Social Media Advertising Awards Seek Standout Campaigns for 2027 IAC Competition
The Web Marketing Association judges will select the best social media campaigns in 86 industries as part of their 25th annual Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards. The IAC Awards are the first and only industry-based advertising award competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising. Anyone wishing to nominate their social media work for consideration may do so at www.IACAward.org before the deadline of January 29, 2027.
Boston, MA, November 10, 2026 --(PR.com)-- Web Marketing Association opens entries for social media campaign honors in 86 industries, with a January 29, 2027 deadline.
Agencies and brands behind exceptional social media advertising are invited to enter the 2027 Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards. Organized by the Web Marketing Association, the competition will recognize the best social media campaigns across 86 industries during its 25th annual awards program.
The IAC Awards focus exclusively on online advertising, providing industry-specific recognition for the professionals who create digital campaigns. Social media entries offer teams an opportunity to showcase how their creative ideas use the strengths of social platforms to engage audiences and communicate a compelling brand message.
Submissions are open at www.IACAward.org through January 29, 2027.
“Getting someone to stop scrolling is only the beginning,” said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. “Exceptional social campaigns give people a reason to watch, respond, participate or take action. The IAC Awards celebrate the teams that bring those ideas to life. For an agency or in-house marketing department, earning an award provides independent recognition of its creative abilities and a valuable credential to share with clients and company leadership.”
Evaluating Social Media Creativity and Execution
The social media competition welcomes submissions from advertising agencies, interactive firms, corporate marketing departments and other organizations or individuals involved in developing Internet advertising.
Judges will evaluate entries using six criteria: creativity, innovation, impact, design, copywriting and use of the medium. Together, these measures examine the strength of the campaign concept and how effectively the work uses its advertising format.
Industry categories give entrants an opportunity to earn recognition within the markets they serve. Winners can use their awards to highlight their expertise, recognize team contributions and support new business efforts.
Previous Best of Show Social Media Winners
The category’s past Best of Show recipients demonstrate the variety of creative approaches recognized by the IAC Awards:
2026: Adobe for The Unfinished Film
2025: TMV Group for Lacks Enterprises Social
2024: Sanky Communications for GLAAD Paid Media Ads
2023: PPK for Florida Lottery’s Scratch Factor Livestream
2022: McKinney for #UnlockPretzelCrust
2021: Norwegian Cruise Line for Staycation Social Campaign
2020: GWL Advertising and Direct Orthopedic Care for Direct Orthopedic Care
2019: Heat for Wild Turkey: 101 Years, No Apologies
2018: TMV Group for Rip It Social Media
2017: These Days for Put a Price on your Precious
2016: Atmosphere Proximity for Ask Pharma
2015: AT&T – Jennifer Terry-Tharp for Which Career Character Are You? AT&T Quiz
2014: INNOCEAN USA for The Walking Dead Chop Shop
2013: VML for Revlon Expression Experiment
2012: The Visionaire Group for The Source Code Mission
2011: Definition 6 for Coca-Cola Happiness Machine
A searchable record of award-winning work is available in the IAC Awards past winners directory.
More Opportunities to Recognize Digital Advertising Work
Social media is one of several advertising formats included in the 2027 competition. Additional categories include:
Mobile apps
Email message campaigns
Websites, including microsites and landing pages
Online ads, including banners, pop-ups and interstitials
Online applications
Integrated ad campaigns
Rich media ads
Online video
Online newsletter campaigns
Agencies with winning entries can also earn points toward the Top Agency Award. Each Best of Show award contributes five points, each Best of Industry award contributes three points, and each Outstanding award contributes one point. The agency achieving the highest total receives the Top Agency distinction.
Industry Professionals to Judge Entries in February
Judging is scheduled for February 2027. Entries will be reviewed by a select panel of Internet advertising professionals with experience evaluating digital creative work.
Previous IAC judges have included executives from Arc Worldwide, Beeby Clark+Meyler, Brunner Digital, Campbell-Ewald, CNN, Deep Interactive Asia, Digitas, EuroRSCG 4D, Google, IBM Interactive, JWT, Mastercard, McCann Worldgroup, Possible, SapientRazorfish, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Small Army, Tectis GmbH, TMP Worldwide, Universal McCann Interactive and Wunderman / Y&R.
The 25th annual Internet Advertising Competition is sponsored by PR.com, eTail Conferences and iContact.
Entry information and submission details are available at www.IACAward.org. The deadline to enter is January 29, 2027.
About the Web Marketing Association
The Web Marketing Association brings together volunteer professionals in Internet marketing, advertising, public relations and design to advance the quality of website development and online promotion.
Through the WebAward Competition, MobileWebAwards and Internet Advertising Competition Awards, the association recognizes achievement across websites, mobile experiences and digital advertising. Since 1997, its award programs have helped interactive professionals showcase their accomplishments and raise the visibility of their organizations.
Agencies and brands behind exceptional social media advertising are invited to enter the 2027 Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards. Organized by the Web Marketing Association, the competition will recognize the best social media campaigns across 86 industries during its 25th annual awards program.
The IAC Awards focus exclusively on online advertising, providing industry-specific recognition for the professionals who create digital campaigns. Social media entries offer teams an opportunity to showcase how their creative ideas use the strengths of social platforms to engage audiences and communicate a compelling brand message.
Submissions are open at www.IACAward.org through January 29, 2027.
“Getting someone to stop scrolling is only the beginning,” said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. “Exceptional social campaigns give people a reason to watch, respond, participate or take action. The IAC Awards celebrate the teams that bring those ideas to life. For an agency or in-house marketing department, earning an award provides independent recognition of its creative abilities and a valuable credential to share with clients and company leadership.”
Evaluating Social Media Creativity and Execution
The social media competition welcomes submissions from advertising agencies, interactive firms, corporate marketing departments and other organizations or individuals involved in developing Internet advertising.
Judges will evaluate entries using six criteria: creativity, innovation, impact, design, copywriting and use of the medium. Together, these measures examine the strength of the campaign concept and how effectively the work uses its advertising format.
Industry categories give entrants an opportunity to earn recognition within the markets they serve. Winners can use their awards to highlight their expertise, recognize team contributions and support new business efforts.
Previous Best of Show Social Media Winners
The category’s past Best of Show recipients demonstrate the variety of creative approaches recognized by the IAC Awards:
2026: Adobe for The Unfinished Film
2025: TMV Group for Lacks Enterprises Social
2024: Sanky Communications for GLAAD Paid Media Ads
2023: PPK for Florida Lottery’s Scratch Factor Livestream
2022: McKinney for #UnlockPretzelCrust
2021: Norwegian Cruise Line for Staycation Social Campaign
2020: GWL Advertising and Direct Orthopedic Care for Direct Orthopedic Care
2019: Heat for Wild Turkey: 101 Years, No Apologies
2018: TMV Group for Rip It Social Media
2017: These Days for Put a Price on your Precious
2016: Atmosphere Proximity for Ask Pharma
2015: AT&T – Jennifer Terry-Tharp for Which Career Character Are You? AT&T Quiz
2014: INNOCEAN USA for The Walking Dead Chop Shop
2013: VML for Revlon Expression Experiment
2012: The Visionaire Group for The Source Code Mission
2011: Definition 6 for Coca-Cola Happiness Machine
A searchable record of award-winning work is available in the IAC Awards past winners directory.
More Opportunities to Recognize Digital Advertising Work
Social media is one of several advertising formats included in the 2027 competition. Additional categories include:
Mobile apps
Email message campaigns
Websites, including microsites and landing pages
Online ads, including banners, pop-ups and interstitials
Online applications
Integrated ad campaigns
Rich media ads
Online video
Online newsletter campaigns
Agencies with winning entries can also earn points toward the Top Agency Award. Each Best of Show award contributes five points, each Best of Industry award contributes three points, and each Outstanding award contributes one point. The agency achieving the highest total receives the Top Agency distinction.
Industry Professionals to Judge Entries in February
Judging is scheduled for February 2027. Entries will be reviewed by a select panel of Internet advertising professionals with experience evaluating digital creative work.
Previous IAC judges have included executives from Arc Worldwide, Beeby Clark+Meyler, Brunner Digital, Campbell-Ewald, CNN, Deep Interactive Asia, Digitas, EuroRSCG 4D, Google, IBM Interactive, JWT, Mastercard, McCann Worldgroup, Possible, SapientRazorfish, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Small Army, Tectis GmbH, TMP Worldwide, Universal McCann Interactive and Wunderman / Y&R.
The 25th annual Internet Advertising Competition is sponsored by PR.com, eTail Conferences and iContact.
Entry information and submission details are available at www.IACAward.org. The deadline to enter is January 29, 2027.
About the Web Marketing Association
The Web Marketing Association brings together volunteer professionals in Internet marketing, advertising, public relations and design to advance the quality of website development and online promotion.
Through the WebAward Competition, MobileWebAwards and Internet Advertising Competition Awards, the association recognizes achievement across websites, mobile experiences and digital advertising. Since 1997, its award programs have helped interactive professionals showcase their accomplishments and raise the visibility of their organizations.
Contact
Web Marketing Association
William Rice
860-558-5423
www.IACAward.org
William Rice
860-558-5423
www.IACAward.org
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