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Judges are seeking a standout partnership that has enabled one or more stakeholders to improve their performance marketing campaigns or company performance.

The partnership could take many forms including but not limited between a publisher and an advertiser, agency and a client or with a tech company in conjunction with an advertiser and publisher.

Judges will take the human touch into careful consideration with a focus on how team members interact to realise the partnership.

This category seeks to reward an outstanding campaign that has excelled in retail E-Commerce using a performance-based methodology.

For this category judges are seeking a standout use of programmatic ad / media-buying behind a best-in-class campaign, on any channel, with clear evidence of results.

This category recognises a campaign that has successfully driven, or helped influence a lead or sale for a brand via a social network, platform, community or creator.

Entry guidance

Social platforms could include, but not limited to Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and Twitch.

The pandemic has required many brands to adapt and evolve.

This new category aims to recognise the achievements of the teams and brands who have successfully adapted their strategy and navigated the pandemic for the holistic benefit of customers and the brand.

“Brand is the engine for strong growth, with performance marketing acting as the fuel’ – This category recognises a campaign where brand and performance teams have combined to drive success for a brand.

It could be a focus on using integrated creative, strategies to drive lower CPA, sharing data to fuel returns or working together in a collaborative manner. Judges will reward a holistic view, innovative thinking, fresh ways of approaching old challenges and experimental initiatives that have driven performance brand marketing.

This category seeks to reward successful campaigns that are carefully planned and executed on behalf of or directly by a brand with an incentive partner.

An incentive partner is defined as being cashback or coupon, browser extension, card-linked offer, gift card incentive or employee reward scheme partner.

Judges will be looking to reward an innovative campaign that maximises the return from incentive partners or that meets or exceeds defined objectives.

Judges will be seeking to reward effective use of a single or multiple performance marketing strategy or technologies to reach and influence consumers for a Direct to Consumer Brand.

Channels working in tandem is the focus of our award for Best Integrated Performance Marketing Campaign. Whether it’s affiliate marketing working with paid search, paid social working with display advertising, or another combination of results-based marketing, we’re rewarding a company or team that has combined two or more activities for great results.

Entries should detail the efforts that have been undertaken in helping things get off the ground, including any evidence of changes that needed to occur to attain the desired outcome.

Returning for 2021, judges are seeking a standout affiliate/partner programme launch or relaunch.

The winning entry will be able to demonstrate diligent research, planning and execution whilst also detailing successful partner adoption, optimisation and/or growth.

The success could be demonstrated in the form of revenue, profitability, efficiencies, expansion into new markets, better meeting the brand’s objectives, synergy, partnership types, and more.

Entry guidance

The category can be entered directly by advertisers in-housing, agencies, affiliate networks or SaaS partnership platforms.

Proficient and successful management of a paid search campaign is likely to pique a judge’s interest in this particular category.

Successful entrants must demonstrate an innovative use of paid search, incorporating new tools and technology where necessary, managed by an in-house team or for a by an agency for a client.

Judges will seek alignment to brand values and goals across a well thought-out and delivered effort.

We’re seeking an innovative and effective paid social campaign or strategy that gained a stellar set of results via a performance-based effort.

Whether the objective was to drive sales, engagement through influencers or generate leads, entries should explain how client objectives were met and ROI achieved from the activity. Judges will be looking out for an effective use of data for the targeting and measurement of specific audiences.

Judges will be rewarding a creative, well executed and effective influencer marketing campaign that has met or exceeded the stated objectives.

Judges understand that campaigns with content creators often have broad objectives. Therefore judges won’t be looking purely at ROI, referrals or social mentions, but a mix of elements that enabled the influencer campaign to perhaps complement other channel activity, drive sales, engagement or increase market share. All entries must refer back to their objectives and demonstrate how they have been met.

Data fuels performance and in many ways underpins market evolution. Judges will be looking for intelligent, creative uses of first, second or third-party data to bring a competitive advantage or revenue stream. Entrants should highlight how the use of data has driven a company or campaign to success, which could be defined as new customer acquisition, retention, engagement or anything else fitting in-line with brand objectives.

Understanding the diversity and nuances of the affiliate marketing channel is paramount to running a successful programme.

With this award judges will be looking for competent and holistic management of an individual brand’s affiliate programme within the region by an OPM, full-service agency, in-house team or affiliate network.

Entry guidance

The affiliate programme can be managed from any country or region. The entry will qualify as long as the affiliate programme targets consumers in one or more country within the specified region (i.e. USA). There is no requirement for the activity to be multi-country. When writing your entry please ensure you answer each element of the judging criteria and refer back to your objectives and how you met them within Smart Execution and/or Effectiveness and ROI.

**this award includes Canadian activity.

Awards can be entered individually or collaboratively by advertisers, publishers, agencies, brands, networks or technologies that have enabled high quality work to be executed.

Judges will be looking for ROI and best practice adoption but also that something extra that sets the entry apart.

The use of data, creativity, innovation, and uniqueness will be key factors.

Entry guidance

The campaign can be managed from any country or region. The entry will qualify as long as the campaign or strategy targets consumers in one or more country within the specified region (USA). There is no requirement for the activity to be multi-country.

**this award includes Canada

Understanding the diversity and nuances of the affiliate marketing channel is paramount to running a successful programme.

With this award judges will be looking for competent and holistic management of an individual brand’s affiliate programme within the region by an OPM, full-service agency, in-house team or affiliate network.

Entry guidance

The affiliate programme can be managed from any country or region. The entry will qualify as long as the affiliate programme targets consumers in one or more country within the specified region (APAC). There is no requirement for the activity to be multi-country. When writing your entry please ensure you answer each element of the judging criteria and refer back to your objectives and how you met them within Smart Execution and/or Effectiveness and ROI.

Understanding the diversity and nuances of the affiliate marketing channel is paramount to running a successful programme.

With this award judges will be looking for competent and holistic management of an individual brand’s affiliate programme within the region by an OPM, full-service agency, in-house team or affiliate network.

Spanning across all performance channels and verticals, judges are seeking an outstanding entry that showcases effective use of performance marketing.

The campaign must utilise one or a combination of elements within performance marketing with evidence of meeting clear campaign objectives.

Awards can be entered individually or collaboratively by advertisers, publishers, agencies, brands, networks or technologies that have enabled high quality work to be executed.

Judges will be looking for ROI and best practice adoption but also that something extra that sets the entry apart. The use of data, creativity, innovation, and uniqueness will be key factors.

Entry guidance

The campaign can be managed from any country or region. The entry will qualify as long as the campaign or strategy targets consumers in one or more country within the specified region (APAC). There is no requirement for the activity to be multi-country.

Spanning across all performance channels and verticals, judges are seeking an outstanding entry that showcases effective use of performance marketing.

The campaign must utilise one or a combination of elements within performance marketing with evidence of meeting clear campaign objectives.

Awards can be entered individually or collaboratively by advertisers, publishers, agencies, brands, networks or technologies that have enabled high quality work to be executed.

Judges will be looking for ROI and best practice adoption but also that something extra that sets the entry apart. The use of data, creativity, innovation, and uniqueness will be key factors.

Entry guidance

The campaign can be managed from any country or region. The entry will qualify as long as the campaign or strategy targets consumers in one or more country within the specified region (LATAM). There is no requirement for the activity to be multi-country.

Judges will reward an Affiliate Network which excels in offering technology and managed account management, enabling its clients (both advertisers and publishers) to fully embrace the breadth of performance marketing.

Entry guidance

This category is open to any affiliate network that offers full service account management. There is no requirement to operate in more than one country or region. After submission the category will also go to a public vote.

Judges will be looking at the advancements made with a SaaS (Software as a Service) platform during the eligibility period, alongside features and innovations that enable clients to excel with their performance marketing activity.

Entry guidance

There is no requirement to operate in more than one country or region. After submission the category will also go to a public vote.

Judges are looking for a performance marketing technology that has helped enhance a client’s performance marketing strategy.

The technology may provide a competitive advantage or allow them to do business in a smarter way or more cost effective manner.

Judges will be looking for an innovative product and evidence of its evolution along with proof of customer adoption, results, and satisfaction.

Entry guidance

There is no requirement to operate in more than one country or region.

Returning for 2021, this multi-demographic award aims to recognise great teams that have earned the respect and admiration of their clients. Great teams keep the industry evolving and the IPMAs are keen to recognise those that excel and collaborate with their clients to optimise their activity and potential.

This award is open to teams from across the Global performance marketing industry.

Open to agencies demonstrating exceptional results through performance marketing for their clients.

Entry guidance

Open to all agencies globally who plan or execute performance marketing campaigns. After submission the category will also go to a public vote.

Aimed at rewarding bright, ambitious and exceptional talent and changemakers working in the global performance marketing industry. To enter this category, you may be nominated either by a client, employer or if desired self-nomiate. You’ll be expected to outline the impact your work has had either for the business, client or holistically for the performance marketing industry.