When you’re well-connected to the community of communicators applying social media to their companies’ and clients’ communication challenges, you come across a lot of truly excellent case studies. If you’ve produced such an effort, why not get recognized for it?

Recognition does far more than boost your ego. When honored for a program you executed that some in your company don’t understand, the fact that an esteemed group of judges deemed it worthwhile can elevate the value of the program in the eyes of company decision-makers. The more exposure of award-winning strategic applications of social media, the greater the number of converted leaders who will see the benefit of getting their own companies similarly engaged.

Put it this simply: I recently got an email from someone who was reading about the means by which social media channels can improve communication but lamented, “I can’t find anyone, anywhere who really wants to use these impressive tools.”

As competitions shine the light on the truly brilliant uses of these tools, that attitude should change.

A couple opportunities to show off your work are on the horizon, beginning with the Society for New Communications Reseach’s (SNCR) Excellence in New Communication Awards. The deadline is a week away—September 8. Awards are presented in six divisions—corporate, government, media, nonprofit/NGO, academic and technology innovation (focused on vendors and suppliers of social media tools).

There are seven categories in each of the divisions, ranging from online reputation management and internal communication to blogger relations collaboration and co-creation.

The entry fees shouldn’t be an obstacle for anyone—$70 for non-members and free for SNCR members. Winners will receive their awards in Boston on November 14 at SNCR’s annual Symposium and Awards Gala (which I’m planning to attend).

So do yourself, your profession, and business in general a favor: Dust off your best social media effort and submit it as a SNCR entry.