Telecoms operator O2 Ireland won the Grand Prix award at the 2013 Bord Gáis Social Media Awards in Dublin last night for demonstrating the best overall use of social media. As well as the Grand Prix, O2 Ireland picked up trophies earlier in the night for Best Integrated Social Media Campaign and Best Integrated Facebook Campaign.
“This year has been a landmark year for the Social Media Awards. While only three years old, the quality of work submitted and the submissions are something we and the companies themselves should be proud of,” said Damian Mulley, founder of the awards.
“We’ve had more entries this year than the previous two years and we needed over 100 judges to go through all the material and pick the best work. There were some world-class entries this year and we look forward to what next year will bring.”
Other winners on the night included National Lottery, which has been recognised for its use of Social Media Only, while Focus Ireland took top honours in the competitive Facebook Page for a Non-Profit Organisation category.
Innovative taxi app, Hailo, took the award for Best Mobile Application, while travel advice company AA Roadwatch won the category for Best Business Blog.
Republic of Telly took home the award for Social Media Effectiveness and the Defence Forces have been awarded Best Use of Social Media by a State Body for the second time in three years.
“Social media and digital are now central to most marketing and communication strategies,” explained Eoin Ó Súilleabháin, digital and social media manager at Bord Gáis.
“In the three years we have been supporting these awards we have seen a significant improvement in the standard and quality of entries and approach many businesses are taking to social media. We’d like to congratulate all the winners this evening,” he added.
Full list of winners 2013 Bord Gáis Social Media Awards
Facebook Page for a Business (Non Campaign)
Winner: Spin 1038
Facebook Page for a Business (owner managed)
Winner: Spin South West
Facebook Page for Non-Profit/Organisation
Winner: Focus Ireland
Integrated Facebook Campaign
Winner: O2 Ireland
Best Business Twitter account – Sales/Marketing
Winner: Blacknight
Best Business Twitter account – Support, CRM
Winner: Irish Rail
Best Business/Org Twitter Campaign
Winner: Bord na Móna Fuels @LongNightIn
Best Blog of a Business
Winner: AA Roadwatch
Video/Video Campaign (non broadcast)
Winner: Amnesty International
Online PR Campaign
Winner: Funky Christmas Jumpers
Use of Social Media by State Body
Winner: Defence Forces
Best Mobile App (Marketing except events)
Winner: Hailo
Best Mobile App (For an event)
Winner: Kilkenomics Festival 2012
Customer Care using Social Media (Integrated)
Winner: Meteor
Best use of SM for a sponsorship campaign
Winner: Electric Ireland
Innovative Use of Social Media
Winner: Tour America
Social Media Effectiveness
Winner: Republic of Telly
Integrated Social Media Campaign
Winner: O2 Ireland – Bring on the Green
Inbound Marketing/Content Marketing Campaign
Winner: Sage Ebooks Campaign
Social Media Only
Winner: National Lottery – Peggy’s Pad
Grand Prix sponsored by Bord Gáis Energy
Winner: O2 Ireland
Agency of the Year
Radical
Social awards image via Shutterstock
