Categories and Entry Forms
Click on the links below to download the associated entry form:
A. Social Marketing/Public Service
This category recognises uses of media that have succeeded in meeting the objectives of government or publicly-funded bodies. Typically these include campaigns from government departments, local bodies, tertiary education institutions or for a community service. The judges will be looking for proof that the media strategy and execution has had an identifiable and direct contribution in achieving set campaign objectives.
This category recognises uses of media in the area of retail/etail. This includes fashion, clothing, accessories and fast food and also incorporates online retail. The judges are looking for proof that the media strategy and execution has had an identifiable and direct contribution in achieving set retail objectives and that success is not the result of other factors including pricing or sale activity.
C. Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG)
This category recognises media campaigns across the entire spectrum of FMCG. This can include food, grocery, household products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, toiletries, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and pet. The judges will be looking for proof that the media strategy and execution has had a direct contribution in achieving set campaign objectives.
This category recognises media campaigns that achieve success for products that are not purchased regularly or those that have high involvement decision making. This could include motor vehicles, white goods, brown goods, household furniture and electronic goods. The judges will be looking for proof that the media strategy and execution has had a direct contribution in achieving set campaign objectives.
This category recognises media campaigns that achieve success for companies whose main focus is providing a service to a consumer. This could include airlines, tourism, energy suppliers, financial services, telecommunications and entertainment (TV, music, movies or gaming). The judges will be looking for proof that the media strategy and execution has had a direct contribution in helping achieve set campaign objectives.
Entries in this category cannot be entered in other categories
This category is seeking to identify campaigns that make the greatest contribution to support charities, appeals, fundraising or various not-for-profit community programmes. The award may recognise innovation in media thinking but this is not mandatory. The judges will be looking for proof that the media strategy and execution has had a direct contribution in helping achieve set campaign objectives. This category is strictly for not-for-profit organisations only, entries from commercial brands or organisations are not eligible.
G. Best Small Budget (up to $100k per annum)
This category is open to any campaign with a total combined campaign cost to client of less than $100,000. All entries must prove they are a stand-alone campaign as opposed to a single execution within a larger campaign. The judges will be looking for entries that put the perceived budget constraints behind them to develop brilliant strategic thinking and outstanding activation to deliver results that punched way above the campaign’s weight.
H. Best Use of Event/Activation
This category recognises entries that deliver outstanding experiential campaigns via guerrilla marketing, live events, shows, concerts & festivals, experiential events, large and small scale stunts. The event will be physical in its core, but can have virtual elements around it. Judges will be looking for evidence that the event/activation was the central component of the campaign, rather than campaigns with an event/activation component. They will also need to understand what the brand narrative was for people present at the event/activation and how the event/activation was leveraged to deliver outstanding campaign results.
This category is looking for campaigns that have the use of content at their heart. By going beyond traditional advertising formats to seamlessly integrate into television programming, create branded music projects, use of native advertising such as sponsored stories, featured videos and messages via social media, the content should fit with the brand values, strategy and clearly address the marketing challenge.
Entries will not be judged on the creative content itself, but on the strategic thinking that led to content being identified as the core communication vehicle. Judges will also be looking to understand how that content was leveraged and developed across paid, owned and earned channels to deliver outstanding campaign results.
This category recognises the importance of technology in media and how technology has driven the development, implementation and outcomes of the campaign. In this category technology could be the application of existing technology solutions (programmatic, gaming, mobile etc) or the development of proprietary technology solutions. Judges will be looking to understand how the use of technology was new for the client or category, how technology influenced the media campaign and how this directly impacted on the clients business outcome.
This category recognises innovative and effective use of the mobile channel. It covers any form of mobile media including mobile advertising, mobile apps, mobile communication (ie SMS), mobile technology (ie Beacon’s, QR codes, Bluetooth), or any other communication that requires a mobile device. Judges will be looking for campaigns that demonstrate a clear role for mobile, highlighting why mobile was an effective channel to achieve the client’s objectives, is brilliant in its execution, and contributed to campaign results.
This category recognises media approaches that have involved the smart use of 1st, 2nd or 3rd party data to deliver tangible business or behavioural outcomes. Innovative use of data could have aided decision making, improved targeting, increased engagement, delivered incremental leads, sales or simply improved ROI. Judges will be looking to understand how the use of data was new for the client and/or category, how it influenced the media & communications approach and how this directly impacted on the business or behavioural outcome.
If your data source is proprietary research leading to an insight you may want to consider entering the Best Use of Insight category instead.
This category recognises innovative and effective use of video to engage with your target audience. It is not about the content per se, but the strategic approach to the medium, how the content was deployed and innovation in the use of technology that created the impact. Judges will also be looking at how the video activity met the campaign objectives and materially drove the commercial result. Campaigns may have appeared on social media platforms, the digital platforms of publishers & media brands, video networks or any other video platform (including TV).
N. Best Use of Search Engine Marketing
This category recognises exceptional practice in the use of Search Engine Marketing to drive positive business or behavioural outcomes. This category is open to entries for paid search and search engine optimisation initiatives. Judges will be looking for a clear set of objectives, a strong strategic approach, excellent execution and demonstrable outcomes. This category is open to both short term campaigns or ongoing programmes. Judges will consider creative and innovative approaches, as well as campaigns with excellent application of fundamentals and best practice. You’ll need to contextualise for judges why your approach is award worthy. The search engine marketing initiative may be part of a wider campaign, however demonstration of the specific role and effectiveness of the search channel will be required.
This category celebrates socially led thinking - campaigns that use existing or emerging social platforms and/or social activity including blog, social networking sites and applications. Entries in this category should use social as a key channel, demonstrating a creative use of social platforms as well as a sound understanding of digital consumer behaviour. Judges will be looking for campaigns that have put consumers at the heart, through conversational strategies that have built powerful communities or other outstanding engagement strategies. There will be a clear rationale as to why social media was the right response to the clients’ brief, moving beyond metrics of likes or shares to offer a compelling argument of the contributing effect social media had on delivering campaign results.
This category recognises invention or innovation within a channel or property that was driven by consumer, data or brand insight and creative thinking. Judges are looking for ideas that drive tangible benefit to the consumer or to the client’s communications objectives.
This category recognises how the use of insight, analytics or market intelligence has resulted in media campaign and business success. Judges will look for entries that demonstrate how an agency has uncovered an insight, how this insight has shaped the media strategy development and execution and the business success that this has delivered. Sources of insight could vary from proprietary research, to social listening through to quantitative or qualitative studies. The insight section of the entry will account for 40 of the judges score.
R. Best Communications Strategy (Note word limit 1,500)
This category celebrates strategic excellence. Judges are looking for a cohesive communications strategy with a central idea at its heart. It should show a carefully researched and well thought-out action plan designed to meet a clearly defined challenge. This should include novel ways in which media channels have been used, each with a clear link to the strategic idea. The winning entry will also have clearly articulated the insights used to inspire the communications strategy. The strategy section of the entry will account for 40% of the judges’ score.
This category recognises meeting a challenge and succeeding. Judges are looking for evidence that the communication drove a positive outcome or exceeded objectives. This could include generating positive business results (e.g. market share, sales value, profit), shifting brand health measures (e.g. consideration, preference, perceptions), or changing people’s behaviour (e.g. buying patterns or social habits). It will focus on effectiveness of a campaign above all other considerations – the results section of the entry will account for 40% of the judge’s score. All entries must include figures showing the campaign’s direct impact on stated objectives (indexes will suffice).
This category recognises brand, service or product launches or re-launches. To be eligible for a re-launch there must have been no significant activity for at least 36 months prior to re-launch. Judges will be looking to understand how the media thinking and launch media activity were key contributors to the campaign’s results and that those results are indeed outstanding within the entrant’s category.
This category is open to media owners and agencies and is designed to celebrate the work that is only made possible by the close collaboration of (1) one or more media owner/partner(s) AND (2) one or more media agency/ies and/or other relevant agencies. This category can be entered by either the media owner/partner or agency. The judges will be looking for demonstration of how collaboration has enhanced the result for the client. Entries could be proactive sales proposals or responses to briefs as long as the partners have worked together to execute and enhance.
V. Sustained Success (Note word limit 1,500)
This category recognises communications and media thinking that has significantly contributed to the overall success of a campaign that has been consistently in market across three years from 1st January 2016. Judges will be looking for demonstration of strategic thinking and how it has ensured the media campaign has remained consistent but also up-to-date and relevant. The effectiveness and results achieved should accurately reflect the objectives and media strategy. The judges want to see clarity of thinking, identification and application of insights and innovation. It’s important to remember that a campaign founded on a sound, solid and evolving strategy can be as effective as one containing significant innovation.
This category recognises the years outstanding Media Business. The judges (Comms Council Media Committee) will be looking for the business that has set a clear vision and strategy and then implemented that strategy with success. In this case success will be assessed from a range of perspectives including financial, industry engagement and reputation, audience growth and/or engagement. The Comms Council Media Committee reserves the right to not award in this category if no entry meets the judging standard.
X. Sales Person or Team of the Year
This category recognises excellence within the crucial media owners’ sales function. Open to both individual or team entries. The Judges (Comms Council Media Committee) will be looking for evidence of a clear strategic roadmap that allowed for the delivery of outstanding business performance against well-defined KPIs. Examples of innovative campaign case studies and a solution based approach to selling are more likely to resonate with the judges.
The Rising Star award recognises an individual who has achieved incredible feats in the past 18 months and is making a serious mark on the New Zealand media industry. We are looking for individuals on the rise who are already being acknowledged for their contribution today, and importantly are likely to be significant change makers and leaders for our industry in the future. Nominees must be under the age of 30 and have less than five years’ experience at time of the entry deadline. The closing date for entries in this category is the later date of March 26th 2019.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Advertiser of the Year
The award will be given to the Advertiser that is the most outstanding performer on the night of the Beacon Awards Ceremony. The award is based on the weighted value of Gold and Silver Beacon Awards won by the Advertiser. 10 points are awarded for Gold and 5 for Silver. A finalist earns 2 points. Points are calculated and the winner is identified.
Please note: Points will only be awarded for the highest award received. Therefore points for a gold or silver award will not also receive finalist points. Best in Show does not earn points and is not included in the count.
Media Agency of the Year
The award will be given to the Comms Council Agency whose business has made the greatest overall improvements to their business over the past year. It is open to Comms Council member media agencies of any size.
Entries will be open from Thursday 28 February 2019 with a closing date for entries of 4pm Thursday 28 March 2019 at 4pm. The winner will be chosen by a panel of independent judges to include a range of prominent business people from outside the industry.
Best in Show
All Gold Beacon Award winners will be eligible for the Best in Show. This award is selected by the panel of international judges.