€20,000 prize fund for Galway’s first Online Marketing Awards

The not-for-profit organisation, Online Marketing in Galway, will host Galway’s first ever Online Marketing Awards on April 22 at the Town Hall Theatre.

Celebrating the best in digital in Galway city and county, there are five main categories; Best Website, Best Social Media Campaign, Best Email Campaign, Online Marketing Leadership Award and Best Blog.

There are two bonus awards, The People’s Choice Award and one additional award to be announced at a later date. There is currently over €20,000 in the prize fund up for grabs.

The idea for the Awards was initially conceived by City Bin Company’s Oisin Browne, along with OMIG’s founder Maricka Burke Keogh and fellow volunteer Gary Mullin.

The event is sponsored by the Connacht Tribune and The Galway City Enterprise Board and is in aid of the Galway Hospice. Tickets for the event are €5 and can be purchased at www.galwaymarketing.ie/awards. All proceeds go to the Galway Hospice.

A company or individual can register their own business or nominate someone else’s business. Registrations are free and can be accessed on www.galwaymarketing.ie/awards-registration-form/. 

Over 40 businesses have registered in the city over the past few days. Registration closes on March 7 at 5pm.

The prize fund includes:

• Connacht Tribune – €5,000 worth of Advertising (Print/Radio/Online);

• GCCEB – €2,500 Cash Prize+ €1,100 with of mentoring;

• Galway Technology Centre – €2,500 (Virtual/HotDesk/Conference Room Facilities for a year);

• Tree Light Pictures – €2,500 Video Production Package;

• IMS Marketing – €1,500 Brand Audit/Brand Design;

• Cantec – €1,000 Print pack;

• Digital Marketing Institute – €2,990 2 x Postgraduate Diploma;

• Cityweb – €2,000;

• iONConnect – €950 worth of consultancy;

• Julia Dunin – €750 worth of photography);

• Plus remaining OMiG Volunteers Prize Package over €5,000.

In the run up to the Awards, OMiG will continue their free monthly seminars in the Harbour Hotel. The next meeting takes place on Tuesday next, February 25, sponsored by the Marketing Institute of Ireland. The two key speakers on the night are Declan Flemming (NUIG) of the Marketing Institute of Ireland and Orla Carroll, Head of Digital, Failte Ireland.

The topic on the night will be the latest impact Online Marketing is having on the day to day roles within organisations. Beforehand, there will be plenty of opportunity to network as the evening kicks off with ‘Networking with a Twist’ at 6.15pm which is being held in conjunction with the Galway County and City Enterprise Board. People will be randomly selected to introduce themselves to other people.