＿OUR 2024 ECHOCATEGORIES.

Business Products and Services

Showcase your marketing mastery where it impacts the bottom line. This category celebrates campaigns that have not just reached, but resonated with business audiences. If your strategy and creativity turned complex B2B offerings into compelling narratives that drove undeniable results, we want to hear your story. We’re balancing the scales equally between strategy, creativity, and results—seeking those who’ve championed their brands to the forefront of the business world.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Consumer Products and Services

In a realm where consumer attention is the ultimate prize, this category honors those who’ve navigated the vast and varied landscape of consumer products and services with unparalleled creativity and precision. Whether it’s revitalizing household names or introducing the next must-have, your campaign’s ability to marry innovative strategy with bold creativity and measurable success is what sets you apart. Let’s see how you’ve turned everyday items into extraordinary tales of desire and fulfillment.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Financial Services

In an industry where trust is currency and innovation is the interest rate, this category rewards marketing campaigns that have successfully navigated the complex world of financial services. From traditional banking to the dynamic realm of fintech, if your campaign has shown exceptional creativity, strategic insight, and measurable impact in promoting financial products or services, we’re all ears. Show us how you’ve made the intricate simple and the ordinary extraordinary.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Health, Wellness and Pharma

Where science meets the human spirit, this category celebrates campaigns in the health, wellness, and pharmaceutical sectors that have achieved remarkable outcomes by connecting with their audience on a deeply personal level. Whether it’s promoting medical devices to professionals or wellness products to consumers, your work should exemplify how strategic ingenuity, creative storytelling, and data-driven results can lead to healthier lives and communities.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Not for Profit

Making a difference is the ultimate goal, and this category shines a light on campaigns that have amplified the voices of non-profit organizations, driving action, and fostering change. If your marketing has helped to raise awareness, funds, or support for a cause, showcasing both your creative approach and the measurable impact of your efforts, we want to celebrate your contribution to making the world a better place.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Publishing, Entertainment, Media and Sports

Dive into the heart of stories that move, entertain, and inspire. This category celebrates the marketing magicians who’ve elevated books, magazines, films, games, and sports into must-experience phenomena. If your campaign has not only sold tickets but also created lasting memories and fostered communities of fans, your innovative blend of strategy, creativity, and results deserves the spotlight.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Retail and eCommerce

In the bustling marketplace of retail and eCommerce, standing out is about more than just shouting the loudest. This category honors campaigns that have masterfully combined strategy, creativity, and technology to draw crowds, drive sales, and build lasting relationships. From brick-and-mortar to click-and-order, show us how your marketing has set the bar for retail excellence.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Transportation (Inc Automotive)

From the thrill of travel to the allure of the open road, this category honors marketing excellence in moving people—physically and emotionally. Whether it’s launching the latest model or promoting sustainable travel options, your campaign should showcase how strategic insights and creative storytelling have been harnessed to drive the transportation sector forward.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Technology and Telecommunications

In an industry that’s always at the speed of thought, this category rewards campaigns that have connected with audiences through cutting-edge creativity and strategic innovation. From software to smartphones, if your marketing has made complex tech seem simple and essential, demonstrating tangible results along the way, we’re tuned in to your frequency.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Utilities

Lighting up lives and homes, this category shines on marketing campaigns in the utilities sector that have effectively communicated the essential nature of their services. Whether it’s promoting sustainable energy use or ensuring reliability, show us how your campaigns have been instrumental in building trust and driving consumer engagement.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Best Experiential / Out of Home

Experience is everything. This category seeks out campaigns that have broken the mold of traditional advertising by creating immersive, memorable interactions with audiences. Whether through groundbreaking out-of-home displays or engaging experiential activations, we’re looking for work that proves the power of connecting with people in real, tangible ways.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Best use of Digital Advertising

Digital is the frontier where creativity meets technology head-on, and this category is for those who’ve mastered that convergence. If your campaign utilized the digital domain to not only reach but truly engage your audience through innovative targeting and strategic genius, leading to remarkable results, your work belongs here. From search optimization to the clever use of programmatic, show us how your digital ads didn’t just populate screens but captured imaginations and drove action.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Best use of Email

Far from being obsolete, email remains one of the most direct and effective communication channels. This category is for campaigns that have utilized email marketing to its fullest potential, crafting messages that resonate, engage, and convert. If your emails have consistently delivered both open rates and impact, let’s get into the inbox details.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Best use of Mail 

In a digital world, physical mail stands out. This category celebrates campaigns that have creatively and effectively used direct mail to capture attention, inspire action, and produce measurable results. Whether addressed or unaddressed, show us how your campaign has left a lasting impression right from the mailbox.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Best use of Mobile

Mobile is our gateway to the world. This category applauds campaigns that have skillfully used mobile technology to engage audiences, whether through apps, augmented reality, location-based services, or mobile-first strategies. If your work demonstrates innovative mobile integration or stands out as a mobile-centric campaign, you’re in the right place.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Best use of Social

In a world where every scroll is a potential story, this category is for campaigns that have turned social platforms into stages for remarkable brand narratives. If your social media campaign has sparked conversations, built communities, and driven results through engaging content and strategic acumen, let’s see how you’ve harnessed the power of social to connect and convert.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Best Art Direction

Visuals speak louder than words. This category recognizes campaigns that have elevated brand messaging through exceptional art direction. If your work has used visual elements not just to catch the eye but to captivate the mind, translating data and insights into aesthetic brilliance that resonates with your audience, we invite you to showcase your artistic prowess.

Judged 40% Strategy, 40% Creativitry and 20% Results

Best Copywriting

Words wield power—to inform, persuade, and move. This category honors the art of copywriting, showcasing campaigns where the written word has been employed with exceptional skill to craft messages that resonate deeply with audiences. Whether through ad copy, content marketing, or social media narratives, if your words have turned readers into followers, customers, or advocates, we’re eager to celebrate the craft behind your compelling narratives.

Judged 40% Strategy, 40% Creativitry and 20% Results

Best use of Design and UX/UI

Design is the silent ambassador of your brand. This category is for campaigns that have excelled in using design and user experience to communicate, persuade, and delight. Whether it’s through stunning visuals, intuitive interfaces, or seamless interactions, we’re looking for work that proves great design is great business.

Judged 40% Strategy, 40% Creativitry and 20% Results

Best use of Generative AI

In the fast-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, generative AI stands out as a frontier for creativity. This category recognizes campaigns that have leveraged generative AI to produce unique content, innovative solutions, or personalized experiences. From AI-generated art to dynamic content personalization, show us how you’ve harnessed the power of generative AI to break new ground in creativity and effectiveness, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in marketing.

Judged 40% Strategy, 40% Creativitry and 20% Results

Best use of Video Content

Video continues to be one of the most powerful mediums for storytelling, with its ability to convey emotion, information, and inspiration in a dynamic format. This category celebrates campaigns that have mastered the art of video content, whether for brand storytelling, product showcases, or engaging narratives that drive action. If your video content has cut through the noise, capturing hearts and minds while delivering measurable results, we want to see your work shine.

Judged 40% Strategy, 40% Creativitry and 20% Results

Best CSR Campaign

In a world craving positive change, this category honors campaigns from for-profit entities that have made significant impacts in areas of social responsibility. If your campaign has tackled issues from inequality to environmental conservation with creativity and effectiveness, share how your brand has become a force for good.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Best Customer Acquisition Program

Every customer journey starts with a single step, and this category celebrates the campaigns that have most effectively initiated those journeys. If your marketing has mastered the art of attraction, using innovative strategies and creative executions to turn prospects into loyal customers, we’re looking for your success stories of growth and engagement.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Best Immersive Experience (including gaming)

This category is a celebration of marketing that transcends traditional boundaries to offer immersive, engaging experiences that captivate audiences. Whether through virtual reality, gaming, augmented reality, or other innovative platforms, we’re looking for campaigns that have transported users to another world, creating memorable interactions that drive engagement and results. Share how your immersive experience has connected with audiences on a deeper level, merging creativity and technology to forge lasting impressions.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Best Integrated Campaign

Synergy is the name of the game in this category, which celebrates campaigns that seamlessly blend multiple media channels to tell a cohesive story that resonates with audiences far and wide. If your campaign has utilized at least three channels to amplify your message, creating a symphony of strategy, creativity, and results, we want to see how you orchestrated success across platforms.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Best Loyalty and Retention program

In the quest for customer loyalty, creativity, and strategy play pivotal roles. This category rewards campaigns that have gone beyond the first sale to foster enduring relationships, turning customers into advocates and regulars into royalty. Showcase your approach to keeping your brand top-of-mind and your customers coming back for more.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Best Results and ROI

Bottom-line impact meets top-tier creativity here. We’re seeking campaigns that not only broke the mold creatively but also shattered expectations with their results. If you’ve masterfully blended innovative strategy with compelling creative to deliver exceptional business outcomes, demonstrate how your work didn’t just aim for the stars—it reached them.

Judged 20% Strategy, 20% Creativity and 60% Results

Best use of New Technology

Frontiers of marketing are constantly being redrawn by new technology. This category is for campaigns that have harnessed emerging tech—be it AI, VR, AR, or beyond—to engage audiences in ways previously unimaginable. Share how your cutting-edge application of technology led to groundbreaking results.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Campaign under u$s250K

Big ideas don’t always need big budgets. This category celebrates the Davids in a field of Goliaths—campaigns that have achieved significant impact with resources under $250K. If your strategy and creativity have stretched every dollar to its maximum potential, we’re interested in the innovative ways you’ve made a little go a long way.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Best use of 1st party data

In an era where data privacy reigns supreme, first-party data becomes a goldmine for marketers. This category honors campaigns that have leveraged their own data to unlock personalized marketing magic, deepening customer relationships and driving results. Show us how your first-party data strategy has set new standards for effectiveness and ethics.

Judged 50% on Strategy and 50% on Results

Best Data-inspired Creative 

When data reveals a story, great marketers listen and then speak it out loud through their campaigns. This category is for those who’ve used data not just to target, but to inspire, crafting creative narratives that resonate on a deeply personal level. If your campaign’s foundation was a unique data insight that blossomed into a creative masterpiece, share your journey from numbers to narrative.

Judged equally on Strategy, Creativity and Results

Best use of Martech

Marketing technology offers endless possibilities to innovate, optimize, and engage. This category recognizes campaigns that have skillfully utilized martech to drive marketing performance to new heights. Whether it’s through automation, analytics, or advanced engagement tools, show us how you’ve leveraged technology to redefine marketing excellence.

Judged 50% on Strategy and 50% on Results

Best use of Predictive AI/ML

Predict the future, today. This category is for campaigns that have utilized predictive AI and machine learning to forecast trends, behaviors, and outcomes, transforming these insights into strategic advantages. From segmentation to personalization, if your use of predictive AI has propelled your campaign forward, we’re eager to uncover the intelligence behind your success.

Judged 50% on Strategy and 50% on Results

Best use of SEO

In the vast sea of online content, being seen is as important as being significant. This category rewards campaigns that have mastered the art of SEO to ensure their message not only reaches but also resonates with their target audience. If your strategic use of SEO has significantly improved your visibility and results, let’s dive into the details.

Judged 50% on Strategy and 50% on Results