We are pleased to announce the shortlist for the a4uAwards for affiliate and performance marketing taking place in May. A total of 25 awards will be announced at the London ceremony which will be hosted by comedian Rufus Hound.
Having myself helped to judge more than 100 of the award entries, I can testify to a higher standard than ever.
Companies shortlisted for the awards include Argos, Expedia, BT, BSkyB, Vodafone and 02. Significant investment in the affiliate channel by companies across a range of sectors has helped to create an industry worth £4.6 billion in UK sales, according to our latest Affiliate Marketing Buyer's Guide.
Personalised retargeting company myThings, which along with network partner Affiliate Window won the Econsultancy 2010 Innovation Award for Affiliate Marketing, is among the nominations in four different categories.
a4uAwards founder Matthew Wood said:
“A number of categories were closer than ever, whilst others attracted run-away winners. This makes for an exciting evening on the 17th May where we will be sharing with guests captivating comments and analysis from the judges with the aim to inspire others to maximise their returns from the affiliate channel.”
The full shortlist for the 2011 a4uAwards, in association with 7thingsmedia, is as follows:
Publisher Innovation
- InvisibleHand
- Quidco
- Top Cashback iPhone App
- Top10.com
- VoucherCloud
Advertiser Innovation
- Argos & Commission Junction
- Expedia
- Final Route & TradeDoubler
- The Gift Experience & Webgains
Affiliate Network Innovation
- Commission Junction & myThings
- Commission Junction & The Argos Affiliate Hub
- Darwin Marketplace
- LinkShare Aggregated Vouchers
- Webgains Multiple Data Feeds
Best 3rd Party Application
- DC Storm
- InvisibleHand
- myThings with Commission Junction
- Quidco Compare
- R.O.Eye & eBay for eBay Geo-Targeting Tool
Best New Entrant
- Affiliate Window for Best Buy
- Affilinet for Matalan
- Boots Treat Street
- myThings with Commission Junction
- The metamorphosis of Artemis8 into Found
Best Agency
- 7thingsmedia
- Arena Quantum
- Bigmouthmedia
- Stream 20
Best Use of Affiliate Marketing as part of a Multi-Channel Campaign
- Affiliate Window & SKY
- Affiliate Window for LOVEFiLM
- Commission Junction for Argos
- Debenhams
- RAC
Best Search Partnership
- Found & RAC
- Net Media Planet & O2
- Top10.com & Vodafone
Best Lead Generation Campaign
- Azam Marketing & Egg
- Found for Tempur
- MindShare & Affilinet for Mazda
- TTH Media for O2
- VoucherCodes.co.uk for LOVEFiLM
Best Use of Social Media
- Arena Quantum for Domino's Pizza: Democratising Affiliate Marketing through Social
- DiscountVouchers.co.uk
- Top10.com for Vodafone iPhone Facebook Competition
Best Use of Mobile
- Found for Autoglass Roadside Rescue
- Top10.com for Streetstats 3G
- VoucherCloud
Best Managed Affiliate Programme
- Affiliate Window & SKY
- Arena Quantum for Legal & General
- BT
- Latitude for JJB Sports & JJB Golf
- Red Letter Days
- TradeDoubler for Tesco
International Award
- Commission Junction & GAP
- Existem-am for Crocs
- InvisibleHand
- Neo@Ogilvy for British Airways
- Net Media Planet
- TradeDoubler & Hotels.com
- TradeTracker
Best Finance Advertiser
- Arena Quantum for Legal & General
- Commission Junction for Egg
- Neo @ Ogilvy for American Express
- OMG for HBOS
- RAC
Best Finance Publisher
- Azam Marketing
- Quidco
Best Retail Advertiser
- Affiliate Window for LOVEFiLM
- Commission Junction for Argos
- Hotel Chocolat & myThings
- LinkShare for Radley
- Red Letter Days
- Webgains for my-wardrobe
Best Retail Publisher
- Found for Red Letter Days
- InvisibleHand
- VoucherCodes.co.uk
Best Travel & Leisure Advertiser
- Arena Quantum for Haven Holidays
- buy.at for DFDS
- buy.at for Expedia
- Commission Junction for TUI
Best Travel & Leisure Publisher
- MyVoucherCodes
- Quidco
- VoucherCodes.co.uk
Best Technology & Telecoms Advertiser
- Affiliate Window for BT
- Affiliate Window for SKY
- MEC for Orange
- O2
- Vodafone
Best Technology & Telecoms Publisher
- Consumer Choices
- Top10.com
Reader comments (2)
4:43PM on 18th March 2011
Although not written about publically, the talk of the affiliate marketing community every year is always how the A4U Awards are dominated by companies and individuals that run, sponsor or judge the awards. The correlation is interesting to note.
My congratulations to the companies shortlisted who haven't got a too-close-for-comfort relationship with the awards process and ceremony.
Managing Director at Existem Ltd
10:41AM on 21st March 2011
Thought I’d chip in to add a bit of clarity over the judging process, as this is pretty sweeping and unfair comment.
Each year we select judges, who are knowledgeable about the affiliate marketing industry or their specialism and in turn can offer an unbiased view when allocating scores. They follow a strict scoring algorithm which has evolved over the years.
Judges are personally invited to judge singular, all or selected categories and are excluded from judging any category where a conflict of interest arises.
This could be for example where a competitor or their own company has entered, or where a business interest is acknowledged.
We endeavour to make the process as fair and as transparent as possible each year, with a wide variety of judges, 50% or so of which were new this year.
Finally after 12+ years working within the affiliate marketing industry, I think it’s fair to say that as head of the panel I’m aware of the many intricacies, preferred partner and business relationships that exist.
To state that there is a correlation between sponsors, organisers, judges and the results is just barmy.
I’d like to thank all of our judges for giving up their personal time in what was a very competitive and in some cases incredibly close year.
We look forward to revealing all of the winners and highly commended entries on the 17th of May.
Congratulations to those that made the shortlist!
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