The judging panel were thrilled to see so many high-quality, innovative entries submitted for the inaugural USPAs, showing that there is a natural appetite for awarding the best partnership marketing activations in the US.
After much deliberation, the judges decided who should receive the gold, silver, and bronze accolades for their best-in-class work spanning the affiliate, performance, and influencer industries. We are pleased to announce that the official shortlist is now here for you to explore.
What did the judges have to say?
The awards judging panel represented an outstanding, well-rounded selection of key players from the influencer, performance, and affiliate spaces, including reputable big brands and those with successful partnerships at their core.
The judges recognised themes and trends amongst the entries and looked at these alongside the judging criteria in order to make their all important decisions. Many of the judges enjoyed how the creativity showcased through many influencer marketing activations, combined with the drive to achieve outstanding results through affiliate marketing and performance media, presented a great selection of well-rounded campaigns that focussed on the full journey, rather than just the end goal.
Influencer Marketing Consultant, Christie Childers, believes that sitting on judging panels, like the one for the USPAs is “an amazing opportunity to gauge the innovation in our industry, and make exciting guesses about where it’s headed”.
She adds, “It’s rare people have the opportunity in their careers to come together with other strategic minds to decide on best in class work, and I feel so privileged to be a part of this industry when I have the chance to do so! This year’s campaigns were driven by data, pushed creative boundaries, and left us all feeling inspired as we left our sessions to discuss our winners.”
Jade Mayberry, Head of Affiliate & Performance Partnerships at Dentsu International, was also thrilled to be sitting on the first USPA judging panel, she says, “I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing and deliberating on each outstanding category entry and now feel reinvigorated by what’s to come in our brilliant industry. I can’t wait to see everyone IRL in NYC this September.”
Have your say
As per our other award ceremonies, we recognise the importance of awarding individuals who have entered into their industry head first, showing their ability to make change and show resilience.
Named the ‘Rising Star’ award at the Influencer Marketing Awards, the USPAs will award its first ever ‘Partnerships – One to Watch’ at the ceremony on September 7th – and it’s up to you, alongside a panel of vetted ‘dragons’, to decide who should take home the trophy. This award is a super important one for the industry to gain inspiration from an individual who is innovative in the space and setting the pace for those who are driven to execute best-in-class partnerships.
Voting is now open for the Partnerships – One to Watch, and also the Best Platform for Partnership Recruitment categories, meaning that you, leaders in the partnerships space, can have your say. Voting closes at midnight on August 22nd (local timezone).
Take your seat at the table
Is your company’s name on the shortlist? Or do you fancy a night of glitz and glam and supporting your peers? To secure your seat at the USPA ceremony, you can book yours now online, or reach out to the sales team who can provide you with more information.
We can’t wait to enjoy the celebrations and award the winners on September 7th at Sony Hall, New York.
