Celebrating The Talent And Contribution Of Our Peers

HOW TO ENTER

Entering the Showcase Awards

• Submit Now! 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 February 21, 2025.
• 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 February 21, 2025. Otherwise, your entry(ies) will not be included in the judging process.
• Submit your entry by the deadline of February 21, 2025.
• 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.

 

Create an account in AwardForce

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
• Newsletter (Print &Digital)
• TV, Radio or Podcast Advertisement
• Direct Mail Advertisement
• Outdoor Advertisement
• Other Digital/Multimedia Advertisement
• Other Print Advertisement

 

Brochures

Entries can be for content intended for either internal and 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

Communications that are not directly sales-oriented and are targeted at analysts, shareholders, or the public at large. Entries can be any medium/format unless otherwise specified.

• Corporate Communications/Public Relations Campaign (three or more components)*
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Campaign*
• Corporate Communications/Public Relations (News Release, Editorial/Article) – Single Piece
• Employee Recruiting Campaign
• Annual Report

 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB) Communications

Communications that are focused on supporting the organization’s goals, initiatives, or special events related to DEIB. Entries can be any medium/format.

• External Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB) Communications Campaign (three or more components)*
• External Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB) Communications – Single Piece
• Internal Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB) Communications Campaign (three or more components)*
• Internal Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB) Communications – Single Piece

 

Events and Experiences

Entries can be from any type of event that supports the entrant’s business goals, including both internal and external audiences.

• In-Person Event (Internal Audience)
• Virtual Event (External Audience & Internal Audience)
• Webinar/Webcast
• Event Attendee Materials (Agenda, Invitation, etc.)
• Exhibit Booth/Display
• Other Event or Experience (In-Person or Virtual)

 

Internal/Employee Communications

Communications that are not directly sales-oriented and are targeted at company employees supporting the organization’s goals, initiatives, or special events. Entries can be any medium/format.

• Employee Communications Campaign (three or more components)*
• Employee Communications – Single Piece
• Other Employee Communication/Publication

 

Long-Form Written Publications

Entries can be for content intended for either internal and external audiences.

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

 

Podcasts

Entries can be for content intended for either internal and external audiences. There is no limit to the length of the podcast.

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

 

Videos

Entries can be for content intended for either internal and external audiences. There is no limit to the length of the video.

• Video Campaign (three or more videos)*
• Community Relations/Philanthropic Video
• Promotional Video
• Brand Positioning Video
• Instructional/Training Video
• Streaming/Live Video
• Other Video (Internal & External)

 

Social Media

Entries can be from any social platform and the published content can be 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)
• Mobile App

 

Miscellaneous Tactics

Entries can be 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
• NEW! Promotional Item/Branded Merchandise
• Creative Development on a Shoestring Budget
  a. Entries in this category have a budget of less than $1,000.
• Most Out-of-the-Box Idea
• NEW! 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. Please include the cost breakdown in your 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

$250 (members)
$375 (non-members)

Begin Your Entry

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

TIMELINE

Program Timeline