For small to mid-sized businesses in Austin, winning a local award can be a game changer. Not only does it boost your company’s overall credibility and solidify your brand as an industry leader, but it is essentially free marketing. By winning an award, your company can increase its visibility among potential customers, employees, and investors alike.

Here are a few local awards that Austin tech companies can try to win.

Austin Business Journal Best Places to Work

The Austin Business Journal Best Places to Work Award honors companies who exhibit excellent climate, atmosphere, and engagement with their employees. The four categories to enter are based on the number of employees starting with the micro category (10-24 employees), followed by the small category (25-49 employees), then the medium category (50-249 employees), and finally the large category (250+ employees).  

To determine the ranking, employees are surveyed on  communication and resources, individual needs, manager effectiveness, personal engagement, team dynamics, and trust in leadership 

There is no submission charge and there are several benefits if your company gets selected for the award. Winners will receive a profile in Austin Business Journals Best Places to Work issue, data showing employee survey results, and intel on key elements of employee satisfaction. The deadline for the award is in March. 2021 will be the next opportunity to apply. 

Austin A-List Awards

The Austin A-List Awards is held by the Austin Chamber of Commerce in partnership with SXSW to give recognition to local companies who develop or create technologies, platforms, or business models that have the potential to make an impact on society at large. Award categories include the Tech and Innovation Award, Spotlight Award, and Ace In the Hole Award. 

Upon receiving an Austin A-List Award, honorees have access to year-round programming with community leaders, businesses, and entrepreneurs, access to office hours with mentors and investors, and a company spotlight in a monthly newsletter and across social media channels. Recipients will also be featured in local Austin media publications. 

Sponsors include Google, Delta, and Deloitte. Recipients in the past include Scalefactor, Austin Eastciders, Orca, Outdoor Voices and Briggo. The deadline for submission for the 2020 awards is August 28. 

Built In Austin 100 Best Places to Work

Built In Austin’s 100 Best Places to Work list is an ongoing list of small to mid-sized companies rated in terms of compensation and benefits. Compensation and benefits are both weighted at 50% with benefit categories being health and wellness, financial planning and stability, flexible work environment, diversity and culture, professional and social impact, and perks and discounts. 

The 100 Best Places to Work list is ongoing, so company information can be submitted at any time. All you have to do is fill out and maintain company information on the Built In Austin company page. Honorees that have made it to Built In Austin’s Best Places to Work currently include Cision, Khoros, RetailMeNot, VRBO, and more.

About Savannah Burns: Savannah is a marketing and communications intern for Swyft, which is a PR firm in Austin and Houston and a top digital marketing agency in Denver since its founding in 2011. Swyft recently opened a satellite office where it offers PR in San Francisco.