The MAA has indicated that in 2020, it will look for 'the greatest minds, the truest ideas and the boldest approaches'.

The platform is designed to recognise exceptional marketing achievements and as such, conveners will be looking for succinct entries that best demonstrate how customer needs have been identified and used to focus, align and empower organisations to meet these needs and achieve results.

All marketers from across South Africa are encouraged to enter their best work so that they can be measured against, and recognised by, their peers. The awards have indicated that there are several categories available. 

The entry format is an online process that can be accessed via www.marketingawards.co.za.

The following categories are available for entrants to prove their strategic abilities in:

  • Purpose Led Marketing
  • Strategic Sponsorship Marketing
  • Brand Positioning
  • Marketing Innovation
  • New Product or Brand Launch
  • Reputation Management (Corporate and Brand)
  • South African Resonance Marketing
  • Brand Marketing B2B
  • Integrated Marketing
  • Resourceful Marketing (The Limited Budget, Unlimited Idea category)
  • Internal Marketing
  • Digital Brand Marketing (New Category for 2020)
  • Rising Star of the Year (Nominated)
  • Marketer of the Year (Nominated)
According to MAA, 2020's entry process has been finetuned to allow for winning case studies to be published. This way, it can set a benchmark for excellence, inspire marketers to make a case for leading organisations with insightful strategy and prove marketing's value to the bottom line.

For this reason, not only have the entry criteria been redesigned and more explicitly outlined, but a scoring system has also been introduced. Judges will thus be able to contextualise each entry and award a score out of 100 possible points and ensure that all campaigns be treated equally, regardless of budget or scope.

To make the entry process easier for all marketers, entry kits have been created to walk people through the system. Moreover, the winning case studies will only be published in consultation with the entrants to ensure that confidential figures and metrics are appropriately presented.

Newly appointed chairperson of the Marketing Awards Council Mohale Ralebitso will be spearheading the council. Ralebitso will be taking over from Yvonne Johnston, who successfully chaired the MAC during her three-year tenure.

"South African marketers have the power and ingenuity to deliver campaigns of the highest calibre, simple marketing that is imbued with insight and authenticity and a true sense of direction that catapults brands directly towards their True North — in spite of the constant state of flux we are living through," says Ralebitso. "That is the kind of work that we are hoping to see.'

"The Marketing Achievement Awards is a rarefied opportunity to honour marketers whose work demonstrates the intrinsic value inherent to this crucial discipline, while simultaneously raising the industry's profile and elevating it to the position it rightfully deserves within South Africa’s businesses," adds Ralebitso.

"MASA is pleased to endorse and work with the Marketing Achievement Council for the success of the Marketing Achievement Awards in 2020," says MASA CEO Brian Yuyi.

"The awards speak to our organisational purpose, which is to elevate the professionalism of marketing and represent and protect the business interests of all marketers in South Africa," he Yuyi.

"Despite the challenging times we now face, we look forward to some exciting entries across all categories that will be proof, yet again, that the marketing profession will be at the forefront of industrial and commercial resurgence in the new normal," Yuyi concludes.

Early bird entries close on Monday, 17 August, while final entries close on Sunday, 6 September. The intention is for the awards ceremony to be hosted in early 2021.

For more information, visit www.marketingawards.co.za. You can also follow the MAA on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.