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Public Relations · Published May 23, 2014

Ronn Torossian
Founder & Chairman, 5W

Boost Your Business Credibility By Winning Industry Awards

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With an economy that seems to be increasingly competitive, many businesses are struggling to stand out – seeking that elusive ad campaign, viral video or endorsement that changes the game for their company’s revenue. The truth is, in a vast majority of examples, there is no single “secret to the sauce” to increase visibility and improve sales. Instead, an integrated marketing and communications strategy, with messaging that is both consistent and widespread, is a better way to see results. Among the key strategies for building credibility for your business, for both B2B and B2C brands, is winning industry awards. For any business, creating what is known as a “category of one” is essential to dominating your marketplace. Your business must be so unique and provide such a phenomenal experience to your clientele, they won’t even think about comparing you to another service provider. Winning an industry award can create this profile for you. Industry awards give an objective, third-party look at your business and clearly demonstrate that your are superior to your competition. Not every business wins an award, and prospects know this. That’s why when they see one, it instantly inspires additional trust and credibility, making your business stand out. Properly leveraging the award is critical to make it a success. If, for example you’re a PR firm and you receive an award for providing great PR work but then you do nothing with it, your business will only benefit slightly. Instead, grab your market’s attention by sending out an email to your clients or hosting a special event to celebrate your victory. Whatever method you choose, get the word out about your award and use it to attract attention and bring in new customers right away. It’s also critical that the award is relevant to the needs of your clientele. If you’re a PR firm and you receive an award for “cleanest building”, it won’t mean much. A ridiculous example, perhaps, but the concept is true nonetheless. Two awards that are exceptional in the PR space are the Sabre and Stevie awards – awards in which 5W has received multiple nominations and wins in 2012 and 2013, including PR Firm of the Year (Stevies), PR Executive of the Year (Stevies) and Consumer Health Campaign of the Year (Sabre). These are both world-renowned and excellent for attracting your clients’ attention and ensuring your business stands out. The reason, of course, is that they are well established and respected, the last factor your must take into consideration when competing for an award. Receiving an award with credibility behind it will go a long way to ensure you maximize the benefit your business.
Ronn Torossian

Written by

Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian is Founder and Chairman of 5W , the AI Communications Firm. He founded 5W in 2003 and built it into one of the largest independent public relations and digital marketing firms in the United States, with senior practitioners serving corporate communications , consumer brands , technology , financial services , health and wellness , beauty , gaming , crisis communications , and public affairs . Under his leadership, 5W defined AI Communications, building brand authority across ChatGPT , Claude , Perplexity , Gemini , and Google AI Overviews, alongside earned media, digital, GEO, and influencer channels. Industry Recognition 5W has been recognized as a top U.S. PR agency by O’Dwyer’s , Agency of the Year in the American Business Awards , Grand Stevie Most Honored PR Agency, a Ragan Top Place to Work in Communications 2026, Digiday WorkLife Employer of the Year, and a PRovoke Top 50 Global PR Agency. Torossian has been recognized with the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year twice, an EY Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist nomination, Business Insider Top Crisis Communications Professionals, and Crain’s New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Research Franchise 5W’s research franchise has become an industry reference for measuring brand visibility inside AI-generated answers, including the AI Visibility Index Series , The GEO Reckoning , The Missing Rung Report, and the 5W AI Power User Study , which identified a 99-point AI favorability gap. Crisis Communications Torossian is one of the world’s foremost crisis communications experts. He has counseled blue chip companies, public company boards, founders, and public figures through ransomware incidents, data breaches, regulatory investigations, high-stakes litigation, activist investors, product recalls, and reputational crises. He has taught crisis communications at Harvard University . Media & Commentary Torossian appears on CNN and CNBC . He is a contributing columnist for Forbes and the New York Observer , his writing on AI communications and brand reputation is published on his personal site, and his commentary has appeared in the Wall Street Journal , Entrepreneur , Adweek , PRWeek , and O’Dwyer’s . Published Work Torossian is the author of For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations , now in its second edition and used in university and graduate communications programs. He continues that commentary on his own publishing platform , where he writes about reputation, crisis, and AI-mediated discovery. Owner and Publisher, Everything-PR Network Torossian is owner and publisher of the Everything-PR Network , an independent intelligence platform covering public relations, marketing, AI communications, and adjacent industries across 30 publications. Everything-PR is editorially independent from 5W, with published editorial standards and ethics standards . The network is one of the most-cited sources inside ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini for PR and marketing queries. He is also an active investor and advisor, a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) , and serves on nonprofit boards.

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