2021 Categories

Judges are seeking a standout affiliate/partner programme launch or migration. 

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. 

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

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Networks
Tech

Judges are looking to reward an exceptionally researched, planned and executed campaign utilising Price Comparison Websites (PCW).

Open to brands across all verticals from finance to retail. The successful campaign should demonstrate diligent execution with a close eye on ROI and successful adoption of data and/or technology.

The category can be entered by advertisers, agencies and publishers either directly or by a PCW in conjunction with a client.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Tech

We’re seeking a specific lead-based campaign that has firmly met client objectives by delivering high-quality prospects through a smart, cost-effective and ethical strategy.

Successful entrants will be able to quantify the relative value of leads to the client, keeping them in-line with their original objectives for the campaign.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

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 the channel, incorporating data and new tools where necessary, managed by an in-house team or for a client.

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

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

Judges will be looking for an intelligent use of first-, second- or third-party data to bring a competitive advantage.

Entrants should highlight how the use of data has driven success, which could be defined as new customer acquisition, retention, increasing ROI, market voice, engagement or anything else fitting in-line with brand objectives.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

Judges will be seeking evidence of intelligent use of data to drive a performance marketing campaigns success.

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, leads or even footfall, entries should demonstrate how client objectives were met and ROI achieved from the activity.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

Understanding the complexity of the affiliate channel is paramount to running a successful programme.

Judges will be looking for well-executed, competent and holistic management of an individual brand’s affiliate programme by an agency, in-house team or affiliate network, as well as improvement on the previous year’s work.

The entry should demonstrate:

Clear objectives for the affiliate programme during the judging period
Challenges met and how they were overcome
Evidence of a deep understanding of the affiliate industry
Demonstration of a willingness to innovate, adapt and evolve
Evidence of programme optimisation

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

SME’s broadly have different goals and KPI’s to enterprise brands. This new category pitches them exclusively against their peers.

Judges will be looking for well-executed, competent and holistic management of an individual brand’s affiliate programme by an agency, in-house team or affiliate network.

The entry should demonstrate:

Clear objectives for the SME’s affiliate programme during the judging period
Evidence of value add activity with a deep understanding of the affiliate industry to drive results
Demonstration of a willingness to innovate, adapt and evolve the programme
Evidence of programme optimisation and strategies to maximise results from various publisher types.

For this category, an SME is defined as a company with less than 250 employees and <£40m in annual turnover.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

Judges will be accolading innovation in the form of a new technology, creative strategy or campaign in the affiliate space.

Previous winners of this prize have focused on the adoption of new features from their tech partners, their work with other channels and changing the way they reward affiliates in showcasing their excellence. Judges will be looking at ROI but also the potential for change and innovation in the long-term.

Entrants should include within the entry:

What problem has the innovation solved
Challenges met and how they were overcome
Smart execution and deployment of the innovation
Results from deployment of the innovation

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

Judges will be on the lookout for something very simple: a content-based marketing campaign that turned brilliant ideas into clear results.

Your content marketing campaign could include automation, interaction with other channels or data; we’re confident of the winning campaign demonstrating a cohesive, strategic approach with an astute distribution strategy, all backed up by impressive figures.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

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

Judges will seek evidence of diligent planning and creator recruitment, whilst keeping a keen eye on measurement, fraud prevention, effective use of data and most importantly flawless execution.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

Channels working in tandem is the focus of our award for Best Integrated Performance Campaign.

Whether it’s affiliate marketing working with paid search, paid social working with display advertising, or another combination of results-based marketing, a PMA is awarded to 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.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

The Best Brand Engagement Campaign is designed to reward activities that help engage an audience via a performance-based approach.

The winning campaign will have succeeded in generating conversation or actions from the desired audience segment and having this benefit the company’s underlying goal.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

The only category open to companies that operate outside of the United Kingdom. The category seeks to reward exceptional performance marketing activity on a global scale.

The category is made for any publisher, advertiser, network, agency or technology solution making serious progress in performance marketing with their global footprint.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

Judges will seek to reward a campaign that has excelled within the fashion, health or beauty vertical using a performance-based methodology.

Provide examples of how the campaign was creatively planned and smartly executed in addition to any technologies used that added value. Returning again in 2021 – how collaboration and the human touch enhanced the campaign for a competitive edge.

This category can be entered in collaboration with one or multiple clients and must be campaign focused.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

Judges will seek to reward a campaign that has excelled within the retail or e-commerce vertical using a performance-based methodology.

Provide examples of how the campaign was creatively planned and smartly executed in addition to any technologies used that added value. Returning again in 2021 – how collaboration and the human touch enhanced the campaign for a competitive edge.

This category can be entered in collaboration with one or multiple clients and must be campaign focused.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

Judges will seek to reward a campaign that has excelled within the finance vertical using a performance-based methodology.

Provide examples of how the campaign was creatively planned and smartly executed in addition to any technologies used that added value. Returning again in 2021 – how collaboration and the human touch enhanced the campaign for a competitive edge.

This category can be entered in collaboration with one or multiple clients and must be campaign focused.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

Judges will seek to reward a campaign that has excelled within the technology and telecoms vertical using a performance-based methodology.

Provide examples of how the campaign was creatively planned and smartly executed in addition to any technologies used that added value. Returning again in 2021 – how collaboration and the human touch enhanced the campaign for a competitive edge.

This category can be entered in collaboration with one or multiple clients and must be campaign focused.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

Judges will seek to reward a campaign that has excelled within the travel, leisure or lifestyle vertical using a performance-based methodology.

Provide examples of how the campaign was creatively planned and smartly executed in addition to any technologies used that added value. Returning again in 2021 – how collaboration and the human touch enhanced the campaign for a competitive edge.

This category can be entered in collaboration with one or multiple clients and must be campaign focused.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

This award is dedicated to companies who are putting social responsibility, ethics and company culture at the very core of what they do.

Whether it’s supporting directly or allowing the company time to work with charitable schemes, championing diversity or looking at ways to help make your business work best for your employees, this award recognises the very best in socially-responsible business initiatives.

The winning entrant will be able to demonstrate that they practice what they preach and are leaders in corporate social responsibility.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:
Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

Closing the sale is the performance industry’s bread and butter, though in recent years the strategy and technologies used to influence, stretch and close the sale has evolved.

For this category, judges are looking for a well-oiled platform, service or tool that helps brands drive more sales; that could be in the form of data-led messaging, basket stretching, increasing LTV, driving engagement or reducing sales lead times.

Applicants will be required to demonstrate proof of adoption and how objectives were met for a client.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

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 PMAs 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 performance marketing industry.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

The winner of the PMA for Most Effective Agency will have a thriving performance marketing arm, as well boasting success as an operation and manager of results- based marketing efforts.

Advocacy of performance marketing and development of activity within channels will be key, as will the consistent ability to meet client objectives.

As this category requires collation of agency data, a dedicated entry form must be completed to align all entry criteria.

Entries should demonstrate:

Agency deliverables
Innovation and uniqueness
Fair publisher and advertiser strategy, adopting best practice with open transparent communication and programme policies.
Success in delivering ROI – from a client and agency perspective

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Agencies

Judges are looking for a technology that has helped supercharge a client’s performance marketing activity.

Along with obvious benefits through return on spend, the technology, service or SaaS platform may provide a competitive advantage for its subscribers or allow them to do business in a smarter way.

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

Should demonstrate:

What challenges does the technology help to solve
How is the technology unique and innovative
Evidence of client adoption and results
How has the technology evolved during the judging period
Provision of three client testimonials

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Tech

For a shot at their very own PMA, affiliate networks competing for the Publishers Choice of Network award must complete the entry form provided on the website when entries launch.

Judges will then create a shortlist based on a number of attributes on how well the network engages with their clients, enables them to evolve and optimise their performance marketing activity.

Once the shortlist is announced the industry places their vote, with one vote per company rule being retained.

Should demonstrate:

Examples of innovation
Examples of tools or features that set you apart from other networks
Example of going the extra mile
Testimonials

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Networks

For a shot at their very own PMA, publishers competing for the Industry’s Choice of Publisher award must complete the entry form provided on the website when entries launch.

Judges will then create a shortlist based on a number of attributes on how well
the network engages with its clients, enables them to evolve and optimise their performance marketing activity.

Once the shortlist is announced the industry places their vote, with our one vote one company rule being retained.

Should demonstrate:

Examples of innovation
Examples of tools or features that set you apart from other publishers
Example of going the extra mile
Testimonials

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Publishers

Aimed at rewarding bright, ambitious and exceptional talent working in the performance marketing industry.

There is no fee to enter this category and nominations are welcome from across all demographics; this could be directly from individuals with employer endorsement, or from their employers, however, employers must outline the impact the nominee has had on the business and their performance during the judging period.

Up to six entrants will be shortlisted who will be invited to the judging day to pitch to four dragons on an industry related topic. During the pitch, judges will be looking for drive, enthusiasm, ambition and industry knowledge.

Before heading to the judging day, the shortlisted entrants will be encouraged to seek wider endorsements from the industry via a voting form, with qualitative feedback from clients and peers considered by judges.

THIS AWARD IS OPEN TO:

Advertisers
Agencies
Publishers
Networks
Tech

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.

Judges are looking to reward joined-up thinking and smart, successful execution of a brands overall performance marketing strategy that’s been led by an agency or consultancy.

Guidance: This new category differs from Best Managed Affiliate Programme in that it includes all facets of performance marketing for a client.

New for 2021 judges are seeking a publisher/affiliate that can detail to judges how they have successfully worked with a specific advertiser with a close partnership that has been fruitful for both parties.

Guidance: This category may be led by and entered by either the publisher/affiliate or the brand.

Open to technology partners and startups who have adopted performance marketing methodologies to drive revenue for clients on a performance basis.

Guidance: Emerging definition is one establishing performance revenue for no longer than 3 years.

A high-level initiative by a company or group that has helped further the development of the performance marketing industry.

An initiative or programme that helps members of their team or the wider industry cope with working-life, whether mental health, collaboration or provide inspiration, training or general wellbeing.