2024 Shortlist

The Best Brand Engagement Campaign seeks to reward activities that help engage an audience with a brand 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.

Judges will be on the lookout for a content partnership that turned brilliant ideas into measurable results.

The content partnership could have helped guide consumers along the purchasing funnel via commerce content or social commerce to drive sales or leads for a brand.

Savvy marketers push boundaries and seek innovative solutions to overcome challenges. Regardless of budget size—whether micro, small, or large—judges are eager to recognise those who have embraced a test-and-learn approach through experimental campaigns. These campaigns should leverage new technologies, creative ideas, or data-driven insights that have delivered positive results for the client.

Judges are looking for well-executed campaigns or strategies that effectively leverage multiple partner collaborations and diverse performance marketing methods to engage and influence consumers across all stages of the purchasing funnel.

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

Whether it’s affiliate marketing working with paid search, CTV working with creators or another combination of outcome-based marketing, the award will be furnished to a company or team that has combined two or more measurable 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.

Judges are looking for a lead generation campaign that has effectively met client objectives by delivering high-quality prospects through a smart, cost-efficient, and ethical strategy.

Winning entries will demonstrate the ability to quantify the value of leads in alignment with the client’s original campaign goals, showcasing clear success in achieving those objectives.

A deep understanding of the complexities within the affiliate channel is crucial to running a successful program.

In this category, judges will be seeking examples of well-executed, competent, and holistic management of an enterprise-level brand’s affiliate program, whether managed by an agency, in-house team, or affiliate network.
Entries should also demonstrate significant improvements over the previous year’s performance.

For this category, ‘Enterprise’ is defined as a company with more than 250 employees and an annual turnover exceeding £40 million.

SMEs typically have distinct goals and KPIs compared to larger enterprise brands, and this category is designed to evaluate them exclusively against their peers.

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

For this category, an SME is defined as a company with fewer than 250 employees and an annual turnover of under £40 million.

Winning entries should showcase a high level of proficiency in using the paid search channel, including the strategic use of data, platforms, and innovative tools, whether managed in-house or on behalf of a client.

Judges will look for campaigns that align seamlessly with brand values and objectives, demonstrating a well-planned and executed approach.

Judges are looking to recognise an innovative and impactful paid social campaign or strategy that achieved outstanding results through a performance-driven approach.

Whether the goal was to drive sales, boost engagement, amplify with UGC, generate leads, or perhaps increase footfall, entries should clearly demonstrate how the campaign met and exceeded the client’s objectives.

Judges will be recognising innovation in the performance marketing space, whether through technology, creative strategy, or campaign execution.

While return on investment (ROI) will be a key consideration, judges will also evaluate the potential for long-term impact and transformative innovation.

Judges will seek to recognise innovative and strategic use of AI that enhances the planning, research, execution, or measurement of performance marketing efforts. They are particularly interested in how AI has been intelligently applied to drive improvements and deliver impactful results in these areas.

Judges will be seeking entries that demonstrate smart and strategic use or analysis of first-, second-, or third-party data.

Entrants should clearly illustrate how their data-driven approach has directly contributed to the success of their campaign or initiative.

Sophisticated use of dynamic commissioning to drive value and sales for a brand will be recognised with this new category.

Judges will be seeking to reward a strategy that has driven value and efficiencies for the brand, whilst incentivising partners to drive profitable sales.

Judges will be looking for creative, well-executed, and highly effective use of influencer marketing that has met or exceeded the client’s stated objectives.

Entries should provide evidence of strategic technology adoption and meticulous planning, with a strong focus on measurement, creativity, and most importantly, flawless execution.

Judges are seeking a standout use of programmatic ad-buying with clear evidence of results.

Judges will be looking to reward an entry that clearly details the campaigns objectives, target audience, inventory used, and determine the value of the programmatic ad strategy to the business or client.

The Best Business to Business (B2B) category seeks to reward a B2B campaign utilising any performance-based methodology to meet predefined goals and objectives for the brand.

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. 

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

Judges will look to reward a retail or eCommerce campaign that has excelled through the use of performance-based methodologies.

Entries should showcase how the campaign was creatively planned and strategically executed, highlighting any technologies that added significant value.

This category is open to submissions in collaboration with one or multiple clients and must focus on a specific campaign.

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 2024 – 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.

Judges will seek to reward a campaign that has excelled within the travel, leisure, or lifestyle verticals through the use of performance-based methodologies.

Entries should showcase how the campaign was creatively planned and strategically executed, highlighting any technologies that added significant value.

This category is open to submissions in collaboration with one or multiple clients and must be focused on a specific campaign.

For a shot at their very own PMA, affiliate networks or SaaS competing for the Affiliate Network or SaaS of the Year award, must enter as usual via the website. Judges will then create a shortlist based on how well the network or SaaS engages and supports their clients, enabling them to evolve and optimise their performance marketing activity.

Once the shortlist is announced the industry places their vote. With one vote per company taken into consideration when deciding the outright winner.

As per last year, this award focuses on product development, service and support for both advertisers and for publishers/affiliates.

Judges are seeking a technology that has significantly enhanced growth, service, or efficiency in clients’ performance marketing activities.

Beyond delivering a strong return on investment, the technology should offer a competitive advantage or enable smarter business practices for its users.

Judges will look for an innovative product that demonstrates clear evolution, with tangible evidence of customer adoption, measurable results, and high levels of satisfaction.

Judges are looking for a technology that has helped brands target consumers and achieve measurable sales or improved customer experience, through innovative technology.

Entrants should demonstrate how its technology is innovative and supports advertisers in their performance marketing efforts.

The winner of the PMA for Best Affiliate & Partnership Marketing Agency will be masters of planning and executing joined-up affiliate and partnership campaigns for their clients. Utilising multiple forms of performance-based partnerships to deliver exceptional results.

The winner of the PMA for Best Agency Specialising in Performance Media (Programmatic, Performance Content, CTV, Native, Data Solutions, etc.) will be recognised as a leader in driving exceptional value for clients by expertly utilising the full range of performance media methodologies.

This agency will excel in delivering digital optimisation and fostering positive transformation, consistently achieving outstanding results for their clients.

This award celebrates outstanding teams that have earned the respect and admiration of their clients across multiple demographics.

Great teams are the driving force behind industry evolution, and the PMAs are eager to recognise those who excel in collaboration, optimising both client activity and potential.

This award is open to teams from all sectors of the performance marketing industry and can include internal or customer facing teams.

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

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 our dragons (judges) on an industry related topic.

During the pitch, judges will be looking for drive, enthusiasm, ambition and industry knowledge.

A reduced fee is applicable for entry.

This award will honour a partnership that has successfully achieved its objectives while making a positive impact on the world.

Eligible partnerships may focus on initiatives that promote sustainability, health and well-being, social good, or environmental responsibility.

The winner will be a collaboration that not only met its goals but also contributed to a better, more sustainable or meaningful future.

Judges are looking to recognise a standout partnership between two or more companies that has driven mutual success.

Success can be defined in various ways, such as boosting customer conversions, increasing sales, or amplifying brand reach.

Given the diverse nature of partnerships, any collaboration that has significantly advanced each party’s goals or mission will be considered for this award.

Judges are seeking to honour a publisher who has stood out over the past 12 months by blending innovation, creativity, and originality.

This publisher will have delivered exceptional results that not only set them apart from their peers but also raised the bar in the industry.

Judges are seeking a compelling example of a real-world challenge that was successfully overcome for a client, resulting in a remarkable outcome.

This award will recognise the effective use of technology and the collaboration of great teams to deliver an innovative and impactful solution.