Award & Recognition Press Release Templates
Turn awards, rankings, certifications, and individual honors into credible third-party proof — with the selection criteria and competition context that make recognition mean something.
An award release is borrowed credibility — so the source of the credibility has to be visible. Who gives the award, how selective it is, and what it measures matter more than the trophy itself. Each template below makes the awarding body and criteria explicit, which is exactly what separates a brag from a story.
These releases also have a second life: sales decks, About pages, and proposals will quote them for years. Write the criteria paragraph carefully — it's the part that gets reused.
Use one of these templates when…
- Your company or product won an industry award
- You made a recognized ranking or "best of" list
- You earned a certification, accreditation, or compliance milestone
- A team member received an individual honor
- You've been named a finalist and voting/judging is underway
Industry Award Win
For a competitive award from a recognized body — criteria, competition, and the winning work.
Ranking / "Best Of" List
For Inc. 5000-style lists and rankings — the exact rank, the metric, and year-over-year story.
Certification / Accreditation
For SOC 2, ISO, B Corp and similar — what was audited, by whom, and what customers can now trust.
Individual / Leader Award
For a person's recognition — their story, the company's reflected strength, gracefully told.
Finalist / Shortlist Announcement
For selective shortlists — momentum now, a call to action, and a hook for the results story later.
Writing tips for award & recognition releases
- 1Name the awarding organization and the selection criteria in the first two paragraphs — recognition without a credible source is noise.
- 2Quantify the competition: "selected from 1,200 entries" or "top 5% of applicants" does the persuading for you.
- 3Tie the award to the work: name the project, metric, or practice that won, so the release teaches readers what you're good at.
- 4Thank teams and customers in the quote — awards releases are read internally as much as externally.
- 5For certifications, spell out what it lets customers do or trust that they couldn't before.
Frequently asked questions
Is every award worth a press release?
No — pay-to-play trophies and low-bar badges can hurt credibility. Use the test: would a skeptical customer be more likely to buy after reading who gave the award and why? Recognized industry bodies, competitive rankings, and hard certifications pass; "Best Website 2026 ($299 entry)" doesn't.
How soon after winning should the release go out?
Within a week of the public announcement or ceremony. If the awarding body embargoes results, coordinate your release for the moment the embargo lifts — that's when journalists are looking for local or industry winners to feature.
Can we announce being a finalist, or only a win?
Finalist announcements work well when the shortlist itself is selective or public voting is open — use the finalist template and give readers something to do (vote, attend). Skip finalist releases for awards where everyone who enters is "shortlisted".
What image should accompany an award release?
A photo of the team with the award, the ceremony moment, or the certified product/facility — real photography over the award logo alone. If you only have the badge, pair it with a product or team image.
More template types
Every template ends with an “About” paragraph. Score or generate your boilerplate before you fill it in.