The Ballard Agency has won plenty of awards in their 45 year history, but this isn’t one they were interested in:
Chris Ballard, President of the the Bellevue-based insurance brokerage was surprised his company was selected. He’d never even heard of the U.S. Local Business Association.
Here’s the email he received, with hyperlinks removed:
I am pleased to announce that Ballard Agency has been selected for the 2008 Best of Bellevue Award in the Insurance category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).
In recognition of your achievement, a 2008 Best of Bellevue Award plaque has been designed for display at your place of business. You may arrange to have your award sent directly to Ballard Agency by following the simple steps on the 2008 Best of Bellevue Award order form.
The USLBA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.
Also, a copy of the press release publicizing the selection of Ballard Agency is posted on the USLBA website. USLBA hereby grants Ballard Agency a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, distribute, and display this press release in any media formats and through any media channels.
In order to provide you with the best possible service, you have been assigned an award code that can be used on our website for quick access to your award information and press release. If you have any questions or comments, please include this code with your correspondence.
Sincerely,
Ashley Carter
Selection Committee Chair
U.S. Local Business Association
After doing a little sleuthing, the folks at the Ballard Agency realized it was a marketing scheme to sell overpriced plaques.
Chris didn’t appreciate having his time wasted, but took the time to share it with me, and now you.
Here’s a marketing tactic I hate: Winning fake awards or being “nominated for a “who’s Who” list, and all you have to do is pay for $100 award!
Clearly, this is a deceptive marketing tactic in the same category as the phony domain name and Yellow Pages bills that are sent in hopes your A/P department will pay them in error.
“The only way they’d ever get our business is on accident,” says Ballard.
And that, my Responsible Marketing friends, is no way to grow a business.
So, have you or ever been targeted for one of these “faux-wards?”
Comment below to share your experience.
UPDATE: Let’s fight vanity scams together is a follow-up to this post.
Full disclosure: Outsource Marketing is a Ballard Agency client.
Tags: awards, Ballard Agency, Best of Bellevue, U.S. Local Business Association, US Commerce Association, USLBA
I just received mine, and being suspicious as usual I Googled it and this site popped up.. It never ceases to amaze me, the lengths people will use to try to make a buck. This of course is my 3rd notice, because I continue to ignore it.
Earlier this year, I sent a notification email to you recognizing that Facilities Services Group had been selected for the 2009 Best of Vancouver Award in the Janitor Service category.
In recognition of your achievement, a 2009 Best of Vancouver Award has been designed for display at your place of business. You may arrange to have your award sent directly to Facilities Services Group by following the simple steps on the 2009 Best of Vancouver Award order form. Simply copy and paste this link into your browser to receive your award:
http://vancouver.uscaawards.org/AEBP2-EXSB
Each year, the US Commerce Association (USCA) identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.
Also, a copy of the press release publicizing the selection of Facilities Services Group has been posted on our website. The USCA hereby grants Facilities Services Group a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, distribute, and display this press release in any media formats and through any media channels.
An Award Code has been assigned to your company that can be used on our website for quick access to your award information and press release.
Your Award Code is: EBP2-EXSB
Sincerely,
Ashley Carter
Selection Committee Chair
US Commerce Association
Pretty dense over there. They just sent the “Final Notice (3rd Attempt):” email to the Ballard Agency. Yes, the Ballard Agency mentioned in this article.
Crazy irresponsible, folks.
Just got one over here too. That Ashley Carter gets around!
I work for a counseling center in Houston and supposedly received the “2009 Houston Award” a few months ago. I just received my “3rd Attempt” notification and decided to google and thankfully ran accross this blog. The email address they used was: info@uscaaward.net. Thank you for the post!
And we got ours today….3rd and final notice as well…
The old take-off on the who’s who directory charade….
The US Commerce Association contacted me to inform me that the company I work for won a small business award. Uh, I work for a large multi-national firm with thousands of employees. Not small at all. Suspicions raised, I Googled it, found out it was a fraud and then was shocked to see just how many legitimate small businesses fell for it with out asking any questions. There seem to be three or four of these scams going on. US Commerce Association, Small Business Commerce Association, US Local Business Association. But in a day and age of the Internet, I don’t get why people don’t do a quick Google search before they blindly accept and publicize an award they didn’t apply to, from an organization they haven’t heard of, and that requires them to pay for their award. Three seconds on the Internet would save you so much embarrassment and about $180.