Award Platforms: What You Really Get for Your Money

August 4, 2025

If you’re a business owner, you’ve probably seen them — emails inviting you to enter an award contest, promising recognition and prestige typically for a fee. Whether it’s $125 or $500, the pattern is the same: pay to enter, hope to win, and then pay again for the trophy or press kit.

But what if recognition didn’t require a checkbook? What if it was actually based on merit?

That’s the premise behind Business Merit Board, and in this post, we’re breaking down how it compares to 10 of the most popular award platforms out there.

Quick Summary

Media reach beyond badges — while others let you post a templated graphic, Business Merit Board distributes content through local/affiliated outlets tied to major networks, giving credibility, SEO lift, and real published “As seen on ABC” exposure.
No upfront paywall — Merit Marketing Packages are available only after you’ve been selected as a winner, unlike other platforms that charge just to enter.
Merit‑based process — based on your reputation, reviews, and business performance, rather than pay-to-win or popularity‑contests.

Here’s how BMB stacks up against major paid award platforms like the Stevie Awards, WebAwards, W3, Hermes, and others:

Program	Entry Fee	Why Business Merit Board Wins
Business Merit Board (BMB)	$0	You gain real media exposure with trusted affiliate publishers—no DIY required
Web Awards	$225–275	BMB distributes to news affiliates; Web Awards only lists winners
Stevie Awards	$330–510+	BMB handles affiliate press distribution; Stevies only offer templates
Best in Biz Awards	$350–550	BMB’s release hits trusted ABC/Fox/NBC affiliates, not just generic wires
W3 Awards	$235–335	BMB includes syndication; W3 Awards require you to do it yourself
MarCom Awards	$125–195	BMB syndicates for you; MarCom leaves PR to the winner
Hermes Creative Awards	$125–195	BMB syndicates directly; Hermes gives you the files only
Davey Awards	$225–295	BMB distributes on your behalf; Davey offers guidance only
Communicator Awards	$215–395	BMB’s press release hits real media, not just your download folder
dotCOMM Awards	$125–195	BMB includes affiliate media distribution; dotCOMM doesn’t

Business Merit Board is the only platform that includes full-service press release syndication to trusted local news affiliates (like ABC, Fox, and NBC) as part of its winner packages. In contrast:

Web Awards only list winners on their site — no media distribution.
Stevie Awards offer templates — you handle the PR yourself.
Best in Biz Awards send one generic release over a wire — no affiliate news exposure.
W3, MarCom, Hermes, Communicator, and dotCOMM Awards provide logos or guidance, but no actual press distribution.
Davey Awards give tools and advice, but still leave it up to you.

In short, Business Merit Board handles the entire PR process for you — writing and syndicating your award announcement directly to real media outlets. With everyone else, you either write, manage, and distribute your press release yourself… or it doesn’t get seen at all.

Why So Many Business Awards Feel Like Pay-to-Win

Let’s be clear: Not all award programs are scams. Many offer real visibility, and winning one might look great in your lobby or email signature. But here’s the catch…

Business Merit Board flips the traditional model on its head.

Instead of charging upfront, BMB starts with free nominations and evaluates businesses using five core indicators:

Customer Satisfaction
Service & Offerings
Value & Pricing
Online Presence & Credibility
Responsiveness & Community Engagement

Only selected winners are invited to purchase a Merit Marketing Package — which includes digital assets and a syndicated press release distributed to local affiliates of Fox, ABC, NBC, and more.

You don’t pay to play. You earn it — and only promote it if you want to.

Why Business Merit Board Wins — Every Time

Too many award platforms exist to make money off hopeful businesses. They rely on volume, vanity, and the assumption that people will confuse any recognition with real credibility.

But real awards should reflect real performance. That’s why Business Merit Board exists — and why it’s quickly becoming the go-to choice for service businesses, professionals, and small business owners looking for honest recognition backed by results.

Zero entry fees: You’re only invited to purchase a marketing package if you’ve already been selected as a winner.
Real press coverage: Unlike others, BMB includes affiliate press release syndication to real news sites like ABC, NBC, and Fox.
Merit-based selection: Businesses are chosen based on performance, not polish or application fluff.
Tools that actually work: You get a clean badge, a framed certificate, and a press release that drives real SEO and credibility.

If you’re purely after a badge to show off, other awards may suffice. But BusinessMeritBoard.com gives you both recognition and real visibility.