INDUSTRY CATEGORIES

 

1. Beverages (Alcohol)
2. Beverages (Non-Alcohol): Non-Carbonated, Carbonated Drinks
3. Finance, Financial Cards & Insurance
4. Healthcare Services/OTC
5. Internet & Telecom
6. Retail
7. Food & Snacks & Desserts
8. New Product or Service Introduction / Line Extension
9. Non-profit
10. Other

1. Beverages (Alcohol)

Beer, champagne, liquor, wine, hard seltzers, wine coolers, etc.

2. Beverages (Non-Alcohol): Non Carbonated, Carbonated Drinks

Coffee, tea, juice, milk, milk substitute, bottled water… Carbonated drinks, energy drinks and mineral
water.

3. Finance, Financial Cards & Insurance

Financial products and services including: overall corporate/brand image and capabilities of a financial institution; specific products or services including credit/debit cards, reward/loyalty cards, financial planning, mobile payment services, retirement funds, investment, home banking, loans, mortgage, mutual funds, etc.

Insurance: Marketing promoting specific products or services related to insurance and the capabilities of financial institutions offering these services. All types of insurance are eligible (home, auto, financial, life, travel, business, etc.), with the exception of health insurance service providers.

4. Healthcare Services/OTC

Efforts that were developed for hospitals, HMOs, health insurance companies, referral services, dental and medical care services, pharmacies or chronic care facilities. Efforts may be targeted to healthcare professionals, patients and/or consumers.

OTC: Efforts for products that are sold without a prescription that address specific health conditions. Efforts may be targeted to healthcare professionals, patients and/or consumers. Only products that address a specific health condition should enter this category.

5. Internet & Telecom

Mobile network providers, high speed internet access services, online services, bundled communications (internet, telephone, and TV), etc.

6. Retail

Open to all retail companies (online and/or brick & mortar) with general or specific merchandise. E.g., department stores; clothing, shoes or jewelry stores; grocery stores; home & garden stores, movie/book stores; discount/bulk retailers; pet care; toy stores; specialty stores; convenience stores; etc.

7. Food & Snacks & Desserts

Fresh, packaged and frozen foods, ice cream, candy, chips, cookies, bakery items, nut, fruit & vegetable snacks, popcorn, etc.

8. New Product or Service Introduction & New Product or Service Line Extension

New this year, entrants may choose between New Product or Service Introduction OR New Product or Service Line Extension.

In the Introductions category, any effort used to introduce a new product or service that is not a line extension may enter. Brand new products or new products in a new category are required to enter this category instead of their industry category.

New line extensions can either enter the Line Extensions category OR their industry category.
Effie defines line extension as:

• Any variation of an existing product that shares the same brand name and is in the same category as the existing product and shares the same characteristics as the parent but offers new benefit (flavor, size, package, type, etc.);
• A derivative product that adds or modifies features without significantly changing the price;
• Products that bear the same brand name and offer the consumer varied options (e.g. Diet version of drink).
• In both categories, entry must be written to address how your product/service was new and the situation you faced as a result of it being new. For example, what specifically was new? Why did the newness matter?

Write the entry to address the category situation (new product/service introductions/line extensions) similar to what you would do when writing your entry to address a category situation like sustained success, etc.

9. Non-Profit

Not for profit organizations of all types – includes charitable, social, civic, advocacy, trade, special interest, religious, etc. Includes membership drives, recruitment, fundraising, etc.

10. Other

Automotive – Vehicles
Cars, trucks, motorcycles, both brand and model advertising.

Electronics
Audio and/or video devices such as TVs, radios, mobile devices, home entertainment (DVD/Blu-ray players), cameras, computer hardware, drones, external or integrated VR/AR devices, laptops, tablets, sound systems, etc.

Household products
Products for cleaning and polishing, detergents, floor washing products, softeners, household supplies and services – cleaning products, waxes, detergents, floor-care products, fabric softeners, paper products, domestic services, mowers, fertilizers, lawn care services, paper accessories, house cleaning services, lawn mowers, fertilizer, lawn care products, gardening services…

Beauty & Personal Care
Products and services focused on beauty. Includes cosmetics, fragrances, hair products, nail products, etc.; beauty services such as salons, spas, etc.; body wash, cotton swabs, deodorants, feminine hygiene products, soap, razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, etc.

Health
Efforts for prescription required drugs that are directed to patients and/or consumers. Marketing communications efforts that were developed for devices that address a specific illness/disease/health issue that require a doctor’s prescription for surgical placement, use or purchase.

SPECIALTY CATEGORIES

 

1. Branded Content & Entertainment
2. David vs. Goliath
3. Small Budgets – Non-Profit, Products & Services
4. Sustained Success – Non-Profit, Products & Services
5. Commerce & Shopper: Crisis Response / Critical Pivot
6. Data-Driven/E-Commerce
7. Media Innovation
8. New Product/Service Introduction
9. Social Media/ Influencer Marketing
10. Performance Marketing
11. Positive Change (Social Good, Environmental, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion)
12. Youth Marketing

1. Brand Content & Entertainment

Brand Content & Entertainment – Products
Brand Content & Entertainment – Services

This category is for efforts that effectively reached their audience through the creation of original branded content that is not advertising. The core of a branded content entry should be content designed to be consumed/experienced and sought out by the consumer for entertaining or informative reasons. Entrants must detail the content created, how it related back to the overall brand and business goals, how it was distributed to, and shared by, the audience, and the results it achieved for the brand and business. Branded content may be produced and distributed by either publishers or independently and can include longform entertainment.

Note: Judges will expect to understand why branded content was chosen as a tactic.

2. David vs. Goliath

This is an award for smaller, new, or emerging brands:

1. making inroads against big, established leaders
2. taking on “sleeping giants”
3. moving into a new product/service field beyond their current category and set of competitors to tackle a dominant leader

Entrants must detail the business challenge, the competitive landscape, and how their business succeeded despite the odds. You are required to define your competitive landscape, including the market difference between the David and Goliath to demonstrate why your brand was a David.

Judges will deduct from your case if you do not sufficiently prove that your brand is a David in the situation.

3. Small Budgets (up to 2.5 milion dinars)

Small Budgets – Non-Profit
Small Budgets – Products
Small Budgets – Services

Cases eligible for this category must represent the only marketing efforts for this brand (brand defined as listed in the “brand” question of the Effie entry form) during the time period that the effort entered ran.

To be eligible, an entry may not be for a line extension. Effie defines line extension as: a variation of an existing product with the same brand name and same category but with a new characteristic, a derivative of the product or service that offers modified features without significantly changing price; a product bearing the same name and offering a varied option (e.g. new flavor, diet version, etc.). Value of donated and non-traditional media as well as activation costs must be included.

4. Sustained Success

Sustained Success – Non-Profits
Sustained Success – Products
Sustained Success – Services

Efforts that experienced sustained success for at least three years are eligible for entry. At a minimum, you must include at least three years of creative work and case results, and you must include the current competition year’s results. Work must have a common objective in both strategy and creative executions; with a continuation of core executional elements (e.g., spokesperson, song, theme, tagline, etc.) that demonstrates effectiveness over time. As part of your entry, specifically address how the effort evolved over time (e.g. media choices, targeting, insights, new products/services, etc.). Answer all questions for the initial year and describe how/why change occurred over time.

Note: There is a special entry form and different creative requirements for the Sustained Success Award.

5. Commerce & Shopper: Crisis Response / Critical Pivot

This award is for brands that created positive change by effectively pivoting their commerce/shopper marketing program or business activities in response to significant structural and cultural shifts and moments of crisis (e.g. pandemic, social justice movement, political events, etc.) in the current landscape in order to more effectively connect with the shopper along the path to purchase and drive conversion. Entrants will need to pinpoint the pivot and frame for the judges how the messaging/campaign shifted, the team adjusted the approach to production or go-to- market planning, etc. Demonstrate the effectiveness of the action for the brand. Examples can include a pivot in positioning, a change in portfolio management, a digital acceleration, etc.

6. Data-Driven/E-Commerce

Data-driven media is the application of data and technology to identify and match the right audiences to the right message at the right moments. These efforts should prove how they specifically utilized data to optimize media to improve business outcomes (brand KPIs, ROI, performance marketing measures, etc.). The best examples will recognize the interplay and application of automation, applied technology, and human and artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver to a precise audience and achieve the best results.

To enter, your case must detail the role that data had within the media strategy in achieving the brand and business goals. Submissions are expected to:

1. Utilize personalized/custom-tailored creative messages.
2. Explain how data impacted the media plan through clear measurement & analytics.
3. Demonstrate the insights captured from data used to understand audience.

E-Commerce
The category is for campaigns that effectively used insights, strategy, creative and analytics to drive e-commerce shopper conversion. By utilizing data, and a deep understanding of the shopper, brands and retailers can succeed in an e-commerce setting.

A successful effort will combine strong shopper knowledge with digital marketing practices to increase conversion online. The effort must be based on a shopper insight(s) and be shopper-driven. Explain the strategy of how the effort went to market with e-commerce. Submissions in this category will be solely evaluated on e-commerce effectiveness.

7. Media Innovation

Media Innovation – Emerging & New Channels
Media Innovation – Existing Channel

Changing the rules to maximize impact.This award will showcase those who had the insight and creativity to change the way a particular media channel is consumed or to create a new channel. The award will go to those who reached out of the conventional approach to grab their audience and effectively engage with them.

Whether the effort was one execution or multiple, and/or used one engagement channel or multiple – the work must represent new and creative usage of the media channels we know and love, or have not yet met.

Note: All entries must specifically address what was innovative and the results achieved. Write the entry to address the category situation and provide clear articulation of how the media was used innovatively and how the media strategy/plan optimized the results.

8. New Product/Service Introduction

To enter this category, the case must address the commerce/shopper effortsurrounding the launch of a new product/service. Whether it is the creation of a whole new brand, a new product from an existing brand, or a new line extension, submissions in this category need to present how shopper insights were leveraged to overcome the barriers faced by products/services being launched for the first time. If submitting an effort that was part of, or inspired by, a national campaign, explain how you adapted it for the shopper and the retailer.

9. Social Media/Influencer Marketing

Social Media – Products
Social Media – Services

This category is for campaigns that set out with the explicit purpose of using social as the primary touchpoint or have social at their heart. The kind of idea that is specifically designed to take advantage of the socially connected consumer and the influence of social. Judges are looking for campaigns that begin with a social idea, as opposed to advertising or integrated campaigns with a social media element. They will need a clear rationale for why social was the right way to tackle the brief, and evidence of how social activity measurably and materially drove the commercial result. It is not enough to count the number of impressions, likes or shares. You will need to measure and prove the commercial value of social through the direct effect it had on audience behavior or perceptions and demonstrate correlation with the achieved business results.

Influencer Marketing
This category honors those brands that effectively worked with key influencers to reach their target audience to achieve short or long-term marketing goals. Key influencers/opinion leaders may be a social media / vertical platform leader, brand ambassador, bloggers, etc. from micro to macro.

Clearly identify what the strategy was, who your audience was, and why the influencer was important to your audience. Explain what the influencer did for your audience. Explain why the brand selected that influencer, how they were used to carry out marketing activities, and what consumer behaviors were impacted and how the business was impacted.

10. Performance Marketing

This category recognizes the most effective performance marketing efforts. To participate your effort must be led by performance marketing and you must demonstrate how your effort drove results for the business using performance marketing KPIs.

Note: Entrants must use the performance marketing entry form when submitting under this category. There are special guidelines when presenting your creative & how the idea was brought to life, which will be outlined in the Performance Marketing entry form.

11. Positive Change (Social Good, Environmental, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion)

Positive Change – Social Good
The Positive Change: Social Good category celebrates marketing efforts proven effective in addressing a social problem or in expanding an existing program in ways that benefit our society. This is about creating positive societal and cultural change, challenging the established status-quo and changing accepted norms and stereotypes that create societal inequalities. Examples include initiatives that tackle food poverty, access to healthcare & education, creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive society, creating equal opportunities at work and in wider society for all members of our society.

Any effort that sets out to give back in some way for the greater good is eligible to enter. Maybe it was for profit, maybe not. Maybe you got paid, maybe you didn’t. Any and all marketing efforts, whether full campaigns or unique efforts within a campaign are eligible to enter as long as measurable results exist.
Enter your case into one of the following categories:

• • 1) Social Good – Brands:
    Recognizing brands that are making the world a better place by using the power of their marketing platforms for “good.” This category celebrates for-profit brand efforts that effectively combined business goals with a social cause (health, education, community, family, etc) and successfully related that cause back to the company’s overall brand strategy, resulting in positive business and social impact.
  • 2) Social Good – Non-Profit:
    Recognizing non-profit organizations and associations whose marketing efforts have effectively driven positive change for society and successfully contributed back to the organization’s purpose. Campaigns must show measurable impact and proven results in support of the cause.

Positive Change – Environmental
This category celebrates efforts that have measurably shifted audience behavior toward more environmentally sustainable choices, and/or grown demand for more sustainable products and services by incorporating environmentally-conscious messaging into their marketing. Winners of this award showcase how effective marketing progams that incorporate sustainable strategies can make a positive difference for brands and for the environment.

Over and above the standard Effie requirements to demonstrate a positive impact on business, there are specific areas of interest that relate to this award. Efforts entered must have as one of their main strategic objectives changing audience behavior towards more environmentally sustainable choices and environmentally conscious messaging must be a part of the marketing.

Entrants should address how the sustainability goal relates back to the overall brand and business strategy. Criterion for this award is the result of behavior change toward more environmentally sustainable choices, with these elements being considered in judging:

1. Awareness – Making the audience aware of a sustainable product, service or action.
2. Trial – Trying the sustainable product, service or action for the first time.
3. Product/Service Substitution – Switching to a more sustainable product, service or action.
4. Change in Use – Using a product/service more sustainably than before or taking a more sustainable action.

Enter your case into one of the following categories:

• 1) Environmental – Brands:
  Recognizing brands with marketing programs that have measurably shifted audience (B2B or B2C) behavior toward more environmentally sustainable choices, and/or grown demand for more sustainable products and services by incorporating environmentally conscious messaging into their marketing.
• 2) Environmental – Non-Profit:
  Recognizing non-profit organizations and associations with marketing programs that have measurably shifted audience (B2B or B2C) behavior toward more environmentally sustainable choices, grown demand for more sustainable products and services, and/or measurably drove positive impact for their cause by incorporating environmentally conscious messaging into their marketing.

Positive Change – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
This category applies to any campaigns, brand or non-profit, whose success was dependent on effectively and authentically connecting with specific cultural, ethnic or underrepresented groups or communities (example: LGBT, differently abled, indigenous peoples, etc.). Efforts may include equal rights messages, stereotype elimination, anti- prejudice or other that work to positively impact said groups or communities. If the entry had multiple audiences, it is necessary to demonstrate results for the specific audience detailed in the entry.

Identify any elements in the creative work or strategy that are specifically directed to this community and any relevant cultural differences, dynamics and/or nuances, traditions, values, linguistic characteristics, and their significance with respect to your submission. Judges may not be familiar with your particular segment, so this is your opportunity to showcase the details that they may miss.

12. Youth Marketing

Youth Marketing – Products
Youth Marketing – Services

This category will honor those efforts that successfully communicate to teens or young adults.
Your entry should be written in a way that identifies how the case was created and specifically directed to this audience and how it succeeded.

Identify any elements in the creative work or strategy that are specifically directed to the youth market and any relevant dynamics and/or nuances, trends, values, linguistic characteristics, and their significance with respect to your submission. Judges may not be familiar with this particular youth audience, so this is your opportunity to showcase the details that they may miss.