1. Download images for your business to use on social media here.
2. Use the post suggestions provided below or use them as inspiration to create your own posts.
3. Include the #InnerCity100 or #IC100awards hashtag to ensure we’re all part of the same social conversation
4. Tag @icicorg on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, @initiative-for-a-competitive-inner-city on LinkedIn [Important note: Be sure to type out and select @icicorg on Facebook and Instagram, and @initiative-for-a-competitive-inner-city on LinkedIn posts for proper tagging].

Sample Social Media Message #1 (First-Time Winner): 

Proud to announce that we’re a first-time winner on the #IC100awards list! For 26 years, @icicorg annually names the 100 fastest-growing businesses in under-resourced communities in the U.S.: [link to your press release or the Inner City 100 web page]

Sample Social Media Message #2 (Multi-Year Winner): 

We did it again! [Company name] is celebrating ranking #[insert your company’s ranking] on the 2024 @icicorg #InnerCity100 Awards list. This marks our [# of years on the list] year on this prestigious list. https://icic.org/ic100

Sample Social Media Message #3 (Hall of Fame): 

We did it again! [Company name] is celebrating ranking #[insert your company’s ranking] on the 2024 @icicorg #InnerCity100 Awards list. This marks our 5th year on this prestigious list placing us in the Hall of Fame! https://icic.org/ic100

Sample Social Media Message #4: 

Proud to announce that we’ve been named an #IC100awards winner by @icicorg for being one of the 100 fastest-growing businesses in under-resourced communities in the U.S.: [link to your press release or the Inner City 100 web page]

Sample Social Media Message #5 (LinkedIn Specific): 

We are thrilled to share that our company has been recognized as an #IC100awards winner by @Initiative for Competitive Inner City! The prestigious accolade highlights our achievement as one of the 100 fastest-growing businesses in under-resourced communities across the United States. This recognition indicates our hard work and dedication and reflects our commitment to fostering economic growth and opportunity in the communities we serve. We are proud to be a part of an organization that empowers and uplifts these areas, and we look forward to continuing our journey of innovation and community engagement. For more details, please check out our press release or visit the Inner City 100 webpage: [link to your press release or the Inner City 100 web page].

Sample Social Media Message #6 (LinkedIn Specific): 

We are proud to announce that our company has been honored as one of the fastest-growing businesses in the nation in an under-resourced community, as recognized by @Initiative for Competitive Inner City. This prestigious acknowledgment underscores our commitment to driving economic growth and creating opportunities in areas that need it most. We invite you to explore our achievements as we proudly hold the #[insert your company’s ranking] position on the 2024 Inner City 100 list. For more details, please visit the ICIC website: https://icic.org/ic100. Thank you for your continued support as we strive to positively impact our community. #IC100awards

Share this remarkable achievement with your network by adding it to your LinkedIn profile! Simply go to your LinkedIn profile, go to the “Licenses & Certifications” section, and select the “+” sign. Add in your IC100 Award using the template below, and feel free to include your rank and link to the 2024 IC100 Winners (icic.org/ic100winnerslist).

Distributing a press release detailing the news of your award can help increase awareness of your achievement and generate greater interest in your company, the work you do, and the goods and/or services you provide.

We’ve included a link to a sample press release that can be downloaded, filled in with the details of your company and its ranking on the IC100, and then shared on your company website and distributed to media outlets. Be sure to include information on how readers can contact your company with follow-up questions and interview requests.

Download Sample Press Release

Steve Grossman, CEO of ICIC, stated: “The 2024 IC100 award winners are proof that investing in under-resourced communities generates exceptional results. The honorees are more than leaders; they are changemakers who uplift their neighborhoods while driving sustainable growth.”

In the wake of receiving a major award, a blog post on your own website or on an industry platform is an opportunity for your company to share more about the work that helped make it an award-winning operation.

A blog post can help you to:

• Share your success with your target audiences in your company’s authentic voice
• Have editorial control over the story you’re telling
• Publicly recognize individuals within your organization who contribute to its success
• Reassert your company’s commitment to its employees, customers, and community

Sample outline for a blog post:

• Announce the award: Open the post by sharing with readers information about the IC100 award you won, what it represents, which organization presented the award (ICIC), and what your company and staff did that earned you the award.
• Present any challenges you may have faced, and the approach you took to address the challenge: Small businesses faced unprecedented challenges throughout the pandemic and continue to face hurdles in its wake. How did your company adapt or pivot strategically to remain open for business during the past several years? Are there any lessons learned or bits of knowledge gained that you can share with your audience(s)?
• Highlight your company’s culture, employee-focused development, and contributions to building a more vibrant community where you are located and do business: In particular, highlight those activities that show how you did well (grew your business) by doing good.
• Share insight into what’s next for the company: This is an opportunity to provide a glimpse into your company’s future and share any news or plans to keep the company on a growth trajectory.