JUDGING CRITERIA

Judging session – October 25, 2023

Shortlist announcement – October 26, 2023

Judges will read and pre-score all entry forms, considering any supporting materials submitted. Judges will be asked to give a score for each question within the entry form, as listed in the bullet points below. These will be combined to give an overall score for each entry. All judges’ pre-scores will then be combined, and the highest-scoring entries will determine the shortlists.

Judges will meet to discuss the highest-scoring entries and then agree on the winner for each category.

The awards will be judged by some of the biggest names in search. Click here to see this year’s judging panel.

Entries should not exceed 1000 words in total and should relate to work undertaken between June 2022 – September 2023

Campaign Awards

The judges will be looking for clear objectives, creative and effective implementation, and tangible and demonstrable results in the campaign award categories. They will also consider the structure, presentation, and clarity of each entry.

Each entry must include information under the following headings:
• Total budget
• Objectives
• Strategy & target audience
• Creativity & implementation
• Results & evaluation

Any entries that do not include information under all of these headings will be marked down. If appropriate you may include up to three pieces of supporting materials.

Innovation/Software Awards

The judges will be looking for a clear description of an outstanding blog, innovation, or product, with indication of budget. Judges will be looking for new features/tools added in the last twelve months for the software awards. They will also consider the structure, presentation, and clarity of each entry.

Each entry must include information under the following headings:

  • Total Budget
    • Overview of the innovation/product
    • Why you think your entry should win

Any entries that do not include information under all of these headings will be marked down. If appropriate, you may include up to three pieces of supporting materials.

In addition to the above judges will utilise the log in & password provided to mark the following:

  • The usability/functionality of the product
    • The effectiveness and performance of the product

Please note if you’re unable to provide a login, please contact awards@dontpanicprojects.com.

Agency/Team Awards

Judges will be looking for agencies and teams that can demonstrate an ongoing and sustained commitment to delivering best practice while showing a creative and innovative approach to search. Judges will also consider the structure, presentation, and clarity of each entry.

Each entry must include information under the following headings:

  • Details of the team / agency
    • Agency / team objectives
    • Recent campaign example
    • Recent achievements
    • Challenges
    • Why you think your entry should win

Any entries that do not include information under all of these headings will be marked down. If appropriate you may include up to three pieces of supporting materials.

Dates for your calendar

14 September 2023 Early Bird Close
28 September 2023 Entry Deadline
05 October 2023 Extended Deadline
25 October 2023 Judging Session
26 October 2023 Shortlist Announcement
22 November 2023 Award Ceremony
Discover our categories

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Testimonials

We would like to acknowledge the MENA Search Awards community, thank them for their support, and express that we are ecstatic to have become a part of this amazing family.
Kriko
The encouragement of the MENA Search Awards to urge people and companies to share and reproduce sectoral information and to visualize our success has been one of our biggest sources of motivation in this process.
Kriko
Being validated by the likes of MENA Search Awards and amongst such stiff well accomplished competitors is something that’s made us incredibly proud, bonded our team further and has been exceptionally well received by our customers. Mickey Llew
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