I have said it more times than I can count: bragging rights are one of the most valuable tools in your marketing and communication toolbox. We refer to it as the “JD Powers” effect. If I stand in front of you and tell you how awesome I am, you would call me a braggart. If I’m included on a JD Powers list of people who are awesome, it’s proof.

Company Awards = Third-Party Endorsements

That implied third-party endorsement is what we all seek. With the advent of websites like Yelp and the mind-numbing expanse and influence presented by social media, the environment of information keeps getting more and more crowded.

JD Power-type of Attention

How does one achieve the JD Power-type of attention without looking like or feeling like a tacky self-promoter? First, ask for it. If you’re a business that has satisfied customers, feel free to simply ask for feedback. Many are happy to share their positive experience, and it is by far the cheapest form of advertising.

If you are so inclined, put yourself and your business “out there” as industry leaders. Follow the Facebook pages and Twitter feeds of influencers in your industry and join the conversation. Sometimes this can establish credibility that helps in brand positioning when you seek it! Watch and listen for media opportunities where your voice can weigh in. There is nothing like being quoted in a news story to solidly establish that “JD Powers“ reaction.

There are also award opportunities for organizations, ranging from corporations to nonprofits – you just need to go in search of them, because they won’t always find you.

Second, amplify it. Put your good news on blast! Activate the social media arsenal you already have in a few keystrokes. The reach you will have when someone, something or some outlet gives you that implied third-party endorsement is wildly powerful. Now that is something to brag about!

At TrizCom PR, our clients are all afforded the benefit of a team of savvy PR professionals who think creatively for ways to achieve and deploy bragging rights on a regular basis. We’ve done it so well, we’ve received awards for it – like the prestigious 2015 PRSA Pegasus Award, the 2015 Clutch Research & Review Top PR Firm award and a consistent top 25 place on the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Dallas Business Journal’s Largest PR Firms list.

See what I just did there? Proof. That’s what I’m talking about.