Judges read and pre-score all entry forms, considering the structure, presentation and clarity of each section and the supporting materials submitted. Judges score each section on the entry form and these scores will be combined to give an overall score for each entry. All judges pre-scores will be combined, and the highest-scoring entries will determine the shortlist.
Winners are determined at a Judge session, where judges will discuss the shortlist and agree on a winner for each category.
Entries are judged for work taking place between the dates of: October 2023- February 2025
WEBSITE AWARDS CRITERIA
The judges will be rewarding exceptional website builds, relaunches and refreshes. The judges will be looking at the user experience, creativity, functionality, conversion and innovation of the website. Judges will also consider both back-end and front-end design and development.
Each entry must include information under the following headings:
- Website Overview & Strategy (1-10 points)
Please provide the judges with a synopsis of what the website does and how it adds value to the end user. Please also provide details of the target audience and your overall strategy to reach them as well as the strategy to meet the overall objectives.
- Examples of implementation, innovation, conversion & creativity (1-10 points)
Please give a detailed explanation of how you implemented the website outlining the innovation you used to make this website stand out amongst the crowd. Please also detail the conversion stats for the website including any screenshots necessary to demonstrate this.
- Results & evaluation (1-10 points)
Please relate these to the objectives and targets stated above. Provide actual numbers rather than percentages wherever possible.
- Why you should win this category (1-10 points)
What do you think sets your website/app apart from the other entries being judged? Judges will, in particular, be looking for the thing that makes this website unique.
CAMPAIGN AWARDS CRITERIA
The judges will be looking for clear objectives, creative and effective implementation and tangible and demonstrable results in the campaign award categories.
Each entry must include information under the following headings
- Objectives & Budget (1-10 points)
Explain what you were looking to achieve from the campaign and any targets that were set. We recommend showing targets as quantifiable metrics e.g., ‘Increase conversions from 150 to 300 a month’ rather than ‘Increase conversions by 10%’.
Please include a breakdown of implementation costs, staffing costs, agency fees etc. All elements of the entry form are confidential, and judges will not share this information. If you are unable to provide a detailed budget breakdown, please include the financial band your budget is within along with the percentage budget allocated for staffing costs, agency fees and media spending etc.
- Target audience & strategy (1-10 points)
Please provide details about the audience you were targeting and your overall strategy to reach them as well as the strategy to meet the overall objectives.
- Implementation & creativity (1-10 points)
Please give a detailed explanation of your implementation for the campaign. Include screenshots to help us visualize campaigns. Provide information on the creativity of the campaign.
- Details of any challenges faced and how these were overcome (1-10 points)
What challenges were unique to you and how have you overcome them? What was the end result of overcoming these challenges?
- Results & evaluation (1-10 points)
Please relate these to the objectives and targets stated above. Provide actual numbers rather than percentages wherever possible.
- Why should your campaign win? (1-10 points)
What do you think sets your campaign apart from the other campaigns being judged? Judges will in particular be looking for the thing that makes this campaign different to the others, what is unique?
APPLICATION OF TOOLS OR DATA AWARDS CRITERIA
The judges will be looking for clear objectives, creative and effective implementation and tangible and demonstrable results in the campaign award categories.
Each entry must include information under the following headings:
- Objectives & Budget (1-10 points)
Explain what you were looking to achieve from the application of the data or tool you have used and any targets that were set. We recommend showing targets as quantifiable metrics e.g., ‘Increase conversions from 150 to 300 a month’ rather than ‘Increase conversions by 10%’.
Please include a breakdown of implementation costs, staffing costs, agency fees etc. All elements of the entry form are confidential, and judges will not share this information. If you are unable to provide a detailed budget breakdown, please include the financial band your budget is within along with the percentage budget allocated for staffing costs, agency fees and media spend etc
- Target audience & strategy (1-10 points)
Please provide us details about the audience you were targeting and your overall strategy to reach them as well as the strategy to meet the overall objectives.
- Implementation & creativity (1-10 points)
Please give a detailed explanation of your implementation for the campaign or website. Include screenshots to help us visualize campaigns. Provide information on the creativity of the campaign.
- Details of any challenges faced and how these were overcome (1-10 points)
What challenges were unique to you and how have you overcome them. What was the end result of overcoming these challenges.
- Results & evaluation (1-10 points)
Please relate these to the objectives and targets stated above. Provide actual numbers rather than percentages wherever possible.
- Why should your entry win? (1-10 points)
What do you think sets your entry apart from the other entries being judged? Judges will in particular be looking for the thing that makes this entry different to the others, what is unique?
TOOLS & TECHNOLOGIES AWARDS CRITERIA
The judges will be looking for a clear description of an outstanding platform, technology, or tool. Judges will be looking for new features/tools added in the last twelve months for the software awards.
Each entry must include information under the following headings:
- Overview of Platform / Technology / Tool
Please provide the judges with a synopsis of what the tool/technology does and how it adds value to the end user.
- Total budget
Please include costs associated with running the tool/technology and how much you intend to, or do, sell the innovation/software/product for.
- Existing problems & target audience (1-10 points)
Please include details outlining the problems that this tool/technology solves and how if at all these problems were previously dealt with. Entrants should detail who the target customers or users of this product are.
- USP & Features (1-10 points)
Please outline what is the tool/technology’s unique proposition. Entrants should highlight the major features that are unique to the tool/technology which help solve a customer problem or benefit the customer positively.
- Key Metrics (1-10 points)
Please detail what key metrics you have used to measure whether this tool/technology is successful. I.e., does it save money, make things faster, generate more revenue?
- Why should your Platform, Technology or Tool win? (1-10 points)
What single thing about your tool/technology is not done by anyone else? What makes it stand out to be award-worthy?
Please include a login and password for numerous users to access your tool / technology. We ask you to send a ‘UK Digital Excellence Awards’ login to allow judges to test and score your product. In addition, if you’d like to provide a demo or video please provide a link.
Please note if you’re unable to provide a login, please contact awards@dontpanicprojects.com.
AGENCY / TEAM / INDIVIDUAL AWARDS CRITERIA
Judges will be looking for agencies, teams or individuals that can demonstrate an ongoing and sustained commitment to delivering best practice while showing a creative and innovative approach to search
Each entry must include information under the following headings:
- Overview of the Agency / Team / Individual Nomination
Please include numbers, staff turnover, roles etc for agency and team nominations or current and previous job roles etc for individual nominations
- Agency / Team / Individual objectives (1-10 points)
Detail what you were looking to achieve and any targets that have been set within the agency or team to help achieve your goals. We recommend showing targets as quantifiable metrics e.g., ‘Increase conversions from 150 to 300 a month’ rather than ‘Increase conversions by 10%’.
- Recent work example(s) (1-10 points)
Please include details of recent client or campaign work. How does your recent work display creativity and make your entry stand out amongst others?
- Details of any recent achievements (1-10 points)
What makes your entry stand out? Please include details of any achievements you feel make your agency, team or individual award-worthy. What are you proud of?
- Details of any challenges faced and how these were overcome (1-10 points)
What challenges were unique to you and how have you overcome them. What was the end result of overcoming these challenges?
- Why should your Agency / Team / Individual win? (1-10 points)
Please detail what you feel makes you stand out amongst others and why you feel your entry is award-winning. What makes you unique? What gives you the competitive edge?
