Entries are now open for the Performance Marketing Awards in April next year, and with 26 hotly-contested categories, its annual return promises to be a true celebration of creativity, innovation and technology.
With the playing field continuing to widen in an industry adapting to new market opportunities and technological advances, this year sees the introduction of four new categories to “ensure excellence in new and pertinent fields is recognised”, says PerformanceIN content director Chris Johnson.
He explains: “Our ‘Best Social Acquisition Strategy’ will seek to find the smartest ways in which campaigns have driven performance across user acquisition, revenue, product or brand goals through social advertising. Also the ‘Best use of Customer Insight’ award will see successful personalisation campaigns and CRM usage taken into account, rewarding those excelling in these marketing channels.”
Category debuts
PMA will also be presenting accolades for the first time in a ‘Best New Publisher’ category, which will reward innovation and use of technology in this space. Another new addition, the ‘Best in Mobile Award’ will seek outstanding achievement in the mobile arena, looking into the strategies that embrace the principles behind performance.
The judges will also be paying close attention to exactly how the entrant managed to achieve their end result, with plenty of emphasis on efficiency within the campaign.
“Judges look for concise stories that demonstrate innovation in any campaign and, perhaps most importantly, results against any investment,” commented PerformanceIN’s managing director, Sarah Parsonage.
“Our previous winners are always the campaigns that show the most innovative methods of practice in order to garner a desired result. Given the sheer volume of innovation we’re seeing within our beloved niche, I’m already expecting a similar outcome for this year.”
The full list of categories, open for nominations from publishers, agencies, networks, tech providers and advertisers can be viewed here.
A panel awaits
Joining us at Park Lane’s Grosvenor House Hotel will be a judging panel full of performance marketing veterans, including Josie Shah, director of partner marketing at Hotels.com, Somo’s chief strategy officer Ross Sleight, Squawka co-founder Leo Harrison, with more confirmed judges here.
Next year’s event follows the success of Performance Marketing Awards 2014, which welcomed nearly 1000 attendees from all corners of the industry and saw companies setting a strong precedent.
The night saw Affiliate Window reclaim the ‘Industry Choice of Network’ for a seventh time, while Tradedoubler scooped two accolades in ‘Best Mobile Marketing Campaign’ and ‘Best New Entrant’.