Home
Login/Register
Entry Basics
Entry Basics
ENTRY KIT, GUIDE & FORMS
DEADLINES & FEES
PAYMENT PROCEDURE
CHECKLIST
CATEGORIES OVERVIEW
REQUIREMENTS
  • ELIGIBILITY
  • RULES
  • CREATIVE REEL & CREATIVE IMAGES
  • CREDITS
JUDGING CRITERIA
Entry Kit, Guide & Forms
Entry Kit, Guide & Forms

Use the forms to draft answers only. Responses will need to be copied into the Entry portal in order to submit your entry. Please give yourself enough time to transfer over responses to the portal in advance of your intended entry deadline.

2024 Entry Kit
Effective Entry Guide
Entry Submission Guide
Main Entry Form
Performance Marketing Entry Form
Sustained Success Entry Form
Authorization & Verification Form
Deadlines & Fees
Deadlines & Fees
Deadlines Entry Deadlines Per Entry Fee
4As member MSA/MAA/MDA member Non-member
First 20 June 2024 by 3.00pm RM 2,000-00 RM 2,300-00 RM 3,300-00
Second 27 June 2024 by 3.00pm RM 3,000-00 RM 3,500-00 RM 4,950-00
Final 4 July 2024 by 3.00pm RM 3,500-00 RM 4,100-00 RM 5,775-00
Last Chance 11 July 2024 by 3.00pm RM 4,000-00 RM 5,000-00 RM 6,600-00

Entries will not be accepted if they are not accompanied with full payment or if they are incomplete in any way.

Payment Procedure
Payment Procedure

You are required to generate the Submissions Master List through the "online entry portal".
Payment can be made through following methods:

By Bank Transfer

Beneficiary Name : THE ASSOCIATION OF ACCREDITED ADVERTISING AGENTS MALAYSIA
Bank Name : UNITED OVERSEAS BANK (MALAYSIA) BHD
Account Number : 260-302-993-5

By Cheque
Cheques should be made payable to “The Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia” and hand-delivered or couriered to:
Effie Awards Malaysia
c/o Macomm Management Services Sdn Bhd (225555-X)
Level 7, Unit 023, 129 Offices, Block J, Jaya One,
72A, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: (603) 7613 1510


Documentation required to complete your submission:
(i) Submissions Master List
(ii) Proof of payment

[Only a Purchase Order is accepted as interim payment. Payment terms is seven (7) days from the date of our quotation. Non-negotiable]
Once payment is received and checked, an invoice will be issued.
The Organizer reserves the right to withdraw from the competition any entry that has not been paid the relevant fees.

Checklist
Checklist

The following are required to complete your submission​

  • Entry form : To be filled ONLINE
    NOTE: Sample entry forms can be downloaded from Effie Malaysia website [https://www.malaysiaeffie.com/].
  • Creative reel : One (1) high-quality 3-minute maximum.
    For Sustained Success, 4 minutes maximum.
    Size should not exceed 250 MB. In .mp4 format
    Translation: All non-English commercial/creative execution should be with English subtitles.
  • Credits form : Eight (8) companies and a minimum of ten (10) individuals to be credited on an entry
  • Case image of your work : Upload 1 Hi-RES (.jpeg) that best represents the essence of your case. This will be used on the website, Awards Gala, media promotions and educational purpose
  • Case summary : A brief summary – 90 words – that best describes the challenge, how/why of the strategies implemented and results. Will be used on the website, Awards Gala and for media promotion.
  • Authorization & Verification Form : A declaration that the submitted information is true and accurate. It also affirms that all the parties, clients and agencies, have agreed to participate.
  • Payment : Check/pay the order in favor of The Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia
IMPORTANT: All the above is mandatory to complete your submission.
Categories Overview
Categories Overview

There are dedicated entry forms for Sustained Success and Performance Marketing. All other categories submission to use the Main Entry Form.

The following list of 2024 Effie Awards Malaysia categories intended as a guide for campaign submission ​:

1 Automotive – Aftermarket
Gasoline, motor oil, tires, batteries, paint, quick-lube, oil change, muffler, transmission, windshield wipers, enhancements, etc.
2Automotive – Vehicles
Cars, trucks, motorcycles, vans. Both brand and model advertising.
3Beauty & Fragrance
Includes cosmetics, fragrances, hair products, nail products, skincare treatments, salons, etc.
4Beverages – Alcohol
Beer, champagne, liquor, wine, hard seltzers, winecoolers, etc.
5Beverages - Non-Alcohol
Diet and non-diet soda, coffee, tea, juices, milk, milk substitutes, bottled water, sparkling water, etc. (For energy drinks, please see Health, Fitness & Wellness in the industry category)
6NEW: Culture & The Arts
Museums, plays, immersive experiences, music organizations and festivals, concert series, culturalfestivals, theater festivals.
7Delivery Services
Couriers, package/freight shipping, food & drink delivery, grocery delivery, flower/gift delivery, overnight delivery, package tracking, international service, etc.
8Education & Training
Includes all educational organizations and institutions, training programs, job/career sites, etc.
9Electronics
TVs, radios, mobile devices, home entertainment, laptops, tablets, cameras, smart home devices, computer hardware, game consoles, drones, external or integrated VR/AR devices, sound systems, etc. Electronicdevices may be aimed at consumers or businesses.
10Entertainment & Sports
Includes all forms of entertainment, including movies, TV shows, podcasts, books, music, comics, games, toys, entertainment apps, etc. Sporting events such as the Super Bowl, sports teams, etc. (See Gaming& E-Sports category for video games.)
11Fashion & Accessories
Includes all apparel, accessories, jewelry, styling services, clothing rentals, etc
12Finance
Financial products and services including: overall corporate/brand image and capabilities of a financial institution or specific products or services including credit/debit cards, reward/loyalty cards, financial planning, mobile payment services, retirement funds, investment, home banking, loans, mortgage, mutual funds, etc.
13Food
Fresh, packaged, and frozen foods.(For snacks & desserts, see the Snacks & Desserts category.)
14Gaming & E-Sports
All forms of e-sports and single and multi-player video games, including virtual reality, arcade, console, mobile, online and computer games.
15Government & Public Service
Municipal or state economic development, lotteries, utilities, civil, diplomatic, or armed forces, parks, libraries, public services, etc. Includes political messages and recruitment efforts.
16Health & Wellness - Health, Fitness & Wellness
Unregulated products/services focused on consumer health and/or promoting a healthy lifestyle. Includes digital health products, fitness trackers, health/fitness apps, exercise equipment, nutraceuticals, vitamins, energy bars and drinks, etc.; fitness studios; weight loss and fitness programs, training camps and facilities, etc.
17Health & Wellness - Healthcare Services
Efforts developed for hospitals, HMOs, health insurance companies, referral services, dental and medical care services, pharmacies, or chronic care facilities. Efforts may be targeted to healthcare professionals, patients, and/or consumers.
18Health & Wellness – OTC
Efforts for products that are sold without a prescription that address specific health conditions. Efforts may be targeted to healthcare professionals, patients and/or consumers. Only products that address a specific health condition should enter this category – there are separate categories for Beauty & Fragrance, Health, Fitness & Wellness, and Personal Care efforts.
19Home Furnishings & Appliances
Kitchen and laundry appliances, air conditioners, carpeting, furniture, decorator’s supplies, paint, wallpaper, etc.
20Household Supplies
Cleaning products, waxes, detergents, floor-care products, fabric softeners, paper products, lawn care, etc.
21Insurance
Marketing promoting specific products or services related to insurance and the capabilities of financial institutions offering these services. All types of insurance are eligible (home, auto, financial, life, travel, business, etc.), except for health insurance service providers. (Health insurance companies, see Healthcare Services.)
22Internet & Telecom
Mobile network providers, high speed internet access services, online services, bundled communications (internet, telephone, and TV), etc.
23Leisure & Recreation
Products and services aimed at hobbies, leisure, and recreation, including, but not limited to: dating services/apps, wedding planning platforms, personal development/improvement programs/apps, genetics/ancestry testing services, sporting and camping goods/services, etc.
24Media & Entertainment Companies
TV networks, streaming services, websites (entertainment, lifestyle, news, trade, etc.), magazines, newspapers, consumer or trade media, radio stations, broadcasters, etc.
25New Product or Service - Introduction
Efforts used to introduce a new product or service that is not a line extension.Brand new products or new products in a new category are required to enter this category instead of their industry category. Address the category situation and how your product/service was new and the situation you faced as a resultof it being new. For example, what specifically was new? Why did the newness matter?
26New Product or Service - Line Extension
Efforts used to support a variation of an existing product that shares the same brand name and is in the same category as the existing product and shares the same characteristics as the parent but offers new benefit (flavor, size, package, type, etc.). New extensions can either enter this category OR an industry category. Address the category situation, how your product/service was new and the situation you faced as a result of it being new. For example, what specifically was new? Why did the newness matter? (For Commerce & Shopper efforts, enter the Commerce & Shopper: New Product or Service Introduction category.)
27NEW: Non-Profit
Not-for-profit organizations of all types including charitable, social, civic, advocacy, trade, special interest, religious, etc. Includes membership drives, recruitment, fundraising, etc. (Non-profit health advocacy & awareness campaigns, see the Specialty Categories - > Health & Wellness - Disease Awareness & Education category.)
28Personal Care
Soap, oral care, face & body lotions and cleansers, basic eye and ear-care products (e.g. cotton swabs, eye drops, etc.), deodorants, feminine hygiene products, razors, shaving cream, etc. (For items focusing on beauty, see Beauty & Fragrance category.)
29Pet Care
Animal care products and services of all types, including food, toys, veterinary and boarding services, training, breeders.
30NEW: Professional Services
Includes services such as accounting, consulting, legal, staffing, recruiting, real estate, domestic services, etc.
31Restaurants
Quick service, casual dining, mid-scale, fine dining, tablecloth, and any other restaurants.
32Retail
All retail companies (online and/or brick and mortar) with general or specific merchandise such as department stores; clothing, shoes or jewelry stores; grocery stores; home and garden stores; movie/bookstores; discount/bulk retailers; pet care; toy stores; specialty stores; convenience stores; etc.
33Snacks & Desserts
: Ice cream, candy, chips, cookies, bakery items, nut, fruit and vegetable snacks, popcorn, etc.
34Software
Software, groupware, operating systems, SaaS/IaaS, and Cloud based services, software/apps stored locally on a computer/tablet/mobile device, etc.
35Transportation
All transportation methods: air, train, bus, taxi, rideshare services, subway systems, bike shares, scooter shares, car rentals, ferries, etc.
36Travel & Tourism
Cruises, hotels, resorts, amusement parks, travel websites and booking services, travel tours, tourism campaigns, etc.

37

AUDIENCE CATEGORY

Business-to-Business
For marketing efforts from businesses targeting other businesses. Includes B2B efforts for any type of product or service, from any marketplace segment. Enter in one of two sub-categories:
  • Business-to-Business – Products
  • Business-to-Business – Services
38 NEW: Multicultural
Any effort whose success was dependent on effectively and authentically connecting with a specific cultural or ethnic group. If the entry had multiple audiences, it is necessary to demonstrate results for the specific audience detailed in the entry and the potential halo effect on the wider audience. Identify any elements in the creative work or strategy that are specifically directed to this community and any relevant cultural differences, dynamics and/or nuances, traditions, values, linguistic characteristics, and their significance with respect to your submission.

Note: Judges may not be familiar with the brand’s particular segment, so showcase and explain details that may be missed to help them understand cultural nuances and context. Enter in one of three subcategories:
  • Multicultural – Non-Profits
  • Multicultural – Products
  • Multicultural – Services
39 NEW: Youth Marketing
This category honors efforts that successfully communicate to teens or young adults. The entry should be written in a way that identifies how the case was created and specifically directed to this audience, and how it succeeded. Identify any elements in the creative work or strategy that are specifically directed to the youth market and any relevant dynamics and/or nuances, trends, values, linguistic characteristics, and their significance with respect to your submission.

Note: Judges may not be familiar with this particular youth audience, so showcase details that may be missed. Enter in one of two subcategories:
  • Youth Marketing – Products
  • Youth Marketing – Services
40

BRAND CONTENT, ENTERTAINMENT & EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING CATEGORIES

Brand Content & Entertainment
For efforts that effectively reached their audience through the creation of original branded content that is not advertising. The core of the entry should be content designed to be consumed/ experienced and sought out by the consumer for entertaining or informative reasons. Entrants must detail the content, how it related back to the overall brand and business goals, how it was distributed to, and shared by, the audience, and the results it achieved for the brand and business. Branded content may be produced and distributed by either publishers or independently and can include longform entertainment. Note: Judges will expect to understand why branded content was chosen as a tactic. Enter in one of two subcategories:
  • Brand Content & Entertainment – Products
  • Brand Content & Entertainment – Services
41 Brand Integration & Entertainment Partnerships
This category honors brands that have effectively reached their audience via strategic integrations and entertainment partnerships. Submissions should detail how the brand was seamlessly interwoven in an engaging way. Detail the strategic reasoning behind the partnership – why was this partner chosen over others? Clearly explain the selection process of the partner, and how this partnership led to the results that met the brand objectives.
42 Experiential Marketing
This category is to showcase brand experiences beyond traditional advertising – work that truly brought a brand or product to life and interacted with a specific audience to achieve desired objectives should be entered. It may include a reinvented product demo, re-imagined pop-up, or a “brick and mortar” retail overhaul; it may have created a new game, an alternate or virtual reality experience, or an interactive/immersive film experience that effectively showcases a new product or brand personality. Award winners will show how the brand is reaching outto their audiences to establish meaningful relationships, memorable, engaging experiences, and unique connections. Entrants must address how the experiential marketing related back to the overall brand strategy. Judges will expect tounderstand the ‘participation’ in the experience as a core factor. Enter in one of three sub-categories:
  • Experiential Marketing: Live
  • Experiential Marketing: Digital
  • Experiential Marketing: Hybrid
43

BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES

Corporate Reputation
Marketing efforts that promote corporations, not exclusively their products. Includes sponsorships, image, and identity. In addition to presenting metrics related to the reputation, entrants are encouragedto also address how these metrics relate to the business of the brand and why they are important.
44 UPDATED: David vs. Goliath (Traditional)
This is an award for smaller brands, or new/emerging brands that are less than five years old making inroads against big, established leaders, taking on “sleeping giants,” beyond their current category and set of competitors to tackle a dominant leader. Entrants must detail the business challenge, the competitive landscape, and how the business succeeded despite the odds. Define your competitive landscape, including the market difference between the David and Goliath to demonstrate why the brand was a Traditional David. Note: Judges will deduct from the case without sufficient proof that the submitting brand is a Traditional David.
45 UPDATED: David vs. Goliath (Situational)
This is an award for larger brands that are successfully competing at a disadvantage in their market. Entrants must detail the business challenge, the competitive landscape, and how the business succeeded despite the circumstantial odds. Define your competitive landscape, including the market difference between the David and Goliath to demonstrate why the brand was a Situational David. Note: Judges will deduct from the case without sufficient proof that the submitting brand is a Situational David.
46 Marketing Disruptors
For efforts that grew the business/brand by changing the marketing model in ways that drivethe industry forward. A marketing disruptor of any size can enter. Detail the marketing challenge, the competitive landscape, and how the brand succeeded by changing the existing marketing model for the brand/category. Note: Judges will deduct from the case without clear articulation regarding how the marketing was disruptive for the brand/category. Enter in one of two sub-categories:
  • Marketing Disruptors – Products
  • Marketing Disruptors – Services
47 REINSTATE: Renaissance
: For rebirth campaigns. To enter, your brand must have experienced a downturn of several years and a period of at least six months of upturn sales. Entrants must detail the business challenge, the situation of the brand, thecompetitive landscape and how the effort succeeded. Note: The entry must address the previous marketing investment and strategy as part of the context. Also, provide detail on the length of the renaissance.
48 Small Budget
To be eligible, an entry may not be for a line extension and must represent the only marketing efforts for the brand during the time period. The value of donated and non-traditional media as well as activation costs must be included. Budget eligibility is a maximum spend of RM500,000.

Enter in one of three sub-categories:
  • Small Budgets – Non-Profit
  • Small Budgets – Products
  • Small Budgets – Services
49 Sustained Success
Efforts that experienced sustained success for at least three years are eligible for entry. At a minimum, include at least three years of creative work and case results, and include the current competition year’s results. Work must have a common objective in both strategy and creative executions; with a continuation of core executional elements (e.g., spokesperson, song, theme, tagline, etc.) that demonstrates effectiveness over time. As part of the entry, specifically address how the effort evolved over time (e.g., media choices, targeting, insights, new products/services, etc.). Answer all questions for the initial year and describe how/why change occurred over time.

Enter in one of three sub-categories:
  • Sustained Success – Non-Profits
  • Sustained Success – Products
  • Sustained Success – Services

Note: There is a special entry form and different creative requirements for the Sustained Success Award. The creative requirements, including different rules for the creative reel, can be found in the Sustained Success form .
50 NEW: Timely Opportunity
This category spotlights effective strategic efforts that were able to generate desired results as a direct outcome from a single significant moment of activity. Cases should show how the brand or product/service was put in an intensely bright spotlight to create immediate, measurable, unexpected, and unconventional impact. The best examples include live experiences, moments, stunts, and tactics, online and offline, perhaps amplified through PR, social media, digital engagement, or even the use of content created in the moment to fuel paid campaigns. Enter in one of two sub-categories:
  • Timely Opportunity – Products
  • Timely Opportunity – Services
51

COMMERCE & SHOPPER CATEGORIES

UPDATED: Digital Commerce (formerly E-Commerce)
This category is for campaigns that effectively used insights, strategy, creative, and analytics to drive digital shopper conversion. Show how, by utilizing data and a deep understanding of the shopper, the brand and/or retailer succeeded in a digital setting. A successful effort will combine strong shopper knowledge with digital marketing practices to increase conversion online. The effort must be based ona shopper insight(s) and be shopper-driven. Explain the strategy of how the effort went to market. Submissions in this category will be solely evaluated on digital commerce effectiveness.
52 UPDATED: Experiential Commercial Marketing (formerly Experiential Shopper Marketing)
This award features work that truly brought a brand, product, or retailer to life – either literally or virtually – and interacted with shoppers to influence conversion. You may have reinvented the product demo, re-imagined the pop-up store, led a “brick and mortar” retail overhaul, or created a new game/interactive film experience that effectively showcases a new product/brand personality. As long it truly came alive and worked. The winners of this award will show how brands and/or retailers are reaching out to audiences to establish meaningful relationships, engaging experiences, and unique connections. Entrants in this category must address how the experience related back to the overall brand strategy.
53 Media Innovation
This award showcases those who had the insight and creativity to change the way a particular media channel was consumed, or to create a new channel. The award goes to brands and retailers who went beyond the conventional approach to grab their shoppers’ attention and effectively engage them. Identify the specific targetand how the campaign influenced conversion. Whether the effort was one execution or multiple, and/or used one engagement channel or multiple – the work must represent new and creative usage of the media channels (known, or that have not yet been met). Note: All entries must specifically address what was innovative and the conversion achieved. Write the entry to address the category and/or brand situation and provide clear articulation of how the media was used innovatively.
54 NEW:Multi-Brand Shopper Solution
Shoppers are looking for ways to tackle everyday challenges, whether it’s what to prepare for dinner or how to maintain a beautiful lawn – they seek all-in-one solutions. This award celebrates multi- brand/product/manufacturer solutions that came together to address exactly what their target shopper needed.

Entries into this category must address the rationale behind the creation of these differentiated shopper solutions.Brands may be from a single manufacturer or multiple manufacturers. Shopper solutions may be developed by manufacturer(s) and/or retailers.
55 NEW:Multi-Retailer Program
For campaigns that ran with a central idea and executed that idea via dedicated rollouts to three or more different retail chains. Cases in this category will highlight and explain both the cohesive thread working at each retailer, and the specific customizations that were done for each retailer. Entrants should outline the specific barriers and challenges in tailoring their solution to each retailer – elaborating on the nuances among the shopper segment and insights at each retailer, differences in retail environments, etc.
56 New Product/Service Introduction
To enter this category, the case must address the commerce/shopper effort surrounding the launch of a new product/service. Whether it is the creation of a whole new brand, a new product from an existing brand, or a new line extension, submissions in this category need to present how shopper insights were leveraged to overcome the barriers faced by products/services being launched for the first time. If submitting an effortthat was part of, or inspired by, a national campaign, explain how you adapted it for the shopper and the retailer.
57 Omni-Channel Shopper Solution
Winners in this category will represent the best examples of manufacturers and retailers committed to providing effective omni-channel shopper programs. Enter brands that have ensured an effective, connected shopper journey and showcase how manufacturers and retailers are connecting the dots in their engagement strategies to ensure simple, seamless, effective experiences across the shoppers’ path to purchase. In- store, online, customer service, loyalty programs, mobile apps, delivery services, social media, aisle disruption – it could entail anything – as long as the case illustrates how it was all connected to provide a fully integrated “shopper journey” from beginning to end.
58 NEW:Retail Media
This category is to showcase marketing effectiveness achieved via a collaboration between retail media networks and brands. Collaborations can take place both digitally and in-stores.
59 Seasonal/Event
This category features events, platforms, or programs that were created to meet the demands of the shopper that are driven by a season, holiday or cultural event. Entrants must explain the insight into their shoppers that led to adjusting product and/or creating events/seasonally based platforms and programs to be in line with their needs and shopping mindset during a specific time period. Innovative shopper events, strategically created by the retailer and/or manufacturer, may enter as well.
60 Sustained Success
Commerce and shopper marketing efforts that experienced sustained success for at least three years are eligible for entry. At a minimum, you must include at least three years of creative work and case results, and you must include the current competition year’s work/results. Work must have a common objective in both strategy and creative executions; with a continuation of core executional elements (e.g., spokesperson, song, theme, tagline, etc.) that demonstrates effectiveness over time. As part of your entry, specifically address how the effort evolved over time (e.g., media choices, targeting, insights, new products/services, etc.). Answer all questions for the initial year anddescribe how/why change occurred over time.

Note: There is a special entry form and different creative requirements for the Sustained Success Award. The creative requirements, including different rules for the creative reel, can be found in the Sustained Success form.
61

DIGITAL CATEGORIES

Direct-to-Consumer
This category is for effective marketing efforts from direct-to-consumer businesses. DTC efforts for any type of product or service, from any marketplace segment, are eligible.
62 Engaged Community
This category is about managing effective, engaged communities. Entrants are brands that are creating content, experiences, platforms, news, etc. that get their communities to grow, engage, share, act, or amplify messaging in a way that directly relates to the brand’s goals. State clearly how the brand managed the community, defined effectiveness around the community, what they specifically achieved, and why the engaged community was significant for the development of the brand/business. Enter in one of two subcategories:
  • Engaged Community – Products
  • Engaged Community – Services
63 Influencers Marketing
For brands that effectively worked with key influencers to reach their target audience to achieve short or long-term marketing goals. Influencers/opinion leaders may be social media/vertical platform leaders, brand ambassadors, bloggers, etc. – from micro to macro. Clearly identify the strategy, the desired audience, and why the influencer was important to that audience. Explain why the brand selected that influencer, what the influencer did for the audience, how they were used to carry out marketing activities, and what consumer behaviors were impacted, and a result, how the business was impacted.
64 UPDATED: Performance Marketing
This category recognizes the most effective performance marketing efforts. To be eligible, your effort must have been led by performance marketing and the case must demonstrate how efforts such as affiliate marketing, paid search, SEO or sponsored content drove results for the business using performance marketing KPIs.
65 Social Media
For campaigns that set out with the explicit purpose of using social as the primary touchpoint or have social at their core – ideas that were specifically designed to take advantage of the socially connected consumer and the influence of social media. Note: Judges are looking for campaigns that begin with a social idea, as opposed to advertising or integrated campaigns with a social media element. They require a clear rationale for why social was theright way to tackle the brief, and evidence of how social activity measurably and materially drove the commercial result. It is not enough to count the number of impressions, likes, or shares. Measure and prove the commercial value of social through the direct effect it had on audience behavior or perceptions and demonstrate correlation with the achieved business results. Enter in one of two sub-categories:
  • Social Media – Products
  • Social Media – Services
66

MARKETING INNOVATION SOLUTIONS CATEGORY

Business/Product/Service Innovation
This category awards innovative single marketing and business activities or entire marketing programs. Submit any action or business idea regarding innovation for the product, service, or business that has had an exceptionally positive impact on the market position. Examples of eligible activities in this category include: product/service innovation; change in packaging, both in terms of its appearance and size; design, technology or ux innovation for the business, product or service; consumer involvement in product development; operation change, etc.
67 Customer Experience
This category awards innovative single marketing and business activities or entire marketing programs. Submit any action or business idea regarding customer experience innovation that has had an exceptionallypositive impact on the market position of a business, brand, product or service. Examples of eligible activities in this category include: design, technology or UX innovation for the customer experience; consumer involvement in product development; introduction/change of a loyalty program, introduction of a new distribution channel, etc.
68

MEDIA CATEGORIES

UPDATED: Data-Driven
Data-driven is the application of data and/or technology to connect people to the brand atthe right moment/s. These efforts should prove how they specifically utilized data to drive creativity or to optimize media to improve business outcomes (brand kpis, ROI, performance marketing measures, etc.).

The best examples will recognize the interplay and application of data, inclusive of automation and AI, to engage with and/or deliver to a precise audience and achieve the best results. To enter, your case must detail the role that data hadwithin the creative and/or media strategy in achieving the brand and business goals.

Submissions are expected to:
  • Utilize personalized/custom-tailored creative messages.
  • Explain how data impacted the media plan through clear measurement & analytics.
  • Demonstrate the insights captured from data used to understand audience.
69 Media Content Partnerships
For efforts based on partnerships between a brand and a media owner/platform to create and activate original media content beyond traditional advertising. Partnerships should demonstrate the innovative consumer connections that media companies can develop for advertisers via integrated communication channels centered on creative and strategic content. Each activation channel is critical to delivering the overall effectiveness and impact of the campaign and shows the value media companies can deliver. Submissions must detailthe strategic reasoning behind the partnership – why was this partner chosen over others? Clearly detail the selection process of the partner, and explain how this partnership led to the results that met the objectives of the brand.
70 Media Idea
This category is about outstanding effectiveness as a result of media-led ideas. The line between what constitutes a creative idea and a media idea is blurring and there are occasions when the media idea drove the entire effort. Of course, media cannot exist without the content, but this award is intended to recognize those cases that were led by the media thinking – where the integration of media and message led to success. The award honors media-led ideas that are powerful enough to become the genesis of the marketing program itself, to the extent that the program would not have been successful without the strategic media idea.
71 Media Innovation
This award showcases those who had the insight and creativity to change the way a particular media channel is consumed, or to create a new channel. The award will go to brands who reached out of the conventional approach to grab their audience and effectively engage with them. Whether the effort was one executionor multiple, and/or used one engagement channel or multiple – the work must represent new and creative usage of the media channels we know and love, or have not yet met. Note: All entries must specifically address what was innovative and the results achieved. Address the category situation and provide clear articulation of how the media was used innovatively and how the media strategy/plan optimized the results. Enter in one of two sub-categories
  • Media Innovation - Emerging & New Channels
  • Media Innovation - Existing Channel
72

POSITIVE CHANGE CATEGORY

Environmental
For efforts that have measurably shifted audience behavior toward more environmentally sustainable choices, and/or grown demand for more sustainable products and services by incorporating environmentally- conscious messaging into their marketing. Show how effective marketing programs that incorporate sustainable strategies can make a positive difference for brands and for the environment. Over and above the standard Effie requirements to demonstrate a positive impact on business, there are specific areas of interest that relate to this award. Efforts entered must have as one of their main strategic objectives changing audience behavior towards more environmentally sustainable choices and environmentally conscious messaging must be a part of the marketing. Entrants should address how the sustainability goal relates back to the overall brand and business strategy.

Criterion for this award is the result of behavior change toward more environmentally sustainable choices, with these elements being considered in judging:
  • Awareness – Making the audience aware of a sustainable product, service or action.
  • Trial – Trying the sustainable product, service or action for the first time.
  • Product/Service Substitution – Switching to a more sustainable product, service or action.
  • Change in Use – Using a product/service more sustainably than before or taking a more sustainable action.

Enter in one of the two sub-categories:
  • Environmental – Brands
  • Environmental – Non-Profit
73 Social Good
For marketing efforts proven effective in solving/impacting a social problem or in expanding an existingprogram in ways that benefit our society. This is about creating positive societal and cultural change, challenging the established status-quo and changing accepted norms and stereotypes that create societal inequalities with inspired action. Examples include initiatives that tackle food poverty; access to healthcare or education; creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive society; or creating equal opportunities at work and in wider society for all members of our society. Any effort that sets out to give back in some way for the greater good is eligible to enter, and any/all marketing efforts, whether full campaigns or unique efforts within a campaign are eligible to enter as long as measurable results exist.

Note: Efforts focused on disease awareness & education are not eligible in the Positive Change categories.

Enter in one of three sub-categories:
  • Social Good – Brands
  • Social Good – Non-Profit
  • Social Good – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
74

TOPICAL & ANNUAL EVENT CATEGORY

Crisis Response/Critical Pivot
For brands that created positive change by effectively pivoting their marketing program or business activities in response to significant structural and cultural shifts and moments of crisis (e.g., pandemic, social justice movement, political events, etc.). Entrants need to pinpoint the pivot, and frame for the judgeshow the messaging/campaign shifted, the team adjusted the approach to production or go-to-market planning, etc. Demonstrate the effectiveness of the action for the brand. Examples can include a pivot in positioning, a change inportfolio management, a digital acceleration, etc.
75 Current Events
For cases that effectively leveraged immediate relevance, interest, or importance via a targeted marketing/PR strategy around current news and events (e.g., World Cup, Olympics, economic situations, social issues, etc.).

Note: Annual events should enter the Seasonal Marketing category.
76 Seasonal Marketing
Seasons, holidays and annual events allow marketers the opportunity to build strategic effortsbased on the timebased interests of their target audience. This category honors those efforts that effectively capitalized on a season, holiday, or annual cultural event to drive results for their business. Submit in one of two sub-categories:
  • Seasonal Marketing – Products
  • Seasonal Marketing – Services
Eligibility
Eligibility

All marketing efforts that ran in Malaysia at any point between 1 June 2023 and 31 May 2024 are eligible to enter.

Elements of the work may have been introduced earlier and may have continued after, but your case must be based on data relative to the qualifying time.

One or any multiple combination of mediums may be submitted; any work that demonstrates how the objectives were achieved. Detail the “why” behind the strategy and provide proof that the work achieved significant results.

The results that illustrate the effectiveness of the case can be collected outside of the eligibility period but must be tied directly to the marketing activity within the eligibility time frame.

It is important to include context, data and results prior to the eligibility period. This enables judges to better understand the significance of your objectives and results. Keep in mind that not all judges are knowledgeable of the nuances of your brand’s industry.

Eligibility for Sustained Success: Any local or international brand that has been marketed in Malaysia for at least 3 years as of 31 May 2021, is eligible to enter.

Reentering Previously Entered Work:

  • Finalists and winners whose work ran in this period may submit their work again in the 2024 competition, provided they have additional results to share. Entries that did not advance in the competition may re-enter without restriction.
  • 2023 Gold Effie winners can re-enter a category in which they did not win Gold.
  • Past Silver and Bronze Effie winners can re-enter any category
  • Past Gold Sustained Success winner can only re-enter the sustained success category after 3 years – Gold winners from 2020 and earlier are eligible.
  • 2023 David vs Goliath and Challenger Brand Solutions winning brands (Gold/Silver/Bronze) are not eligible to enter these categories in 2024.

Entering Multiple Categories:

  • Efforts can be entered into a maximum of four [4] categories.
  • Of those four [4], only one [1] submission may be in an Industry category, and up to two [2] may be in Commerce & Shopper categories.
  • There is no requirement to enter either Industry or Commerce & Shopper categories – an effort may be submitted to four [4] Specialty categories as well.
  • If one campaign is being submitted to multiple categories, the written case and the case video should be tailored to the respective category. Please read the category descriptions carefully.

Rules
Rules

All entries must abide by the various advertising regulations, restrictions and guidelines that are issued by the relevant authorities including but not limited to The Malaysian Code of Advertising Practice (Advertising Standards Malaysia), The Content Code (Communications and Multimedia Content Forum Malaysia) and Government Ministries.

Test efforts are not eligible.

A single effort cannot be submitted by different organizations in the same category. Teams must collaborate on a single entry. However, different organizations may take the lead on entering the work in different categories.

Submissions will not be considered complete until all required forms and creative materials have been uploaded and submitted online with full payment. Only completed, paid submission will be processed.

By submitting your entry in the competition, the participant and its company agreed to all terms and conditions and rules as set in the Entry Kit.

All decisions made by Effie Awards Malaysia in all matter relating to the competition shall be final and binding.

Creative Reel & Images
Creative Reel & Images

CREATIVE REEL

Your creative work is scored as part of Scoring Section 3: Bringing the Strategy & Idea to Life.

The focus of the reel should be the creative work. Judges recommend 70% of the reel is spent on showing examples of creative work the audience experienced, or other materials created to bring the idea to life internally or externally. The entrant does not need to feature all items selected in the touchpoints checklist [from the Investment Overview], only those integral to the case’s success that are explained in the written case. Any set-up [re: context, challenge] should not impede the judges’ ability to have this clear understanding.

MUST INCLUDE

  • At least one [1] complete example of each integral touchpoint, to ensure that the judges are seeing a breadth of the work. It can be helpful to label each creative e.g. by type of media [TV spot, radio spot, etc.]
  • Video clips that are over 60 seconds may be edited down for time, but entrants are encouraged to keep close to the original as possible.
  • If showing multiple examples of a touchpoint [e.g. 3 TV spots], after showing one [1] in full, it is permissible to edit down the additional examples for time.

DO NOT INCLUDE

  • Results of any kind – including numbers of social media likes, followers, etc.
  • Agency names, logos or images in the video or in the file name.
  • Competitors’ works or logos. [Exception: Permitted if competitor logs/work were included in the campaign materials. Competitors may be mentioned verbally.]
  • Editing effects that cause confusion with how that work ran in the marketplace e.g. music or voiceover added on top of TV spots.
  • Any confidential information, as creative reels will become public for finalists and winners.

SPECIFICATION

  • Only 1 creative reel per entry.
  • 250 MB maximum file size
  • .mp4 format
  • High resolution: 16:9 at 1920 X 1080
  • Maximum 3 minutes [4 minutes for Sustained Success]
  • Do not include any agency names/logos in the video or in the file name.
  • If you are including non-English work, you must include translation as subtitles in your creative reel.
TALENT / LICENSING
  • Do not add music/stock images that did not run in the original creative work to the reel unless the rights have been secured to include those supplemental materials.
  • Effie Worldwide is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that shows the work for educational purposes of honoring effective marketing ideas and the successful teams [client and agency] creating them. In Effie’s experience, as long as the talent/music were used in the original creative work, the entrant should not run into an issue with rights/licensing.

CREATIVE IMAGES

Images of creative work: 2 images required; 6 images maximum per entry

Images uploaded should complement the reel and help judges better evaluate creative elements that ran in front of the audience.

It can be helpful to provide images of work best seen as a still image [e.g. website, print ad, direct mail piece, etc.] or entrant can upload work that enable judges to get another look at after watching the reel.

This is an opportunity to showcase your creative work:

  • Highlight elements that are better seen as a still image vs. video format
  • Draw further attention to key elements

Technical requirements:

  • .jpg / .jpeg format
  • High res. 15 MB max
  • Do not include agency names or logos on any creative materials [including file names] submitted for judging.

Creative images will be shown publicly if the case is a finalist or winner.

  • Results not referenced. All data presented MUST reference a specific, verifiable source. This could be advertiser data, agency research or 3rd party research companies. We reserve the right to verify the accuracy of the data with the source named. Sources must be provided next to each piece of data or in clearly marked footnotes at the bottom of each relevant page of the Entry Form. Be as specific as possible in documenting all evidence; provide sources of data, research involved and the time period covered. Use the specific name of the company to reference a source except when the source is an Agency company (Ad, Media or other agencies). For Agency companies only use the term “Agency Research”.
  • Agency name published in the Entry Form or on the creative materials. Effie is an Agency-blind competition – do not cite agency names anywhere in the Entry Form or creative materials. Do not cite your Agency name (or any other Agency – Ad, Media or other – names) as your reference source. If an agency is the source of your research, reference “Agency Research”.
  • Not including examples of all creative materials discussed in the Entry Form as being integral to the campaign on the 3-minute creative reel [4-minute creative reel for Sustained Success category]. You must include at least one example of all creative detailed in the Entry Form.
  • Including results on the creative reel. You are not allowed to include results on the creative reel. Refer to the creative reel instructions.
  • Logos, graphics or other creative materials present in the Entry Form will not be accepted. (Note: Graphs and charts are acceptable but do not exceed permitted numbers.)
  • No external links: Do not direct judges to external websites – the judges can only review the content provided in your written entry and creative examples.
  • Word limits: Keep within the word limits in each section.
  • Incomplete Entry. You must fill out every section of the Entry Form.
  • Missing translation - Creative materials submitted for consideration that are not in English require a translation.
Credits
Credits

Effie recognizes the effective teamwork needed to create an effective case and therefore deserve recognition at the time of win. You are required to credit all creative and strategic partners who contributed to the effort. Think carefully about your partners – clients; agencies [full service, media, digital, promo, PR, event, etc.], media owners; retailers; etc.

Lead Agency [1 required, 2 maximum]
Client [1 required, 2 maximum]
Contributing Companies [0 required, 4 maximum]

Co-Lead Agencies: You may credit a second Lead Agency and they will be given equal recognition by Effie. In order to be considered a second lead agency, you must certify that the work done by each agency was of equal weighting and each agency deserves equal recognition. Second Lead Agencies must be designated at time of entry – you may not add or remove them after the entry period.

In-house Work: If you are an advertiser submitting in-house work, please list your company as both the Lead Agency & Client.

Primary Individual Credits [0 required, 10 maximum]
Secondary Individual Credits [0 required, 30 maximum]

Client and Lead Agency credits are considered final at time of entry and cannot be added after the entry is submitted. Credits must be reviewed by senior account leadership and approved via the Authorization & Verification Form, which can be downloaded in the Entry Portal after you have input all credits.

If your campaign is a winner, your 90 Word Summary will be published for promotional purposes.

Submit this online with at least three complete sentences (limit 90 words) summarizing the campaign and its goals. Indicate campaign objectives and how the evidence of results directly relates to those objectives.

All winning entries will receive a trophy and certificate. The client and lead agency is the engraving default setting for all trophies, unless co-lead agencies or co-clients are designated, in which case both lead agencies/clients would appear on the trophy.

Winner may purchase duplicate or personalized trophies as long as their name appears in the list of credits.

Effie Worldwide is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that stands for effectiveness in marketing communications, spotlighting marketing ideas that work and encouraging thoughtful dialogue about the drivers of marketing effectiveness. In order to help fulfill this mission and provide learning to the industry, Effie relies on entrants’ willingness to share their finalist and winning case studies with the industry.

By providing permission to publish your written case, you are:

  • Bettering the industry. By allowing other marketers to learn from your success, you are inspiring the industry to raise the bar and make their marketing better.
  • Bettering the future leaders of our industry. Colleges and universities use Effie case studies in their courses, and Collegiate Effie participants learn how to write their own effective submissions by learning from yours.
  • Showcasing your team’s success in achieving one of the top marketing honors of the year. Effie wins help attract new talent, prove the importance of marketing in business, and strengthen agency-client relationships.

The Organizer respects that entries may have information deemed confidential. Within the Entry Portal, entrants are asked to set publishing permission for the written entry. Entrants may select from the following options:

PUBLISH AS THE CASE WAS SUBMITTED
You agree that the written entry form may be published as it was submitted and reproduced or displayed for educational purposes.

PUBLISH AN EDITED VERSION OF THE WRITTEN CASE
You agree to submit an edited version of your case study for publication which will be reproduced or displayed for educational purposes. You may redact any confidential information; however, you may not redact the entire results section.

The written case is the only portion of the entry that should contain confidential information. For that reason, the written case is the only portion of the that is included in the above publication permission policy. The creative work (reel, images), public case summary, and statement of effectiveness should not include confidential information and will be showcased in various ways [effie.org, partner websites/publications], along with your public facing written case, if your entry becomes a finalist or winner. Work submitted must be original or you must have the rights to submit it.
The Effie Awards entry and judging process is designed to help all entrants present their work effectively while ensuring the confidentiality of classified information.

Judging
Judging events are held in secure locations. Judges are required to sign confidentiality agreements before judging begins. Judges cannot remove materials from the judging session and are individually matched with entries and categories that do not pose a conflict of interest. For example, a judge from the financial industry will not judge the financial category.

Indexing Data
While judging is confidential and entrants may select publication permission for their written case. Effie understands some entrants may still have concerns regarding sensitive information. When presenting numerical data within the entry, entrants may choose to provide those numbers in percentages or indexes, so that actual numbers are withheld. As with all data points, be sure to include context so that judges understand the significance of the data. Additionally, unless the entrant opts to allow Effie to publish the entry as it was submitted if it becomes a finalist or winner, only judges will see the written entry as it was submitted.

Creative Work & Publicity Materials: The creative materials [reel, images, publicity materials] and case summary you submit into the competition become the property of the Effie Awards and will not be returned. The Effie Awards is granted the right to make copies of selected creative material for education and publicity purposes.

Judging Criteria
Judging Criteria

HOW YOUR ENTRY WILL BE JUDGED

HOW YOUR ENTRY WILL BE JUDGED

The Effie competition is about effectiveness. How did the various marketing elements – strategy, creative, media, research – work together to achieve great results?

Judges are asked to evaluate specific criteria in scoring a campaign's effectiveness. Judges provide a score for:

Challenge, Context & Objectives = 23.3%
Insights & Strategy = 23.3%
Bringing the Strategy & Idea to Life = 23.3%
Results = 30%

The judges' scores determine which campaigns are to be awarded a Gold, Silver or Bronze Effie trophy. Each winning level – Gold, Silver, Bronze – has a minimum score required in order for a finalist to be eligible for an award. Effie trophies are awarded in each category at the discretion of the judges.

RECUSAL OF JUDGES

RECUSAL OF JUDGES

Judges will recuse themselves from judging a case/category if it poses a conflict of interest. In particular, judges will be recused themselves from a particular case of it is from the agency or company where they work.