If you have not gotten your Markie submission in yet, it's not too late! Good news. We've EXTENDED the deadline out a week to SUNDAY, AUGUST 31. No further extensions will be granted, so be sure to get your entry in by that date. Read on to get more details about this year's awards program, and visit our website to see an updated list of categories and details on how to submit.
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We're pleased to announce that the 8th Annual Markie Awards are finally here! Since 2007 we have been formally honoring your marketing excellence with the Markie Awards and each year it's become bigger, better, more exciting, and more competitive. The winner in each category receives a beautiful statue to announce to the world what they’ve accomplished. This is your chance to shine and earn the recognition that you deserve!
New for 2014, the European and North American Markies will combine into one Global Markie Awards program, with a ceremony to take place at Modern Marketing Experience Europe in London this October. The submission period has JUST been extended one week and is open NOW through SUNDAY, August 31. No further extensions will be granted, so be sure to get your entry in by that date. See our updated list of categories, get the full details on how to submit, then prepare to WOW us with your achievements!
This year’s Global Markie Awards will feature the following 12 categories: (submission documents are available to download at the bottom of this post) [Note: Submissions for the 2014 Markie Awards will only be accepted for these categories.]
- Best Cross-Channel Marketing Program (NEW)– Are you creating personalized experiences with messages and promotions across web, social, mobile, email, display, or other digital channels? Are you attracting or retaining your ideal customers? If they’re fiercely loyal, become brand advocates, or are simply driving revenue then you know you’ve got a winner. Share your program details and your metrics with us.
- Best Data Orchestration (NEW) - Every modern marketer knows that inaccurate, inconsistent, or old data decreases marketing effectiveness. But data hygiene is just the start. Then you need to add a data management platform and activate the data. This award recognizes organizations that have made orchestrating data a strategic priority and have seen that investment pay off with faster conversion rates, increased revenue, and higher ROI.
- Best International Campaign– Impress us with a campaign you’ve run outside the United States. It may have been in multiple countries in multiple languages, a modification of program originally created in the US and re-launched in another country, or any variation in between. Measurable results – especially in comparison to non-localized campaigns – will be critical in demonstrating success.
- Best IT – Marketing Collaboration (NEW)– Have your IT, marketing, and sales teams overcome organizational silos and cultural hurdles to collaboratively spark the creation of something completely new: A stunning approach where data management or business intelligence insights bring about new levels of customer insight, real-time decision making capabilities, improved marketing and sales efficiencies, or a better customer experience? Finalists in this category think beyond the norm and consider how they can work with IT to leverage tech investments far beyond marketing automation to positively impact the business and revenue.
- Best Lead Nurturing Program - Do you have a sophisticated lead nurturing program that delivered measurable results? Does your program make decisions that matter and result in actions that are compelling? Do you have creative workflows or interesting segmentation? Tell us about it and you might take home the Markie.
- Best Social Campaign - Has your brand or company effectively used social marketing as a strategy to build brand awareness or turn customers and prospects into advocates? Has your brand used social media in new and interesting ways or as the centerpiece of a successful new program? Have you seized social media opportunities and generated proven results? If so, this is the category for you.
- Content is King– Drawing in prospects with engaging content is an important piece of modern marketing. If you’ve aligned your target personas and the buyer’s journey to your content strategy, this Markie is for you. Tell us how your content converts prospects, sustains customers, and impacts revenue to take home the statue. Winners of this Markie will have a holistic, team-wide approach to content marketing that sets them apart from their competitors.
- Extraordinary Email - Yes, email can be extraordinary. In fact, there are some email communications that are so well written, so masterfully designed, that it’s only a question of when people will respond, not if. Achieving extraordinary response rates isn’t luck. It’s the result of great targeting, content, personalization, and timing. Show us your best performing email—whether it’s fancy HTML or simple text—and the response it drove to compete for this Markie.
- Integration Innovation - Have you taken advantage of integration to enhance your processes or improve your analytics? Tell us about the successful ways you’ve used third-party cloud or other applications to streamline and enhance your marketing efforts, or how you’ve used APIs in interesting ways. Your results of time or money saved, increased response rates, improved productivity, or better targeting will help you win this Markie.
- Metrics That Matter - This award recognizes an organization that has moved beyond reporting on simple clicks and conversions and can now make strategic business decisions based on the metrics they measure. Explain how you quantified to justify, reported on ROI, or demonstrated marketing’s impact on the business to be recognized for your performance.
- Modern Marketing Leader of the Year - Just as great people are the foundation for successful businesses, innovators are often the driving force behind exceptional marketing. You know who they are—the passionate senior people that push their teams to succeed, lead change, set the vision for the entire marketing organization, and deliver results. Tell us about their achievements to secure their own personal Markie statue! (Please note that this award will be given to an individual [VP or CMO], not an organization.)
- Most Creative Marketing Campaign - Sometimes all of the pieces align to create a fantastic marketing campaign—the perfect idea, the right target, the memorable artwork, the personalized follow-up, and of course, the measurable results. Inspire us by sharing your creativity in screenshots or links.
Here are some answers to our most Frequently Asked Questions: (click the link to see all FAQs)
What are the Markie Awards?
The Markie Awards celebrate and recognize excellent marketing — when right-brain creativity and left-brain analytics combine together for greatness. The winner in each category receives a beautiful statue to announce to the world what they’ve accomplished. This is your chance to shine and earn the recognition that you deserve.
Who can enter?
Any marketer anywhere that has demonstrated results from their marketing activities.
How do I enter the Markie Awards?
We will accept submissions for the 2014 Global Markie Awards June 23 - August 31. No exceptions will be made, so be sure to download your entry form below and get started now in order to meet the deadline. Finalists will be announced September 12 and winners will be announced October 15.
If I cannot attend the Awards Ceremony can I still enter? Can I still win?
Absolutely. Although we would love to see you all at Modern Marketing Experience Europe, but we understand not all finalists will be able to make it to London. Several past winners have been unable to attend and instead designated someone to accept on their behalf.
Can I enter more than one category?
Yes. For example, you may want to submit your cross-channel marketing program and your lead nurturing program, each into their respective categories. However we ask that you enter a specific campaign into only one category.
I want to enter in a category from last year, but I don’t see it on this year’s list of categories. Can I still enter in this category?
No. In order to keep the Markie Awards fresh and relevant to Modern Marketers, we review and revamp our list of categories each year. We will only accept submissions for the categories listed for 2014.
What makes a winning entry?
Visit the Markies website to read entries from our previous finalists and winners.
If you have further questions that are not answered on our FAQs page, please feel free to post them here or send me a direct message.
We can't wait to see your amazing submissions!