Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Who can participate?
Individuals, companies, teams, agencies, technology providers, media projects, educators, event organizers, online communities, and related professionals working in or enabling e-commerce and digital marketing can submit nominations.
Are there free categories?
Yes. Individual Professional Awards are free to enter — 80 categories for personal achievement recognition. Corporate & Organizational Awards require a nomination fee (€300 Standard / €500 Late). See Fees & Payment.
What is the Recency Period for achievements?
Achievements must fall within the Recency Period: 3 years (12 January 2023 – 12 April 2026). This means your submitted achievements should have occurred or been active during this timeframe. See the Terms & Conditions for the controlling rule.
What should I include in my nomination?
- Context and objective
- Your approach (strategy, execution, technology, team)
- Evidence and outcomes (metrics, ROI, growth, retention, cost reduction, engagement)
- Independent validation where possible (public links, third-party coverage, testimonials)
Can I submit more than one nomination?
Yes. You may submit multiple nominations and/or the same project in multiple categories if it is genuinely relevant to each.
How are nominations evaluated?
Nominations are scored by invited judges using published criteria and weights for each category. Scores are calculated into a Final Score on a 0–100 scale. See the Judging Process page and the Terms & Conditions.
How are winners determined?
Each category results in either one winner or no winner — not all categories produce a winner each cycle. To be designated as Category Winner, a nomination must meet both minimum thresholds:
- Final Score: at least 80.0 out of 100.0
- Primary Criterion: at least 8.0 out of 10.0 on the highest-weighted criterion
This ensures that only genuinely excellent nominations win. Full details are in the Terms & Conditions (Section 12).
Can you "speed up" judging or guarantee a win?
No. The Awards Program does not offer paid priority judging and does not guarantee outcomes. All nominations are evaluated within the same judging period under the same rules.
Do you pay judges?
Judges participate on a volunteer basis. Nomination fees cover administrative processing and do not influence scoring.
Can I apply to become a judge?
Jury membership is invitation-only. You can submit an expression of interest, but it does not guarantee an invitation. See Become a Judge and the Jury Selection Policy.
Will I receive feedback?
Where available, judges may provide brief feedback. Feedback is not guaranteed for every nomination and may be edited to protect confidentiality.
What is your refund policy?
Refund rules depend on whether administrative processing has started and are defined in the Terms & Conditions. See Fees & Payment for a summary.
Where are winners published?
Winners are published on the official website on the published winners list page(s) for the relevant cycle.
What do winners receive?
Category Winners receive:
- Digital certificate — suitable for printing and professional display
- Downloadable award logos — for use on websites, marketing materials, and email signatures
- Physical trophy — shipped to the winner’s address (winner bears any applicable customs duties or import fees)
- Official winner listing — published on the ECDMA website
See the Terms & Conditions for full details on winner benefits and usage rights.
Can I receive feedback on my nomination?
Yes. You may request feedback by emailing [email protected] within 30 days after the Official Publication Date. Where available, we may provide:
- Your Final Score
- Score breakdown by criterion (without identifying individual judges)
- Anonymized qualitative comments from judges, where provided
Feedback is not guaranteed for every nomination and may be edited for confidentiality.
How do team nominations work?
For projects involving multiple contributors:
- Submit one nomination per distinct project or achievement
- Indicate whether the nomination is for an individual, team, or organization
- List all contributing parties in the submission
- The nominee must have authority to submit on behalf of all named parties
Award recognition will be issued as designated in the nomination.
What evidence should I include?
Strong nominations include:
- Quantitative results: revenue growth, conversion rates, customer acquisition, retention metrics, ROI
- Context: baseline, timeframe, market conditions, competitive landscape
- Supporting materials: screenshots, dashboards, case studies, testimonials, media coverage
- Third-party validation: independent data, client references, industry recognition
See our Tips for a Winning Nomination for detailed guidance.
I have another question — where do I write?
Email [email protected].