Entries for the The Wires Awards are now open, as we prepare to celebrate the very best in the digital marketing industry.

The Wires Global recognises the best use of digital media, marketing, and commerce. Placing a particular focus on ad tech and martech, the ceremony celebrates innovation and expertise across the digital marketing industry with a series of awards. The awards are bigger and better than ever this year, with eight new categories added to the already wide scope of the awards.

Last year, The Telegraph’s Karen Eccles took home the prestigious Ad Tech Personality of the Year award. The coveted title of Ad Tech Rising Star was won by Alexa Constantinescu, programmatic director at GroupM.

So how do you really catch the judges attention and bag yourself a Wires award? We spoke to some of our expert judging panel to find out what they’re looking for in a winning campaign.

What the judges think

We have always excelled at marrying creativity & technology to push the boundaries of what’s possible, and history never fails to celebrate its innovators and pioneers. It is immensely important to take the time to appreciate the brilliant achievements we make as an industry, and recognise those that move us forward into new chapters – I’m delighted to be able to help make that happen at The Wires this year alongside my fellow judges. I personally value simplicity, an idea that can be explained in 20 seconds, and seeing how that has been brought to life and applied to enable great marketing campaigns.

James Trott, Senior Director, Global Addressable Media, Coca-Cola

As a judge at The Wires, I’m really looking forward to being inspired by the creativity of my industry peers. Being exposed to diverse approaches and successful outcomes will no doubt spark new ideas and strategies for my own work and projects. The networking opportunity to engage with fellow judges and industry leaders during the awards process will lead to valuable connections and collaboration. Most of all, I am looking forward to celebrating the success and achievements of talented marketers and innovative campaigns. Knowing that I played a part in recognising and honouring excellence within the industry is immensely gratifying. 

Overall, serving as a judge for The Wires offers a blend of professional recognition, inspiration, networking opportunities and celebrating the success of others. It will allow me to both give back to the community and grow personally and professionally in the process. What will make a winning campaign/product:I believe a winning campaign or product will typically exhibit several key characteristics: Innovation: Is there a unique approach or a groundbreaking idea? Effectiveness: The results and success of a campaign/product are crucial; "the proof is in the pudding." Relevance: How does it resonate with its audience? Is there a demonstration of a deep understanding of the target audience? Impact: Does it leave a lasting impact beyond results? A combination of all these characteristics should generally create a compelling and memorable experience for the intended audience.

Ashleigh Footit, Head of Programmatic & Yield, The Independent

The Wires Award 2024 is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the recognition of outstanding achievements in the digital marketing industry. As a judge, I am eager to evaluate the innovative campaigns, strategies, and technologies that have pushed the boundaries of creativity and effectiveness. Being part of such a prestigious event allows me to gain insights into emerging trends, learn from the best practices, and network with industry leaders. I am honoured to play a role in celebrating excellence and shaping the future of digital marketing.

Veniram Joshi, Senior Manager, Walmart

I’m honoured to be a judge for The Wires 2024, and I’m looking forward to seeing the best the digital marketing industry has to offer! Ours is a very exciting and fast-developing field, but it can also be a crowded space – I’ll be looking for work that cuts through the noise with original thinking and ingenuity, as well as balancing digital smarts without losing a human feel at its heart.

 Dom Dwight, Director of Strategy, Insight, Innovation & Diversification, Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate

I want to be inspired and discover something new and I know the global nature of The Wires will uncover many innovative, unexpected, and high-performing campaigns. In the face of incredible clutter and noise, plus the economic backdrop of the past 12 months, looking for that special je ne sais quoi amongst entries is both awarding for the winners but rewarding for us judges too.

Jasdeep Mondae, Head of Demand Generation, Performics @ Starcom

I am looking forward to reading through all of the submissions and finding those that are innovative and have an impact on the space. The industry has had a lot of headwinds this year, but also so many great successes and it is great to play a part in celebrating them.

Amanda Gomez, Senior Vice President, Revenue Operations & Ad Technology, New York Post

Entries for The Wires 2024 are open now. For all the details, head to our dedicated event page.