Tips for Nominees

The Nomination Process

Nominate early to save. Early entries help avoid deadline stress and reduce fees.
Only the primary contact on the account can edit in the online portal and view the judges.
Check your work and ensure your nomination is free of errors.
Be concise and clear. Judges appreciate straightforward, well-structured information.
Include supporting materials. Add documents, links, and a recorded demo to strengthen your application. Note: The recording can be added after your live demo has concluded so you do not need to record twice.
Agencies, please ensure to include a contact from the nominating company in the entry information.
If you’re a first-time nominee, review the onboarding webcast and the awards process before submitting.
Add all deadlines to your calendar. Stay on top of key dates throughout the cycle.

How to Prepare an Award-Winning Demonstration

Your demo is one of the most important elements of the CODiE Awards Product review process. The first-round expert review accounts for 80% of your overall score. Use these tips to create a strong judging experience:

Contact judges as soon as assignments are released. Schedules fill quickly; reach out early to coordinate a time. Demos are typically 20-45 minutes long to leave time for questions. Meetings should run no longer than one hour.
Demos may be live or recorded. Real-time conversation helps judges ask questions and see what matters most, but some prefer the flexibility of reviewing on their own time (and timezone). You may schedule a joint session with both assigned judges.
Customize your demo. Avoid canned sales pitches. Review the judging criteria for your category and tailor the presentation accordingly.
Tell your “awards story.” This is not product training—show what makes your solution exceptional, innovative, and different from competitors.
Highlight new features. Especially if you’ve been nominated before, call out what’s new and why it matters.
Show your enthusiasm. Let your passion for the product come through—demonstrate favorite features and what makes your solution shine.
Review the category criteria. Be sure to address all relevant criteria during your presentation and see if the judges have any questions on how the product aligns to each,
Limit presenters. One or two speakers keeps the virtual demo focused and easy to follow.
Align on questions up front. At the start of the demo ask judges how they prefer to handle questions and check in periodically during the demo.
Follow up afterward. Send additional resources and a recording of the demo. Upload the demo recording to your nomination portal for easy reviewer access.

How to Prepare for the Second Round of Review

Congratulations on becoming a finalist! With the heavy lifting done, these steps will help you make the most of the second-round voting period:

Promote your finalist status. Share on social media, notify customers, update your email signature and website, issue a press release, and add the finalist logo to booth materials or presentation decks.
Double-check your nomination. Before community voting begins, log in and verify all information is accurate and up to date and that we have the correct shipping address in the event of a win.
Check your product description. Ensure it is concise, compelling, and easy for voters to understand. They will also have access to your company website and social profiles.