestmentNews . Related: 3 Ways Advisors Can Attract the Attention They Deserve