Submissions Guidelines

AIM Awards Entry & Judging Guidelines

The submission deadline for the 2012 AIM Awards has passed.

Thank you for participating in the 2012 Columbus American Marketing Association’s AIM Awards. The AIM Awards are an opportunity to showcase your best work within the Columbus marketing community. And in an effort to add value to the competition, the Columbus AMA will send entrants score sheets. The score sheets will allow you to see the basis for your score and view constructive feedback from your peers who volunteer their time to judge the entries and make this competition possible. Once again, thank you for your participation in the AIM Awards and we at the Columbus AMA wish you the best of luck.

1. You work hard to create the top quality work and you pay good money to enter it in this competition. Please review the Judging Criteria and Entry Score Sheet so you understand the requirement and give yourself every opportunity to earn the best possible score.

2. Entries must be developed between June 1, 2011 and September 30, 2012.

3. Submit only one entry per project in a subcategory (e.g. if you developed three print ads for a single project, please submit all three print ads as single entry).

4. Entries must be submitted online and creative content must be submitted as a hyperlink to a file available online. Entries and creative content sent by mail will not be accepted. Each category and subcategory listed below defines the acceptable file formats for the entry and you are responsible for ensuring the hyperlink or other submission format to your creative content works. If the hyperlink or other format does not work the entry will not be judged.

If your creative content is hosted on a server inside your organization, test the hyperlink from a location outside of your organization.
If your creative content is hosted on an ftp server, ensure that a password is not required and that the hyperlink points directly the file. If the judge is unable to determine which file to evaluate because the hyperlink goes to an ftp folder with multiple files, the entry may not be judged.
A SINGLE (one) PDF document containing all pertinent image attached to the submission email is an acceptable form of submission.
Please email all entries to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Each entry should include its appropriate submission cover sheet and any accompanying elements for that submission category ONLY.
Elements being submitted for more than one category must be submitted in separate emails.
The SUBJECT line of your submission email should read: "AIM SUBMISSION: [Category Name/Subcategory]

Hyperlinks to your creative content must remain active for at least one month following the AIM Awards Gala.

Please contact the Entries Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions.

AWARDS

The top score in each subcategory will get a subcategory award.

The top three scores in each category will get the first, second and third place category awards.

The first place winner in each category will compete for the Grand AIM award, based on comparative points.

Three overall student winners will be selected and honored.

First place winners and the Grand AIM winner's materials WILL be showcased publicly during the award show.

The hyperlink to each winner’s creative content will be made available to the public. However, this link will not display the situation analysis, strategy statement, objectives, results, or score sheets due to potential confidentiality concerns.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Entries in all categories will be judge according to six elements adding up to 100 possible points. An entry can earn a good score based on two or three strong elements, but for an entry to earn an excellent score all elements must be strong. An entry must earn at least 40 points to be eligible for an award. Please see the Entry Score Sheet in Appendix A for additional details.

1. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS – 15 Possible Points
The situation, target market, and relevant internal; and external factors should be clearly defined. The situation analysis is the starting point for all effective marketing efforts.

2. STRATEGY STATEMENT – 15 Possible Points
The strategy statement should be clearly defined and appropriate given the situational analysis.

3. OBJECTIVES – 15 Possible Points
Objectives should be clearly defined, support the strategy statement; and be specific, timely, and measurable.

4. CREATIVE CONTENT – 25 Possible Points
Creative content should support the objectives and be of high quality, aesthetically pleasing, original, innovative and/or unique.

5. RESULTS – 20 Possible Points
Results should demonstrate that the objectives have been, or are being, achieved.

6. OVERALL IMPRESSION – 10 Possible Points
The judge may comment on the overall feel of the entry and give suggestions for improvement.

Scoring Guide for All Categories

Excellent	80 - 100 points	Exceptional Strategic Definition with Excellent Results and Creative Content
Very Good	60 - 79 Points	Appropriate Strategic Definition with Effective Results and Creative Content
Good	40 - 59 Points	Appropriate Strategic Definition with Effective Results and/or Creative Content
Fair	20 - 39 Points	Deficient Strategic Definition with Fair Results and/or Creative Content
Poor	0 - 19 Points	Deficient Strategic Definition with Poor Results and Creative Content