Entry Deadline: July 23, 2021

Content Marketing Awards

There have been many powerful stories to tell this past year—we want to hear about yours.

PR Daily’s Content Marketing Awards celebrates the best work from organizations, agencies and independent consultants. We’re looking for creative content that told stories strategically. We want to know how you crafted engaging narratives that captivated distracted audiences—in any medium.

This awards program will spotlight the content creators in marketing and communications who write, edit, film, curate, broadcast, publish or just plain create superb content to promote their brand, organization or client.

Tell us about content you created to meet a larger marketing goal, such as building brand awareness or attracting and retaining the industry’s best talent. You can also submit the content and campaigns themselves. We invite you to enter as many categories as you’d like in this year’s competition. Pro tip: You’ll save on multiple entries of the same project or campaign.

Don’t forget our Grand Prize categories: Content Marketing Agency of the Year, Content Marketing Campaign of the Year, and Content Marketing Strategy of the Year.

What makes a winner? Learn more about last year’s winners to see how your work measures up.

HOW TO ENTER

Campaign or Project Entries: On the entry form, be sure to include a thorough synopsis explaining the purpose and scope of your project. We ask that the synopsis be no more than 1,000 words and include the following sub-headings (when applicable):

  • Goals
  • Strategy and tactics
  • Execution
  • Evaluation: success, results or ROI

Individual or Team Entries: Tell us in 1,000 words or less about the nominee’s or team's accomplishments in the previous 12 months. Winners will be those who have distinguished themselves among their peers with meaningful achievements. Please include examples of creative campaigns or initiatives that have proved beneficial to your organization or clients. When applicable, please include the following sub-headings:

  • Goals
  • Strategy and tactics
  • Execution
  • Evaluation: success, results or ROI

Be sure to follow the guidelines laid out in the category descriptions, as the judges will look for those elements when they select the winners.

You will be able to upload additional documents to your submission. We encourage you to include press releases, design concepts, videos, analytics, testimonials and anything else you feel will give us a better sense of your project. Proprietary or internal information can also be attached and will not be shared with the public.

Supporting documents that can’t be uploaded to the system should be mailed to:

Brendan Gannon 
Ragan Communications 
10 S. LaSalle St., Suite 310 
Chicago, IL 60603

ENTER

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

These awards are open to in-house, agency and independent communication practitioners, and vendors, in the private, corporate, nonprofit and government sectors. Enter your work, the work of your organization or submit entries on behalf of your client.

Companies from any country are welcome to enter as long as the entry is submitted in English.

Contact Brendan Gannon to find the perfect category for your campaign or project. You can call 312-960-4407 or email brendang@ragan.com.

This year’s program is open to any work executed between June 1, 2020, and July 23, 2021, inclusive.

ENTRY FEES

The fee for this program is $425 per entry into standard categories. Grand Prize entries are $475 per entry.

A late fee of $199 per entry will be added to all entries after 11:59 p.m. Central time, July 23, 2021.

Do you have a campaign, project, person or team you'd like to enter into multiple categories? Pay the original entry fee, and then only $199 for each additional category!

All entries are non-returnable and non-refundable.

W-9 Form / Tax ID Number Request

CATEGORIES

CONTENT MARKETING ASSETS

 Annual Report

Your annual report was important to your stakeholders; tell us why. What made this so compelling to your audience? What particular aspects made it especially engaging? Why was your annual report must-read content for interested readers?

 Article

Were you inspired to write an article worthy of being published on your favorite news site or in your favorite magazine? We want to see how you put your storytelling skills to use. Share the long-form, multi-sourced pieces you’ve written or the short and fun interviews you’ve published. We want to see it all.

 Blog

Your blog is an information hub for industry experts, customers and potential employees. Tell us how you created blog posts that were fun and informative while providing an inside look at your organization. Did your leaders—or maybe your interns—create content that told a compelling story about their connection to the organization? Did you supplement written content with video and visual elements? Tell us about your strategy and how it affected traffic and other metrics.

 Brand Journalism

We’re looking for organizations with talented storytellers who published engaging narratives that earned incredible engagement. Your stories set you apart from the pack, and we want to see how you delivered captivating content to the masses. Include any samples, links or other materials that showcase your work.

 Content Series (Print or Digital)

The best stories aren’t always one-hit wonders. Keeping readers coming back is just as worthy a goal, and you achieved it with a thought-provoking content series. Tell us about your written content that kept readers coming back for more.

 Electronic Publication or E-newsletter

Share how you took your e-newsletter from “auto-delete” to “must-read.” Tell us about the launch of your latest digital publication. What news did you gather from your analytics and how did you update your strategy to create content that was fresh and new?

 Individual Blog Post

This single blog post earned attention and delivered results. Tell us what the blog post was about, why it resonated with audiences and how it led to success for your organization.

 Influencer Content Marketing

Your audience wants to hear from trusted sources. How did you tap into the minds of customers to find out who influences their purchasing behavior? How did you turn a viral video star, blogger or social media maven into an ambassador for your brand? How did you use someone else’s digital influence to expose your product or service to an entirely new market? We want to know how you used influencers to attract the masses.

 Infographics

Your team used an infographic to share insights about your industry. What surveys or studies did you conduct to find the information? How did you pull it together in a creative and informative manner? How did you promote it to ensure it was widely shared? Tell us your strategy, how it got you attention and, of course, show us the infographic.

 Innovative Content Strategy

The norm just isn’t good enough for you. You took a creative approach to crafting and delivering your content—and it paid off. What new tactics did you use? What were the results? We want to hear how you broke the status quo and achieved success.

 Interactive Content

Have you created interactive content that engaged audiences and increased leads and sales? Share the quizzes, surveys, polls and calls for audience input that got people clicking, commenting and giving their feedback. Be sure to share the results and the benefits.

 Interview or Profile

You sat down (virtually or in person) with someone your audiences wanted to hear from, and the resulting interview or profile did not disappoint. Who was the interviewee and what made this conversation uniquely important to your audience?

 Microsite

Diving into the details made all the difference for your digital destination. Show us your elegantly designed microsites and share how they stood out. Was it easily navigable? What purpose did it serve? We want it all. Share the details and results of your outstanding microsite.

 Multiplatform/Omnichannel Content

Sometimes, one platform just isn’t enough. That’s why you delivered compelling stories and visuals across multiple media. Why was it essential to share your content on numerous channels? Tell us the benefits of being visible in many different places. Don’t skimp on the details.

 Newsjacking or Trend-Related Content Marketing

There are times when pop culture moments or news stories align perfectly with your brand messaging. How did you capitalize on a fleeting moment in public consciousness that felt truly connected to your brand? We want to hear about your strategy for capturing an audience quickly by finding a real foothold in the conversation surrounding a piece of news or trending topic.

 Personalized Content Marketing Strategy

Personalized content is always eye-catching. How did you use personalized content to show your audience that you understand its needs? Tell us how you used demographic data to segment your audience and develop messaging that spoke to them. We want to know about the research that went into the strategy, execution and results.

 Photography

Stunning photography can help you connect with your audiences on an emotional level. How did you use photography to portray your campaign, project or organizational message? What was your goal? How did photography affect your results?

 Photography Series

Your series of photos told a story that just couldn’t be conveyed in one image. What story were you telling? What was the purpose of your series? Tell us how your photography series helped your deliver your powerful story or stories to your audience.

 Podcast

 Print Publication

You can’t get away with the generic ribbon-cutting ceremony cover shot anymore. Instead you took inspiration from the best magazines on newsstands for your print publication. Thinking like a journalist and publisher allowed you to feature the best articles and most compelling images in your publication. Tell us why your brand’s print publication is now the Vogue of your industry.

 Sponsored Content

You partnered with a publication to get your brand out there. How did you choose which print or digital publication to contribute to? Share your method for creating seamless content that didn’t seem like an ad. Why was this piece successful?

 Use of Facebook

We want to know how you engage audiences on Facebook. Share how you created content that drew visitors in and kept them coming back. What visuals or written content earned attention? We want to hear the goals and results.

 Use of Instagram

The visual platform is a great way to capture the attention of distracted audiences, but how exactly did you achieve success on Instagram? We want to see the scroll-stopping content that got viewers to pause and take a second look. What were the goals? What strategy spelled success for your organization?

 Use of LinkedIn

Tell us how you used the professional networking site to deliver your beneficial content. How did your organization stand out and engage audiences? Share the goals, strategy and results.

 Use of TikTok

The short-form video platform is wonderful for captivating visually driven audiences. We want to hear how you used this fast-growing platform to engage audiences and deliver your message.

 Use of Twitter

Your content was short and sweet, and that’s what audiences wanted. How did you captivate readers in 280 characters or less? Were highly engaging visuals part of your content mix? Share all the details.

 Use of YouTube

We want to know how you used the popular video platform to tell visual stories and deliver your content. Share the goals, strategy and results.

 User-Generated Content

Letting your consumers take the helm of your content can be a risk, but you had great success. How did you select your brand’s biggest champions to share their experience with your product or service? Did you create a design competition on social media? Maybe a patient created a blog series about his or her recovery journey at your hospital, or you invited your biggest fans to submit videos about their favorite products. We want to know how you used your customers’ passion for your brand to tell a story.

 Video

Creating a video that stands out in today’s saturated social sphere is no easy task. What did you hope to accomplish with your video? How did it come together and result in views? Tell us how you used this fast-growing communications medium to share your message.

 Video Series

You told a powerful story using multiple videos, and we want to hear how. Tell us about the subject and goal of the series. How did these videos stand out in a highly visual world? Don’t forget to share the results.

 Virtual/Augmented Reality Content

Were audiences consumed by your immersive experience? What were the benefits of your simulation? Why was this the best way to promote your product or service? Dish out the details about the strategy, execution and overall results.

 Website

We want to see websites that make use of many different types of content. Tell us how your content-oriented site scored big with your fans or journalists. How did you test your work against top contenders? We’re interested in website metrics, too: total visitors, unique visitors, time spent on site, the number of stories on your website, and videos and images shared on Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.

 White Paper

Tell us about the research you did to produce an advanced guide for your audience. Why is your organization the authority on this topic, and your product or service the solution? Tell us why an in-depth piece of long-form content was the best way to pitch your product to a new audience. How did people respond? How were you able to use a white paper to generate new business leads, media coverage or partnerships?

CONTENT MARKETING CAMPAIGNS

 B2B Services Campaign

Share how you positioned your product or service as a beneficial source for businesses in your industry. How did you make sure you were getting your product or service in front of the right businesses and prove its benefits? Share any supporting documents that help tell your story and show the success of your campaign.

 Campaign Pivot

You didn’t let external factors stand in the way of delivering an engaging content marketing campaign. How did you adjust your strategy, goals, tactics and more to achieve success, even though unforeseen circumstances or events threatened to derail your hard work?

 Consumer Products Campaign

Millions of products are available to consumers, and it’s easier than ever to find and purchase them. How did you make your organization’s or client’s products stand out? Share the details of your success and, of course, any metrics that back that up.

 Content Marketing Launch

Tell us about your new product or publication. What made it compelling enough to capture your audience’s attention? What were the goals—and the results?

 Covid-19 Campaign

Tell us about your pandemic-related content that told powerful stories, delivered essential information and more. How did you keep audiences engaged? What were the goals of your content? Tell us about the important content you delivered during the pandemic.

 Crisis Communications Campaign

The content you deliver amid a crisis can get out important messages, even if it’s something you didn’t see coming. Was your COVID-19 response amplified because of engaging content you created? Did you navigate other crises with the power of your content? We want to hear about your crisis response.

 DE&I Campaign

 Education Campaign

Not everyone is excited about education, but you delivered a campaign that conveyed important messages in a way that got attention. Share how you drove outstanding engagement on behalf of schools, school districts, educational institutions, associations and more.

 Financial Services Campaign

Let’s face it, financial services aren’t really a “sexy” topic, but they’re essential—and you spiced them up. Tell us how you communicated on behalf of these organizations and set them apart from competitors.

 Food and Beverage Campaign

Show us how you served up a five-star campaign that showcased your food and beverage company or product. What made consumers eat up your content? We want to hear how you stood out.

 Health and Wellness Campaign

You flexed your creative muscle to deliver a successful dose of health—and we want to hear how you accomplished this. There are plenty of powerful stories about health care organizations, but communicating on behalf of these organizations can be tricky. Share how you navigated and overcame the unique challenges you face in your industry. Don’t forget to include samples and data.

 Media and Entertainment Campaign

How did you get your organization or client into the spotlight? What got the cameras flashing? Tell us about your successful media and entertainment campaigns. Don’t forget to share the juicy details and metrics.

 Social Justice Campaign

 Technology Campaign

Tell us how your tech-related brand or organization generated incredible buzz for its product or service. Did you promote a new product or service that customers loved? Are you a well-known company that attracted new audiences? We want to hear about it. Share the details about how you reached audiences. Be sure to include your strategy, tactics and data.

 Thought Leadership Campaign

We want to hear how you spotlighted your organization or its executives as an industry leader. What set them apart as some of the brightest minds in the industry? What problems did you aim to solve? How did you prove this? We want to see your strategy and the results.

 Travel, Hospitality and Tourism Campaign

You sold an experience to potential guests, and we want to hear about it. Share the campaigns that compelled travelers to book with you or your client. We want to hear the overall goals, how you achieved them and any feedback you received as a result.

CONTENT MARKETING FOR THE PURPOSE OF

 Brand Awareness

Building up your brand calls for creating content that appeals to both your current audience and the one you hope to acquire. We want to see how you increased awareness about the products or services your brand or client offers. Share your strategy and tell us how you measured success.

 Customer Engagement

Customer comments can make or break your reputation, but getting your audience to talk and truly engage can be difficult. What obstacles stood in the way of creating opportunities for true customer engagement? What content did you create to get your audience talking? Did you spark discussions on your blog or social media posts? Did you develop a submission form for customer comments? Did you request video testimonials or written reviews to learn more about product experiences? Tell us.

 Lead Generation

Did you create content with impact but that left prospective clients wanting more? Share the content that generated valuable leads for your brand. How did you get your audience to opt in? What made it enticing and engaging? Share your goals for this content and the results.

 Reputation Management

Keeping your corporate reputation in good standing is important. What piece of content put your organization’s dedication to transparency on display? How have you used content marketing to recover from a crisis or maintain your pristine reputation? How did you change people’s minds about your brand or inspire them to remain loyal?

 Talent Recruitment

You’re interested in recruiting the newest and freshest talent for your team. How did content marketing help you find the perfect candidates for your organization? Maybe you created videos that gave a behind-the-scenes look at the daily operations at your offices. Did articles and interviews featuring your colleagues (and spotlighting their current projects) show potential employees the kind of work they could do within your organization? Share how you used content marketing to broaden your talent pool.

PEOPLE AND TEAMS

 Blogger of the Year

You’re a highly respected, go-to source for information in your industry. People flock to your blog to get the latest scoop and in-depth insight into the latest trends in your industry. We want to hear how your prose garnered eyeballs and kept readers coming back.

 Content Editor of the Year

You’re the reason writers don’t slip up and copy is clean; you’re the slicer and the dicer, the hand that wields the machete. Tell us how you were instrumental in cleaning up copy and making authors sound better. Don’t forget to include examples.

 Content Marketer of the Year

You were instrumental in the overall success of your marketing campaign. Your content caught eyeballs, drove engagement and played a pivotal role in delivering your organization’s message. How did you help tell your organization’s story? What goals did your content achieve? We want to hear all about your creations. Share your stories, visuals, social media posts—darn it, any content you created—that captivated audiences.

 Content Strategist/Visionary of the Year

The status quo wasn’t cutting it for you—and that made a world of difference. What cutting-edge tactics and innovative ideas did you implement into your content strategy that made you a communications leader? Share the details and any supporting materials.

 Content Team of the Year

Enter your team as the Content Team of the Year. Share the tactics, strategy and content that set your team apart as the best in your industry. Be sure to include samples of your work and any relevant metrics.

 Podcaster of the Year

Show us how you tapped into an engaged audience—internal or external—and kept listeners coming back again and again. Did you offer insider scoops, feature highly sought-after guests or ask thought-provoking questions? Share the details, including your strategy and any metrics that prove your success.

 Social Media Marketer of the Year

Have you created scroll-stopping social media posts? How did you bring busy Facebook, Instagram and Twitter fingers screeching to a halt? Share your strategy, tactics and content that earned incredible engagement.

 Video Producer/Visual Storyteller of the Year

Visuals have the power to connect emotionally with audiences. Tell us how your visual narratives captivated audiences and captured their hearts and eyeballs. Be sure to include examples, links and data.

GRAND PRIZE

 Content Marketing Agency of the Year

We’re looking for agencies who produce amazing content and consistently meet or exceed expectation for their client(s). Tell us what makes your agency the go-to place for organizations and companies hoping to achieve amazing results through their content. What makes you the content marketing agency of the year.

 Content Marketing Campaign of the Year

Your overarching plan came to fruition, and it was wildly successful. Share how you created a killer campaign that delivered on multiple channels in diverse media and drove engagement, leads and sales for your client or organization. What was your strategy? Which channels were best for your campaign? What tactics worked for you? Show us how you executed an enviable content marketing campaign.

 Content Marketing Strategy of the Year

Content marketing is essential to the success of your entire marketing plan. Tell us about your overarching strategy and how you executed it across multiple channels. We want to see how your content told your brand’s story and sold readers on it and your products. Tell us about your content marketing strategy, how you made use of the above categories and what the outcome was.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should you apply?
Our award programs help you measure the success of your work and prove the value of your contributions to your organization. You can set yourself apart in the industry as an expert, which will open doors throughout your career. As a winner, you’ll earn publicity for your brand across our websites and social media audiences, a custom write-up about your campaign and a trophy.
Who can enter?
Entries may be submitted by organizations worldwide. The only requirement is that entries be submitted in English. The program is open to in-house, agency, independent communication practitioners and vendors in the private, corporate, nonprofit and government sectors.
What does it take to be a winner?
Although each award program is unique, we look for top-quality work that shows clear, bold and creative ideas that benefit your business or client. Please provide metrics or media coverage that back up your claims, and share creative collateral such as videos, visual design or websites that were a part of your project. Please look at our past award winners to see what gets recognized and rewarded. We encourage you to submit the same campaign to multiple categories, if you feel they are relevant. Doing so increases your chances of winning—and you'll receive discounted rates on additional entries.
Why are some deadlines extended?
We extend deadlines based on applicant needs and upcoming promotional opportunities.
When will I find out results?
We aim to announce finalists about eight weeks after the program close. The announcement of the winners comes about four weeks after the announcement of the finalists. Each announcement will be made with a headline on our website, in our daily email newsletter and on our social media platforms. Emails notify entrants of these announcements. As deadlines are extended, so are expected announcement dates.

Additional Questions

If you have any questions about the program or problems submitting your entry, please call Brendan Gannon at 312-960-4407 or email brendang@ragan.com.

Sponsorship Opportunities

If you are interested in sponsoring the Content Marketing Awards program, please contact Hannah Lavelle at 312-960-4628 or email hannahl@ragan.com.

Ragan Communications is not responsible for international shipping fees related to trophies or certificates.