SMPS Awards Gala
Michele Santiago of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (smps.org) asked me to publish the following news release. Read below for an additional resource that will add value to you:
SMPS announces call for entries for 36th Annual Marketing Communications Awards program
Discounted entry deadline: March 1, 2013
ALEXANDRIA, VA?The Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) is accepting entries for its 36th Annual Marketing Communications Awards (MCA) competition. The MCA program is the longest-standing, most prestigious awards program recognizing excellence in marketing communications by professional services firms in the design and building industry. The entry deadline is March 1, 2013. SMPS members and nonmembers are eligible to enter.
Each year, this competitive awards program receives entries from around the globe. Firms can select from among 21 marketing communications categories in which to enter their work, ranging from advertising, annual reports, and corporate identity, to media relations, social media, and Web sites. There is no limit to the number of categories a firm can enter. Most categories are open to both print and electronic projects.
Entries will evaluated on April 6, 2013, in New York by 100 distinguished jurors including professional services marketers and business developers, communications and public relations professionals, graphic designers, architects, engineers, contractors, and media. Jurors use a numerical scoring system based on five criteria to assess each entry?s effectiveness and return on investment, in addition to quality, message, and design.
Bernice R. Bako, FSMPS, CPSM, director of marketing with Turner Construction Company, and Michael T. McCann, FSMPS, CPSM, director of business development with DF Gibson Architects, P.C., are serving as co-chairs for the 2013 competition. ?Turner Construction Company is thrilled to host Judging Weekend in its offices in New York City on April 5?6. We expect 100 esteemed members of the A/E/C community to spend the weekend collaboratively evaluating entries that are the best of the best,? said Bako. ?In 2013, SMPS is reintroducing a discounted entry fee for small firms, separating out Holiday Piece into its own category, opening up the Web Site category to include mobile Web sites, and including original e-books in the Book/Monograph category.?
Co-chair Michael McCann observed, ?The MCA is one of the most important programs that SMPS organizes each year. It is a celebration of the work that we as marketers do every day, and it provides a venue to recognize the best in our business. The competition provides a critical benchmark: It allows us to see where the leading edge in marketing communications is and raises the standard of excellence we must all attain as professional services marketers.?
Visit www.smps.org/mca for detailed competition information, including categories and submittal requirements, a comprehensive FAQ, and a downloadable brochure and entry form, plus examples of previous winning entries.
Award winners will be announced and honored on August 1, 2013, at a formal Awards Gala during Build Business: Dream Big!, the 2013 SMPS Annual Conference (www.buildbusiness.org), in Orlando, FL. Winning entries will be on display throughout the conference. Building industry editors and association leaders will be invited to select the Best of Show recipient from among the first-place-winning entries. Award winners will be announced on the SMPS Web site and via press releases sent to national industry publications.
Here?s the bonus: Last year, SMPS asked me to write a Marketer feature outlining the value of participating in awards competitions. The story, which you can download here, provides real insights on the potentially incredible return on investment in participating in competitions, especially when they are client-centric.
