Content Marketing Association Awards 2016 winners

The Content Marketing Association (CMA), the industry body for the content marketing industry, earlier this week announced the winners of its seventh annual International Content Marketing Awards at a ceremony at The Roundhouse in London.

“I am delighted to say that there is yet again a huge diversity of winning agencies from across four continents. Our CMA awards represent the very best worldwide in content marketing by agencies for brands. As content marketing continues to grow in independence, it is even more important to recognise best in class work, highlighting gold level global campaigns. Congratulations to all winners!” – Clare Hill, Managing Director at the Content Marketing Association

The International Content Marketing Awards are the single most competitive content marketing awards globally, this year seeing a record number of agency entrants. The 2016 awards also introduce 10 new categories to reflect the growing trends in the industry. A few of the new categories include ‘Best Real-Time Activation’, Best Use of Data & Insight’ and ‘Best Distribution Strategy’.

This year’s awards received over 450 award entries from 110 agencies. These entries came from 21 different countries, over four continents including nominations from UK, USA, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, Sweden and Israel.

Cedar were the biggest winners at this year’s Awards, winning four gold awards, plus the Grand Prix. They were awarded for their great work with British Airways, winning Best Content on Owned Media Channels for British Airways Portfolio, as well as Best Membership for The Club for British Airways, Best Travel for British Airways Portfolio and Designer of the Year award for Henry Elphick at British Airways.

The British Airways owned media portfolio includes — three powerful inflight magazines in High Life, Business Life and First reaching 3.6 million people a month; content for the ba.com website; and a digital magazine – The Club – emailed to 3.8 million loyalty members. The content is seeded across social media channels reaching 4 million Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram followers.

The judges commented that they stood out because British Airways have put in place owned channels that they are fully committed to pulling together and integrating across all possible components. This provides longevity and total brand consistency.

Other notable winners include MediaCom Beyond Advertising and John Brown Media who both won two gold awards. MediaCom Beyond Advertising won Best B2B for Headstart for Danske Bank Business and Best Specialist for Scope’s End the Awkward. John Brown Media was awarded gold awards for Best Use of Photography for Waitrose Food and Editor of the Year.

The full list of winners of the 2016 International Content Marketing Awards

Grand Prix – BA Portfolio– British Airways – Cedar

Best Annual Content Strategy – The Economist Content Engagement Strategy – The Economist – Proximity London (Creative)

Best Automotive – Lexus Slide– Lexus – AllTogtherNow/CHI

Best B2B– Headstart– Danske Bank Business– MediaCom Beyond Advertising

Best Content on Owned Media Channels – BA Portfolio – British Airways – Cedar

Best Distribution Strategy – Lenovo Think Progress – Lenovo – King Content

Best Finance – Premier Personalisation Film – Barclays – ITN Productions

Best FMCG – Skittles Holiday Pawn Shop – Skittles – MediaCom Beyond Advertising Canada, BBDO Toronto & Harbinger

Best Internal – Public employees reading mean tweets – YS State Sector – Geelmuyden Kiese

Best Membership – The Club for British Airways – British Airways – Cedar

Best Non-Retail Consumer – Luck is no coincidence – Unibet – Karmarama

Best Print – Broccoli & Brains – LighterLife – Made By Sonder

Best Real-Time Activation – The #BlackFriday Social War Room – Argos – AllTogtherNow

Best Retail Consumer – Domino’s – Powered People Greatness – Domino’s Pizza Group UK – Arena Media UK

Best Social – Volvo Trucks vs 750 Tonnes – Volvo Trucks – Spoon

Best Specialist – End the Awkward – Scope – MediaCom Beyond Advertising

Best Travel – BA Portfolio – British Airways – Cedar

Best Use of Data & Insight – The O2 Featured – The O2 – StoryScience

Best Use of Illustration – The World’s biggest Amusement Park – The Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) – Geelmuyden Kiese

Best Use of Innovation – Cashless on the Catwalk – Visa – The 10 Group

Best Use of Monetised Content – Sainsbury’s Magazine and digital – Sainsbury’s – Seven

Best Use of Photography – Waitrose Food – Waitrose – John Brown Media

Best Video – Volvo Trucks vs 750 Tonnes – Volvo – Spoon

Designer of the Year – Henry Elphick – British Airways – Cedar

Editor of the Year – William Sitwell – Waitrose – John Brown Media