The Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) is accepting entries for its 33rd Annual national Marketing Communications Awards (MCA) competition. The MCA Program is the longest-standing, most prestigious awards competition recognizing excellence in marketing communications by professional services firms in the design and building industry. The early-bird entry deadline is March 1, 2010. Both SMPS members and nonmembers are eligible to enter.
Two new entry categories have been added to the MCA Program for 2010: Recruitment & Retention Communications and Social Media. As the name implies, Recruitment & Retention Communications are programs designed to recruit potential and retain current firm employees through print and/or electronic communications. Social Media entries will shed light on how A/E/C firms are using social media tools to provide a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and interaction with clients, partners, employees, and others. Detailed descriptions and submittal requirements for all 20 MCA categories can be found here.
In addition, SMPS is pleased to offer an entry fee discount to small firms with 25 or fewer employees companywide. These changes, based on feedback from past participants, respond to profound shifts in professional services marketing and current economic challenges firms are facing.
Each year, this competitive awards program receives hundreds of entries from around the country and globe. Firms can select among 20 different marketing communications categories, and there is no limit to the number of categories that a firm can enter. Most categories are open to both print and electronic projects. Consistently popular categories over the past few years have been corporate identity, holiday piece, internal communications, promotional campaign, and Web site.
Entries will be evaluated on March 20, 2010, by a jury of experienced architects, engineers, contractors, marketers, business developers, graphics and PR professionals, and industry clients. Jurors use a numerical scoring system based on five criteria in order to evaluate effectiveness and return on investment, in addition to quality, message, and design.
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 past winning entries.
Award winners will be announced and honored on July 15 at a black-tie Awards Gala during Build Business: “Reinvent. Retool. Rebound,” the 2010 SMPS National Conference in Boston, MA. Winning entries will be prominently displayed throughout the conference. Industry editors and association executives will select the Best of Show, and all conference attendees can vote for the People’s Choice award. Award winners will be publicized via press releases sent to national industry publications.
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