How to Enter & Vote in the a4uAwards on 5th June 2008

There are just 85 days to go until we kick off the a4uAwards with a Champagne reception - time will fly, so this rather long blog will explain how you or your company can enter the awards free of charge- try to keep with it!

There are in total 16 categories up for grabs, each will attract an overall winner, and a runner up.

All publishers choice and community choice awards will be open for voting on Monday 17th March 2008.

All other awards are already Open for Submissions

Publisher’s and Community Choice Awards

The highly coveted publisher’s and community choice awards are back, and we have a selection up for grabs to be won by the most deserving companies and individuals as seen by affiliates (for the publisher choice) and other members of the Affiliate Marketing community (for the community choice awards)

Publisher’s Choice of Network 2008

This is a whopper! publishers / affiliates who are members of affiliates4u will vote for their choice of affiliate network. The first stage will be a free field vote. The top 5 will go through to a final round of multiple choice voting. The results of which will be announced on June 5th.

Publisher’s Choice of Account Manager

Publishers / affiliates who are members of affiliates4u will vote for their choice of account manager at an agency or network. To be clear, an account manager is defined as someone working on multiple campaigns at a network or agency. The first stage will involve a free field vote, with a final round of multiple choice voting.

Affiliate Manager of 2008

Publishers / affiliates who are members of affiliates4u will vote for their choice of affiliate manager at an individual merchant. The top 5 will go through to a final round of multiple choice voting.

Community Choice Awards

All members of affiliates4u.com will be given the opportunity to nominate for these awards. This includes networks, agencies and merchants.

Affiliate Marketing Blog of 2008

A popular award in 2007 and with the increase in blogs this year we expect this one to be hotly contended. The first stage will once again involve a free field vote. The top 5 will go through to a final round of multiple choice voting.

Agency of the Year *agencies are not permitted to nominate within this catagory

Aembers of affiliates4u are given the opporunity to nominate who they feel deserves the title of “Agency of the Year” 2008. The top 5 will go through to a final round of multiple choice voting.

Publisher of the Year *affiliates/publishers are not permitted to nominate within this catagory

Another popular award in 2007. You are invited to nominate who you feel deserves this prestigious title in 2008. The top 5 will go through to a final round of multiple choice voting before the winner is announced at the a4uAwards ceremony.

Affiliates4u Award for Excellence

To win this award you need to be nominated by the Affiliate Marketing community. To nominate an individual, team or company for this special award please use the submission form and provide a testimonial stating precise reasons why you feel they should pick up the award on June 5th.

You cannot enter this award personally; someone must nominate and provide a testimonial on your behalf.

The number and quality of the nominations will be taken very strongly into consideration by the panel. The winner will be announced on 5th June at the awards ceremony.

Community choice awards will be open for nomination on Monday 17th March.

Other Affiliate Marketing Award Categories

These awards require more complex submissions and therefore are judged by a varied panel of Affiliate Marketing figureheads.

Best use of Creative

Show the industry how creative you can be within Affiliate Marketing. Demonstrate to the judges the use of creative within Affiliate Marketing with the mix of technology, flair and design to increase conversion and ROI for the publisher.

Who can enter: All parties

Best Network Innovation

Judges are looking for a single innovation that has made an outstanding contribution to the publisher whether in terms of workload, revenue opportunities or new opportunities.

Who can enter: Affiliate Networks

Best Merchant Innovation

This category celebrates merchant innovation within Affiliate Marketing. Whether based on technology or another medium, the innovation would have made a real difference to clients within the Affiliate Marketing sector.

Who can enter: Merchants (or an agency / network on their behalf)

Agency of the Year

This award will go to an Agency that has demonstrated a real understanding and commitment to the Affiliate Marketing channel.

Who can enter: Agencies

Publisher / Affiliate of The Year

Judges are looking for a publisher who has performed outstandingly, with a commitment to the channel, whose innovation has shone through.

Who can enter: Publishers / Affiliates

Best Use of Affiliate Marketing As Part of an Integrated Campaign

Judges are looking for evidence of competent integration of Affiliate Marketing within the wider marketing mix.

Who can enter: All Parties

All non publisher / community choice awards are now open for submissions.

Vertical Affiliate Marketing Awards

Vertical awards have been designed to reward innovators and those that excel within their vertical. Awards exist for - Travel, Finance, Retail, Gaming and Technology & Telecoms.

The vertical awards can be entered by two different demographics; the strongest entries will be rewarded.

Who can enter: Publishers / Merchants / Agencies (see below for detailed information)

Publishers

Enter this award if you feel you have had great success within a vertical, perhaps worked with a merchant or agency to provide an exceptional end result, used new technology and innovative ideas to create a value add website or service, or have created something outstanding.

Merchants & Agencies

Do you have an affiliate programme that leads your vertical? Has your partnership with all parties flourished to provide great communication, transparency and revenue driving, innovative tools for affiliates? Let us know via your entry for your chance to scoop an award.

All vertical awards are now open for submissions.

Hopefully this blog has made you more aware of which awards you can enter and how you can play a vital role in who wins.

A number of web badges and media will be available soon to drum up support for your entry campaign.

Good luck with your entries!

In A4uAwards Update, Attending a4uAwards, Award Submissions by Matthew