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 judging session where judges will discuss the shortlist and agree on a winner for each category.
Judging Criteria:
Judging session – 5th February 2025
Shortlist announcement – 7th February 2025
Judges will read and pre-score all entry forms, considering any supporting materials submitted. Judges will be asked to give a score for each question within the entry form, as listed in the bullet points below. These will be combined to give an overall score for each entry. All judges’ pre-scores will then be combined, and the highest-scoring entries will determine the shortlists.
Judges will meet to discuss the highest-scoring entries and then agree on the winner for each category.
The awards will be judged by some of the biggest names in search. Click here to see this year’s judging panel.
CAMPAIGN AWARDS
- Objective(s) & Budget (1-10 points)
Tell us 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 spend etc.
- Target Audience & Strategy (1-10 points)
Please provide us with 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 us a detailed explanation of your implementation of 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 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?
APP/WEBSITE AWARDS
- App/Website Overview & Strategy (1-10 points)
Please provide the judges with a synopsis of what the App/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.
- Implementation, Innovation, Conversion & Creativity (1-10 points)
Please give us a detailed explanation of how you implemented the App/Website outlining the innovation you used to make this App / Website stand out amongst the crowd. Please also detail the conversion stats for the App/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 think you should win (1-10 points)
What do you think sets your App/Website apart from the other entries being judged? Judges will in particular be looking for the thing that makes this website unique.
SOFTWARE/TOOLS/TECH
- Overview of the Software/Tool/Tech
Please provide the judges with a synopsis of what the software/tool/technology does and how it adds value to the end user.
- Total Budget
Please include costs associated with running the software/tool/technology and how much you intend to or do sell the software/tool/technology for.
- Existing problems and target audience (1-10 points)
Please include details outlining the problems that this software/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 and Features (1-10 points)
Please outline what is the software/tool/technology’s unique proposition. Entrants should highlight the major features that are unique to the software/tool/technology which help solve a customer problem or benefit the customer positively.
- Key Metrics (1-10 points)
Please detail what key metrics have you used to measure whether this software/tool/technology is successful. I.e., does it save money, make things faster, generate more revenue?
- Why should your software/tool/technology win? (1-10 points)
What single thing about your software/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 software/tool/technology.
We ask you to send a ‘Global Dating Industry Awards’ login to allow judges to be able to test and score your product. In addition, if you’d like to provide a demo or video please provide the link below.
Please note if you’re unable to provide a login please contact awards@dontpanicprojects.com. Judging is based on the application form and the judges’ industry knowledge of the tools. They are a highly experienced judging panel with in-depth industry knowledge. The tool logins requested are for any judges who feel that want to delve deeper into any claims/functionality detailed in the entry.
SAFETY & SECURITY
- Security & Safety Overview & Strategy (1-10 points)
Please provide the judges with a synopsis of what security and safety features have been implemented on your app, explaining how they work and the benefits they provide to end users. Additionally, outline your strategy for achieving the overall objectives of enhancing safety and security within your platform.
- Implementation & Innovation (1-10 points)
Please provide a detailed explanation of how you implemented the safety and security features on the app. Describe the measures and protocols you have in place to ensure the safety and privacy of your users, including any innovative approaches or technologies employed.
- Results & Evaluation (1-10 points)
Please relate these to the objectives and targets stated above. Provide actual numbers rather than percentages wherever possible.
- 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 result of overcoming these challenges?
- Why should you 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?
EVENTS/COMMUNITY
- Objective(s) & Budget (1-10 points)
Tell us what you were looking to achieve from the event/community and any targets that were set. We recommend showing targets as quantifiable metrics.
Please include a breakdown of implementation costs, staffing costs etc.
- Target audience & strategy (1-10 points)
Please provide us with 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 provide a detailed explanation of how you’ve implemented your event or community within the industry, including screenshots to visually illustrate the setup. Describe any innovative features or creative aspects of your event/community that set it apart.
- 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 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 Event/Community 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?
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS CRITERIA
Judges will be seeking individuals who demonstrate an ongoing and sustained commitment to delivering best practices, combined with a creative and innovative approach within the global dating industry.
Each entry must include information under the following headings:
- Overview of the Individual
Include details such as your current and previous roles, achievements, and any relevant numbers or metrics that showcase your impact in the dating sector.
- Objectives (1-10 points)
Describe what you aimed to achieve and any targets you’ve set within your role and projects to reach those goals. We recommend presenting targets with quantifiable metrics, for example, ‘Increase user engagement from 1,000 to 2,000 a month’ rather than ‘Increase user engagement by 10%’ or ‘Increase website sign-ups by 10 to 30’.
- Recent Work Example(s) (1-10 points)
Provide details of your recent projects or initiatives. How does your work exhibit creativity and distinguish you in the global dating industry?
- Details of Any Recent Achievements (1-10 points)
Share the accomplishments that make your entry stand out. Highlight any achievements you believe make you award-worthy in the dating industry. What are you most proud of?
- Challenges Faced and Overcoming Them (1-10 points)
Discuss any unique challenges you’ve encountered and how you’ve managed to overcome them. What was the outcome or result of overcoming these challenges?
- Why Should You Win? (1-10 points)
Explain what sets you apart from others in the global dating industry and why your entry deserves to win. What makes you unique? What gives you the competitive edge?
COMPANY/TEAM AWARDS
- Company/Team objectives (1-10 points)
Tell us what you were looking to achieve and any targets that have been set within the company 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 work. How does this display creativity and make your company/team stand out amongst others?
- Details of any recent achievements (1-10 points)
What makes your team or company stand out? Please include details of any achievements you feel make your company/team 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 result of overcoming these challenges?
- Why should your company/team 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?
Entries should not exceed 1000 words in total and should relate to work undertaken between September 2023 – January 2025.
Ethical, Transparent, Fair & Confidentiality
The Global Dating Industry Awards prides itself on its ethical and transparent process and confidentiality is taken extremely seriously.
Judges are not allowed to enter any of the categories.
All judging discussions are confidential, and material will not be shared with anyone outside of the judging panel before or after the ceremony. Judging papers will not be shared with any third parties and will be deleted immediately after the judging period. Judges can only access entries they have been asked to score.
Permission to use any material for winning case studies post-event will be sought from entrants.
