According to the APA: This year there were over 500 entries - that's a stunning 16% increase in submissions from last year - a mark of the continuing success and versatility of the content marketing industry. An impressive 60 content marketing agencies have been shortlisted - the largest number ever - highlighting the diversity of the industry.
What's more, the awards have seen a huge surge in international interest, with double the amount of entries submitted from agencies outside the UK, including those in Spain, Germany, Finland, Norway, Australia, South Africa, UAE, Belgium, France, Czech Republic, Sweden, France and South Africa. In total, an unprecedented 26 international agencies have made the shortlist.
This year's International Content Marketing Awards shortlist is a roll call of the world's biggest and most famous brands, including Google, Audi, Vodafone, British Airways, Qantas, Akzo Nobel, Weight Watchers, Virgin Media, Channel 4, Boden and Volvo - to name but a few. A full list of all agencies and brands shortlisted can be downloaded here.
Julia Hutchison (pictured), COO APA, comments: "Our recent spending survey showed that despite the well-documented global downturn, brands are investing heavily in branded content as a communications tool, with almost two-thirds of marketers revising their 2011 content budgets up - and it's not hard to see why. The shortlist demonstrates that content marketing is one of the most dynamic and vibrant global marketing industries, with both content specialists and their clients pushing the boundaries of what's possible across all the available channels, from iPad editions through to video. The shortlist showcases the best of the work over the past 12 months and there are many world-firsts and exclusives within the list! I don't envy the judges!"
Click here to see the full shortlist.
The winners will be announced at Old Billingsgate, London on Wednesday 23rd November, at an awards ceremony sponsored by Citipost, Sappi, Marketing Magazine, Newnorth, Ceros, Menzies Digital Marketing, Kingston Smith, St Ives and ICPF.
The awards are preceded by the second annual International Content Summit, also held at Old Billingsgate. Demand from the industry following the inaugural event last year, has shaped this year's Summit which focuses on Content + Convergence, one of the key areas that impacts content marketing today.
With a range of exciting speakers including futurologists, agency experts, content-platform representatives and brand-side marketers, the Summit will delve into the challenges and issues presented by convergence, and how brands can make best use of the newly converged media landscape.
