FINALISTS OF INAUGURAL NI SOCIAL MEDIA AWARDS ANNOUNCED

THE finalists of the inaugural Northern Ireland Social Media Awards have been announced after over 300 entries were received from a broad range of industries including finance, tourism, education, government, retail, healthcare and fitness and judged by an independent panel of experts.

Included in the shortlists for the first ever awards are the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Department of Finance, Danske Bank, Lisburn & Castlereagh Council, Hastings Hotels, Visit Causeway Coast & Glens, Tayto, Larchfield Estate, Moy Park, Kingsbridge Private Hospital, the Irish Football Association, Suitor Bros and LoveBelfast

The NI Social Media Awards aim to shine a light on the local businesses, organisations and individuals excelling in social media marketing and there are 27 award categories including Best Social Media Campaign in Public Sector, Best Use of Social Media in Retail, Most Innovative Use of Social Media and Social Media Marketer of the Year. The awards have been created by two of Northern Ireland’s leading award-winning digital marketers and industry mentors, Niamh Taylor of Digital 24 and Caroline O’Neill, owner of DIGG For Success and DIGG Childrenswear.

Speaking on behalf of the judges, Mark Wright, BBC Apprentice Winner and director of the UK’s fastest growing digital marketing agency, Climb Online, said: “We had an incredibly hard task of shortlisting from over 300 entries. It’s encouraging to see how businesses and organisations of all sizes in Northern Ireland are using their social media platforms to grow and generate income. The results being achieved are very impressive but even more applaudable is the depth of knowledge being shown by so many of the entrants.”

Fellow judge, Louise Rumball, founder of London based social media and influencer marketing agency, Chapter Three added: “The effort people put into their applications should be commended. From the hundreds of entries received, it’s clear that local businesses, organisations and individuals understand the power of social media and the positive effect it can have with many using it to inspire and educate people across Northern Ireland. On behalf of the judges, congratulations to all the finalists and we look forward to celebrating the local stars of social media marketing excellence at next month’s event.”

Joining Mark and Louise on the judging panel are former Dragon on the RTE Series of Dragons’ Den and Joint Managing Director of the Cara Group, Ramona Nicholas; Stephen Baxter-Crawford, social media manager for Queen’s University Belfast; global digital marketing trainer and consultant, Emma Gribben; Valerie Roe of Valerie Roe PR in Dublin who drives the growth of well-known brands with compelling digital PR campaigns and California based Gary Hughes, CEO of lifestyle company Deuce Brand.

Individual category sponsors include Bellamianta, Tayto, Boost Drinks, Íon Distillery and BNL Productions.

For the full list of finalists or to purchase tickets for the NI Social Media Awards gala event on Thursday 26^th September in the Europa Hotel go to www.nisocialmediaawards.com

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA  

 

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN RETAIL (Under 10k following)

Sponsored by Schweppes

Bumble and Bee

Stable Lane Boutique

Serenity Ten Clothing

Be Unique by Emma

Halo Healthy Kitchen

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN RETAIL (Over 10k following)

Sponsored by Mid Ulster Auctions

Suitor Bros

Jack Murphy Jewellers

Tayto (Elevator Promotional Marketing)

Mace (MXB)

AML Boutique

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN FITNESS

Sponsored by Body Fit Mums

Sam Conley Fitness

CORE NI

Move Your Mind

LMA Fitness

Waites GYM

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN HEALTHCARE (Under 10k following)

Sponsored by Absolute Protection

Ann’s Nursing Care

The Spectacle Maker

Zen Orthodontics

Galgorm Dental

Balmoral Healthcare

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN HEALTHCARE (Over 10k following)

Sponsored by Flower Walls NI

Kingsbridge Private Hospital

The Hormone Health Coach

The Academy Masterplan

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN HAIR / BEAUTY (Under 10k following)

Sponsored by C&C Boutique

Surgery Hair

The Dry Bar

Mindful Beauty

Bridgeen Hair Loss Clinic

Pure Perfection

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN HAIR / BEAUTY (Over 10k following)

Sponored by The Skin Health Clinic

Hidden Hair

Olivia Muldoon Hair & Makeup

Scissor Sisters Camlough

Nadine McLaughlin

Lily B by Debbie

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN SERVICE / B2B (Under 10k following)

Sponsored by Bradley Henderson Photography

Roof Window Specialist

Fathom

KES Group

Niamh McAuley (Purple Dot)

Visit Gay Belfast

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN SERVICE / B2B (Over 10k following)

Sponsored by Insta Belfast

Transfer Tutor

News 360 – Leona O’Neill

St Patrick’s College Dungannon

Divine Photography

David Henderson Design

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN HOSPITALITY (Under 10k following)

Sponsored by Changing Events

Yellow Bird

White Horse Saintfield

AJS Promotions – The Blind Cobbler

Lamppost Café

Friel’s Bar

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN HOSPITALITY (Over 10k following)

Sponsored by ION Distillery

Hastings Hotels

Visit Causeway Coast and Glens

Galgorm Resort & Spa

Bishopsgate Hotel

Tipsy Bird

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN CHARITY

Sponsored by DIGG Childrenswear

Michaela Foundation

Christian Fellowship Church

Adsum Foundation

Centred South-Health & Wellbeing for all the Family

Irish Cuchulainn

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN IN PUBLIC SECTOR

Sponsored by Beautiful Balloons Cookstown

PSNI – #NoGreyZone

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council

CCEA

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

SERC

Department of Finance

BEST SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN IN RETAIL

Sponsored by Cloughbane Farm

Suitor Bros

Moy Park (MXB)

Boost Drinks (Elevator Promotional Marketing)

Kings Baby Shop

Jack Murphy Jewellers

KES Group

BEST SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN IN HOSPITALITY / EVENTS

Sponsored by Moira Cosmetic Dental

Walsh’s Hotel (SM Marketing)

David Meade (Run DMG)

Hastings Hotels

Galgorm Resort & Spa

Tipsy Bird

Ten Square Hotel with Nava Talk

BEST USE OF A SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNEL

 

BEST USE OF TWITTER

Belfast Giants

Cool FM

QUB Accommodation

BEST USE OF FACEBOOK

Property Pal

Fred Funk

Christies Direct

News 360 – Leona O’Neill

Cool FM

Cosy Roof

BEST USE OF INSTAGRAM

Founded Coffee

Larchfield Estate

Bearded Candlemakers

Style Edit

David Henderson Design

INFLUENCER / BLOGGER

BEST INFLUENCER / BLOGGER CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR

Kings Baby Shop

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

Cloughbane Farm

Jack Murphy Jewellers

The Academy Masterplan

HAIR / BEAUTY INFLUENCER/BLOGGER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by International Beauty Ireland

Grainne McCoy

Jamie Dunne

Louise McDonnell (LMD)

Julie Smith (Make-Up By Julie)

Olivia McVeigh

FITNESS INFLUENCER/BLOGGER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Cuba Clothing

Maeve Madden

Warrior Goddess Kettle Bell Training

Sam Conley Fitness

FASHION INFLUENCER/BLOGGER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Room 7

Kate Grant

Ivona Moore

Cameron Glasgow

The Dress House

Oh So Femme

Katie Andrew The Blog

Lifestyle Influencer/Blogger of the Year

Sponsored by Jack Murphy Jewellers

Elle Pearls

Daily Prophetic

Anna Corry (Blossomingbirds)

Joanie O’Hanlon

Belfast Food Blogger

EM Imagery

PARENTING INFLUENCER/BLOGGER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Bumble and Bee

Enjoy Everything Emma

Cliodhna Fullen

Our Life At The White House

Sara Holland Co

Wandering Wilsons

Mrs Sarah Thomp

HOME INFLUENCER/BLOGGER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Digital 24

Sara Holland Co

Home At Rose Cottage

Clean With Curtis

Our Self Build NI

Inside Number 16

SOCIAL MEDIA PERSON / TEAM OF THE YEAR

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Bellamianta

Lana Richardson – Property Pal

Hannah Johnson – KES Group

Paul Malone – QUB

James Scullion – Rapid Marketing

Sinead McKeever – SM Marketing

SOCIAL MEDIA FREELANCER OF THE YEAR

Run DMG

Copper square Communications

Aoife Burns

Gillian Daly Communications

Paul Malone

SOCIAL MEDIA IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Dollybird Interiors

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

Women in Business

Galgorm Resort & Spa

Danske Bank

Police Service of Northern Ireland

SOCIAL MEDIA AGENCY TEAM OF THE YEAR

Elevator Promotional Marketing

MXB

Nava Talk

Shady Dolphin

Rapid Marketing

OVERALL SOCIAL MEDIA EXCELLENCE

SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Tayto

Stuart Robinson – Cool FM

Harlso The Balancing Hound

Pride And Pinion

AMPT Body Transformation

Love Belfast

MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Sponsored by BNL Productions

Estate Agents Leads

Holiday Ninja

Cross Freckle

Welcome Hub

Go Teachie

BEST OVERALL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Sponsored by Boost Drinks

Irish Football Association

Cool FM

Queen’s University Belfast Accommodation

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Suitor Bros