Category : MarCom Awards

Which Category Do I choose?

With the deadline now only a few days away, entries have all of a sudden started flooding in. If ever there was an industry that needs a deadline, it is marketing and communications. Perhaps, it is because we are creative types and we need a swift kick, or maybe it’s because everyone is overworked and understaffed.

Telephone calls and questions have also picked up. Many people are concerned about picking the right category. Judges recognize that every entry does not fit exactly into a well-defined category. Your work is designed specifically for your client and is unique to them and their needs. Don’t worry about choosing between similar categories… for instance, whether it is better to enter a brochure in Capabilities versus Company Overview. In most cases, it doesn’t stand a better chance in one category versus another. An exception would be a general category versus a specific one such as Brochure/Informational versus Brochure/Design. Judges are told to evaluate each piece based on their perceptions of what it is and how it can be used. We recognize that many pieces have multiple purposes. Judges are not looking to knock out entries on a technicality related to category, that is why we don’t publish a definition and list of prerequisites for each category.  Occasionally, they move the entry from a category that is obviously wrong. If you don’t like our categories, choose an Other category and write in a new one.

We are also asked about accompanying paperwork. We have all filled out competition forms that call for a masters thesis. We are trying to make it easy on you and the judges. A creative explanation is not necessary for most MarCom categories. We stipulate that every project was completed under budget, with a limited staff, in a short timeframe and was well-received by the client. Since you are not under oath when filling out award documentation, our judges use their own experience and perceptions in evaluating what you had to work with in the way of budgets, challenges, creativity, etc. Ultimately, a brochure, magazine, website, video etc. has to stand on its own. For categories where there is a plan or strategy, we are looking for whatever you gave your client (internal or external). Was there a recap? synopsis etc.?  What materials were generated? If there isn’t something that will suffice, then write something based on Objectives, Challenges, Solutions and send us any materials.

Through the years, we have fielded a number of requests to view winning submissions. We understand the difficulty in getting permission from your company or client to post work, even if it is already in the public domain. We respect that and won’t post anything without permission. In fact, we have occasionally been asked to not include the client’s name on our winner’s list.

As judges go through the entries (they started several weeks ago), they will occasionally get excited about something and one of them will make a comment on our blog along with a post of the entry. This is only done if we have been granted permission with an online entry. More than half of the entries do not come with permission. We even have some companies that make us sign nondisclosure forms.  So, we take privacy issues very seriously.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call or email.  A couple of the people in our office (Terry and Tricia) will even be nice to you.

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MarCom Winner, Truman Medical Center

Winner: Truman Medical Center Location: Kansas City, MO Category: Publicity Campaign Web Address: www.trumed.org/truweb/ Truman Medical Center services a primarily poor urban area in Kansas City plagued by chronic illnesses.  The hospital knows that one of the paths to wellness is good nutrition, but often urban areas do not have adequate grocery stores that stock healthy […]

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MarCom Winner, Institute of Food Technologists

Winner: Institute of Food Technologists Title: “World Without Food Science” Category: Informational, web video Web Address: www.ift.org Campaign Address: www.worldwithoutfoodscience.org Riveting is not a word you would ordinarily associate with Food Science. But the makers of this informational web video created a story hard not to watch. Using black and white cinematography, sparse script, and […]

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Shazaaam!

Winner: Shazaaam! Public Relations Location: Detroit , MI Business Type: Public Relations + Marketing Category: Pro Bono What is always noticeable in the MarCom Awards is the considerable pro bono work done by advertising agencies, public relations and marketing firms. Recently, Shazaaam! Public Relations in Detroit, Michigan volunteered to handle publicity surrounding a very charitable act to a needy family […]

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Photography in Advertising

Winner: Mel Lindstrom
Client: Wing Stop
Location: San Francisco, CA
Business Type: Photography
Category: Photography in Advertising
One of the hardest tasks of selling a potential customer is differentiating your product from the competition’s.  I imagine few of us have given much thought to what makes a good buffalo wing or what makes one better than the other (unless it’s Superbowl Sunday). But obviously Bay Area photographer Mel Lindstrom has. In an eye catching Wing-Stop ad, Mel captures three mouth watering flavors with three very expressive faces.  The lighting isn’t complicated and neither is the set–no need to be. The models are so ‘spot on’ and the poses so picture perfect, the personalities jump off the page delivering a message that needs few words or tricks.
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MarCom Winner, Greenfield/Belser Ltd.

Winner: Greenfield/Belser Ltd Location: Washington D.C. Business Type: Interactive Brand Design Category: Website Every year it seems that websites get better while at the same time becoming more uniform.  It’s sometimes hard to differentiate between a website for accountants and one for a charity.   Greenfield/Belser Ltd. of Washington D.C has created a law firm website that breaks through homogenized […]

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Marcom Winner, Guerrilla Design

Winner: Guerrilla Design Location: Toronto, CA Business Type: Marketing & Advertising Designer: Saida Yunes Category: Business Card When you hand someone a business card, you want to make an impression.  That’s especially true if your company is in the business of designing cards.  Saida Yunes of Guerrilla Design has created a card that’s hard to forget […]

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2012 MarCom Awards – Open For Entries

HONORING EXCELLENCE IN MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

 

If your work is among the best in the creative world, your organization, bosses and clients need to know it. Enter your most creative marketing and communication work and receive peer judged, unbiased, third-party recognition from the most respected creative competition in the world.

For 2012, MarCom has a new website, a new brochure design and many new categories. It is quick and easy to enter online. In a few minutes, you can register, select your categories and upload your entries. Check us out at www.marcomawards.com.

Direct Marketing + Publications + Strategic Communications + Web-Based Media + Video


 

Entries should be postmarked by September 14, 2012. If you need an extension, call 817-303-2769 or email info@marcomawards.com

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