Meet the 2012 Social Media Awards finalists

The finalists of the 2012 Bord Gáis Energy Social Media Awards have been announced, with companies like Dublin Zoo, Vodafone Ireland and Today FM among those shortlisted.

As usual, the #sockies organisers embraced free nominations and received double the number of entries on last year’s inaugural event by deadline day on March 30. Nominations were received from over 200 individual Irish companies and organisations and were shortlisted by a panel of over 100 judges.

“The awards aim to recognise talent in online interaction, engagement and innovation and highlight best practice and importance of social media in business.” – #sockies

The event organisers also noted the growing quality and use of video in social media marketing and that, unsurprisingly, Facebook categories received the highest number of nominations.

The awards will take place on May 17 in the Mansion House, Dublin and cheap tickets are now on sale. The finalists are as follows:

Facebook Page for a business (Non-campaign)

• DoneDeal.ie
• MyKidsTime.ie
• Jameson Ireland
• Guinness Rugby Supporters Ireland
• Today FM
• National Lottery
• Easons
• Marks & Spencer Ireland
• Universal Pictures Ireland

Facebook Page for a business (Owner managed)

• Tour America
• Brasserie Sixty6
• Republic of Telly
• Blacknight
• A|wear
• Evening Echo
• SPIN 1038
• GrabOne
• GrandGrand.ie

Facebook Page for non-profit/organisation

• Dublin Zoo
• Special Olympics Ireland
• ReachOut Ireland
• Triathlon Ireland
• Dublin Marathon
• Arthritis Ireland
• World Book Day Ireland
• Irish Autism Action
• Cork Opera House

Integrated Facebook campaign (Page, app and ads)

• Electric Ireland
• Triton Ireland
• Bord na Móna
• Jameson Ireland
• Buy and Sell
• Vodafone Ireland
• SPAR
• Lidl Ireland

Video/Video campaign (Non-broadcast)

• First Fortnight
• Dingadeal.com
• Dublin Dance Festival
• 98FM Care 4 Kids Radiothon Video
• It’s Happening Here – Enterprise Ireland
• Vodafone Suicide or Survive campaign
• Wedding Dates – Kinsale Sevens Rugby Spoof
• SPIN 1038 “Call Me Maybe” Carly Rae Jepsen

Blog of a business

• Curious Wines
• DingADeal.com
• ArgusCarHire.com
• Sage Ireland
• Spiderworking.com
• Write on Track
• Blacknight

Best business Twitter account (Marketing, sales)

• 98FM
• Curious Wines
• Bord Bia
• Spin 1038
• Paddy Power
• SPIN South West
• O2 Ireland Shop
• Eason

Best business Twitter account (Support, CRM)

• Iarnrod Eireann
• Eircom
• Vodafone Ireland
• Blacknight
• O2 Ireland
• First Fortnight
• Lewis Glucksman Gallery
• Electric Ireland

Best business Twitter campaign

• Electric Ireland – Tweet em home
• io – io Bingo
• Bord na Móna – Long Night In
• Buyers Broker – #irishauction
• Easons – Pass the Parcel
• UPC – Internet Buttons & Magic Desktop

Best use of social media in an election

• John Paul Phelan General Election Campaign
• Seán Gallagher Presidential Campaign
• Michael D Higgins Presidential Campaign
• Irish Labour Party General Election Campaign

Best use of social media for a sponsorship campaign

• Electric Ireland and Electric Picnic
• SPAR SPARTAN Challenge
• Kaspersky Lab and Felicity Aston
• Meteor and Choice Music Prize
• O2 Ireland – Irish Rugby
• Bank of Ireland – Blue Magic Leinster Rugby
• Aviva and Aviva Stadium
• Vodafone Ireland – Dublin GAA Hill 16

Innovative use of social media

• Gaza TV News
• RTE’s #HowToBeIrish project
• Electric Ireland #sharetheenergy
• 11890
• Dine in Dublin – Dine at your Desk campaign
• Today FM – Today FM’s Shave or Dye on Social Media
• Brando Digital – #tweetsweets
• AllAbout

Customer care using social media (Integrated)

• Electric Ireland
• o2 Ireland
• Today FM
• AIB
• Blacknight
• Vodafone Ireland

Use of social media by State body

• Bord Bia
• Science Week
• Bord na Móna
• Iarnrod Eireann
• Defence Forces
• Fáilte Ireland
• National Lottery
• Bus Éireann
• Road Safety Authority

Integrated social media campaign

• Electric Ireland
• Bord na Móna – The Short Story of a Long Night
• Meteor Choice Music Prize
• Funky Christmas Jumpers
• Defence Forces
• RTÉ – HeadsUp Movie Awards
• All About Business, Bank of Ireland + Dragon’s Den
• Tanora – A Cork Legend

Social media effectiveness

• Tour America
• Toyota Ireland – Yaris “Sweetspot” Facebook Campaign
• Heinz Ireland
• Eristoff Vodka
• Kerrygold
• Vodafone Ireland
• Northern Ireland Tourist Board
• Lidl Ireland
• Smirnoff

Online PR campaign

• STAR Translation Services
• OMG! Jedward’s Dream Factory on TRTÉ
• Lokofoto St. Patrick’s Day
• Captain Morgan – Dare the Captain

Best mobile app (Marketing)

• The Corkscrew Wine Merchants
• Eco Appz
• Electric Ireland
• St. Patrick’s Festival
• Dublin Contemporary Festival
• CarZone.ie
• My Dublin Bus
• DoneDeal for Android

Agency of the year

• WHPR/Ogilvy
• Simply Zesty
• Eighty Twenty
• Creative District
• Irish International
• Blue Cube
• MediaVest
• Starcom
• Cybercom
• Ican