HOW TO ENTER

Entering the Showcase Awards

• Once the submissions open, you will be able to create an account through AwardsForce, our awards platform.
• Prepare your entry: Gather the information and evidence needed. You’ll need to determine the category for your entry (see “Categories” tab), provide detail about the objective and results of your entry, and upload files related to the project. Here’s an outline of what the form entails . You can save your entries at any time and come back to them, as long as they are submitted before the deadline of January 30, 2026.
• Submitting to multiple categories: You can enter the same project in more than one category, as long as the work submitted meets the criteria. You can use the ‘copy’ feature in AwardForce to create a copy of your entry and change the category as needed.
• Complete entry fee payment: Your total fee will be based on the number of entries submitted and your membership in IMCA (see the “Entry Fees” tab for details). Entry fees may be paid by credit card or check.
  a. If you choose to pay with a credit card, payment must be made via AwardForce when submitting your entry(ies). A merchant fee will be applied to entries paid by Visa, MasterCard and American Express. These fees will be added to your total and outlined in the payment summary. Upon payment, you will receive an automatic email receipt and accounting of your entries.
  b. If you choose to pay with a check, once submitting your entries, you will receive an email with an invoice. IMCA must receive payment by January 30, 2026. Otherwise, your entry(ies) will not be included in the judging process.
• Submit your entry by the deadline of January 30, 2026.
• Await your results! Showcase judges will assess each entry and you will be notified in May if your entry has won an award.
• Questions? Contact the IMCA office via email at info@imcanet.com  or at (952) 928-4666.

Submit your entry here!

IMCA SHOWCASE AWARDS CATEGORIES

 

Advertisements and Marketing Promotions

Marketing communications focused on sales or the marketing and promoting products and services to target audiences.

• Advertising/Promotional Campaign (three or more advertisements)*
• Magazine or Newspaper Advertisement
• Promotional Email Campaign*
• Promotional Email – Single Piece
• Direct Mail Advertisement
• Other Digital/Multimedia Advertisement (such TV, Radio, Podcast Advertisement)
• Other Print Advertisement
• Advertising created in-house (small/medium companies-total employee size <1000)
• Advertising created in-house (large companies-total employee size 1000+)

 

Brochures

Content intended for either internal or external audiences.

• Brochure Campaign or Series (three or more brochures)*
• Promotional Brochure: Company or Capabilities Overview
• Promotional Brochure: Product or Service

 

Corporate Communications/Public Relations

Not directly sales-oriented; targeted at analysts, shareholders, or the public, in any medium/format unless specified.

• Corporate Communications/Public Relations Campaign (three or more components)*
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Campaign (three or more components)
• Corporate Communications/Public Relations (News Release, Editorial/Article) – Single Piece
• Employee Recruiting Campaign
• Annual Report
• Corporate Communications created in-house (small/medium companies-total company employee size <1000)
• Corporate Communications created in-house (large companies-total company employee size 1000+)

 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB) Communications

Supports the organization’s goals, initiatives, or special events related to DEIB in any medium/format.

• External Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB) Marketing or Communications Single Piece or Campaign
• Internal Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB) Marketing or Communications Single Piece or Campaign

 

Events and Experiences

Any type of event that supports the entrant’s business goals, and can include internal and/or external audiences.

• Webinar/Webcast
• Event Attendee Materials (Agenda, Invitation, etc.)
• In-Person Exhibit Booth/Display and/or Attendee Experience at Booth
• Other Event/Experience (In-Person or Virtual) (small/medium companies-total company employee size <1000 – for events that don’t fit neatly into the other categories but demonstrate exceptional strategic and creative execution.)
• Other Event/Experience (In-Person or Virtual) (large companies-total company employee size 1000+) – for events that don’t fit neatly into the other categories but demonstrate exceptional strategic and creative execution.)
• Virtual Educational Event (Includes virtual summits, seminars and online workshops.)
• Virtual Engagement/Brand Experience Event (Includes virtual trade shows, live online product launches, virtual awards ceremonies and employee engagement events)
• In-Person Educational Conference/Seminar (Includes single- or multi-day events where the primary objective is knowledge transfer and thought leadership.)
• In-Person Relationship Building Event (Includes partner networking events, hospitality, and non-sales-focused gatherings that build brand loyalty and community.)
• In-Person Sales Incentive/Recognition Event (Includes incentive trips, galas and awards for top performers.)

 

Internal/Employee Communications

Not directly sales-oriented; targeted at employees supporting the organization’s goals, initiatives, or special events in any medium/format.

• Employee Communications Campaign (three or more components)*
• Employee Communications – Single Piece

 

Long-Form Written Publications

Content intended for internal or external audiences.

• Blog/Article Campaign – Series or Collection*
• Blog/Article – Single Piece
• Magazines (printed or digital)
• Long-Form Instructional Guide
• Newsletter (Print & Digital)
• Other Long-Form Written Publication (eBook, research report, white paper)

 

Podcasts

Content intended for internal or external audiences; no length limit.

• Podcast Campaign (three or more podcast episodes)*
• Podcast – Single Episode

 

Videos

Content intended for internal or external audiences; no limit to video length.

• Video Campaign (three or more videos)*
• Community Relations/Philanthropic Video
• Promotional Video
• Brand Positioning Video
• Instructional/Training Video
• Other Video (Internal & External)
• Video on a Shoestring (small/medium companies-total company employee size <1000)
• Video on a Shoestring (large companies-total company employee size 1000+)

 

Social Media

Any social platform, with published content in any format.

• Social Media Campaign (series of posts for a single objective)*
• Social Media: Single Post/Piece of Content
• Overall Social Channel Presence (single channel)*

 

Websites, Portals, and Apps

• Customer or Agent Portal (The portal cannot be publicly accessible, i.e., must only be accessible with login credentials.)
• External Website
• Internal Website (intranet)

 

Miscellaneous Tactics

Any medium/format.

•  Best Redesign/Refresh (single item)
  a. Entries in this category should have a single component (e.g., one logo, one website, one brochure, etc.) that has been redesigned.
• Best Redesign/Refresh Campaign*
  a. Entries in this category have multiple components of a larger redesign/refresh effort (e.g., a brand refresh or marketing material overhaul).
• Contest/Gamification
• Promotional Item/Branded Merchandise
• Most Out-of-the-Box Idea
• Sales Generating Campaign of the Year
• My project doesn’t fit under any of these categories
  a. Please note that prior to judging, entries in this category will be reviewed. If it is  determined that there is an existing category that is appropriate for the entry, it will be moved to that category.

 

Campaigns by Amount Spent (three or more components)

The campaign must include three or more components. Consider all costs, external and internal, including print and media buy. Must include the cost breakdown in the entry.

• Total Campaign less than $5K*
• Total Campaign between $6K and $15K*
• Total Campaign between $16K and $30K*
• Total Campaign between $31K and $50K*
• Total Campaign between $51K and $100K*
• Total Campaign more than $100K*

IMCA SHOWCASE AWARDS ENTRY FEES

$275 (members)
$400 (non-members)

Submissions close January 30th, 2026.

Submit your entry here!

Want to become a member to get reduced rates? Apply to become a member now!

TIMELINE

Program Timeline