2020 awards program is closed. Details for the 2021 ANA International ECHO awards will be announced in Spring 2020.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enter?
Click here to create an account. Once you create a username and password, you will be able to begin the submission process for one or multiple campaigns across as many categories as your campaign(s) qualify for. You may save and return to your work at any time during the competition period. The 2021 ANA International ECHO Awards submission process is open and accepting entries through September 18, 2020. Once you've completed your entry, you will be prompted to finalize and pay your entry fee(s) before the final deadline. If payment for an entry is not submitted by the deadline, it will not qualify to be included in the subsequent judging rounds and will be removed from the competition.

Who can enter a campaign?
Anyone involved in data-inspired storytelling, including strategists, data scientists, and technologists, including but not limited to marketers; marketing, advertising, and promotion agencies; media companies; and service providers. All ANA client-side members and marketing solutions provider members as well as nonmembers are eligible to enter the ECHO Awards.

What campaigns are eligible?
To be eligible the campaign must have been launched and run between April 2019 and July 2020.

Can I submit more than one campaign?
Yes. You can enter as many campaigns in as many categories as you wish (and there are 13 new categories this year!). Often, campaigns will involve multiple marketing techniques that could fit into more than one category that are worthy of individual recognition. For example, a Craft — Best Use of Data-Driven Technology may be in pharma/health care, so it could also be submitted in the Sector — Health and Wellness category. That would qualify for two categories. If you choose to enter the same campaign in multiple categories, you will be asked to explain how it fits into each of those categories. Entering your campaign into more than one category will increase your chances of winning, but it is important to clearly explain why it is appropriate for each category to improve your chances with the judges.

When are the deadlines?
Click here to see the deadlines.

What are the entry fees for each entry?
Click here to see the entry fees.

Do I need to pay by credit card?
You may request an invoice for payment when checking out. It does not need to be credit card payment.

Once I pay and enter my submission for approval, can I make further edits?
No. We urge you to review everything and ensure the contact info is correct, activation dates are correct, and there is no mention of the agency name. If something urgently needs updating, please contact Jane McDermott at ECHOawards@ana.net.

When will my campaigns be judged and winners announced?

• Round I Judging: September 15–30, 2019 (online)
• Round II Judging: November 12–14, 2019 (in person in NYC)
• Finalists Announced: December 1, 2019
• ECHO Gala: March 2, 2020 - Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners, one to two runners-up, and the Diamond ECHO will be revealed and honored at the ECHO Awards Gala in Orlando, Fla. on March 2, 2020.

How easy is it to enter the ECHO Awards?
Easy! The ECHO Awards system is easy to use and leads you clearly through the entry process. You will be able to register, submit your application, and copy your campaigns into various categories with one fluid process. We also have a preview entry form available so you can gather all the correct material prior to beginning your online entry.
To view the entry form, please click here.

What do I need to complete my entry?
You will need to fully complete the Case Study Entry Form. You will also need to upload supporting creative materials (images, videos, audio) for your campaign. At least one image or video is required. To view the entry form, please click here.

How do I submit multiple campaigns? Can I submit the same campaign into more than one category?
The application system will allow you to submit more than one entry. You have two options to choose from that will allow you to accomplish this. If there are major differences between your entries, you will likely want to begin a new entry from scratch. You can do so by clicking on the "Make Another Application" link on the left-hand side of the page. This will create a blank application, and you can enter information that is completely new. If your entries are very similar, you can click on the "Copy Submission" link, which appears AFTER your entry is paid. Note: You must fully complete your submission and add it to your shopping cart for it to be copied. Once you have added your submission to your shopping cart, it will appear as complete under your "My Applications" link on the left side of your screen. You will then see an option to "Copy Submission" into another category. This will add the copied submission into your incomplete list and allow you to edit it by clicking on the "Edit" link under "Action." Remember to explain why your campaign fits in each category you copy it into.

Can I view my submission before finalizing?
You can view your in-progress application by clicking on the "My Applications" link on the left side of your screen and clicking "Edit" to make updates.

How often can I edit my entry?
You have access to edit and update your entry as often as you would like until you click "Checkout" (finalize and pay for any entries in your shopping cart). Once you have submitted your entry, you will only have access to the read-only file. All entries must be finalized and submitted before the deadline. All entries not finalized before the deadline will not be judged. To edit your entry, log in to your account and you will see all the entries you have in your account. Click on "Edit" on any of the entries listed to make changes to your submission.

Can I submit a link/URL of a website or microsite that was used in the campaign?
Yes, you can enter a link in the URL field in entry case study. However, please be sure the link is live and will be live until May 1, 2020 (once the winners have been announced and viewed). Some judges prefer viewing all the materials in the case study and not linking to a separate window, so we recommend taking screen grabs of the site and putting them in a PDF and uploading the PDF to your case study, if possible.

Can I print my ECHO entry?
Yes. To print your entry while you are still working on it, please press the Ctrl/Command key and the P key. This will print the page you are on. Please click through each page of your application and press Ctrl/Command + P to print each part. Once your entry is marked as "Complete," you will be able to print your entire ECHO entry at once. To complete your entry, you must Checkout and pay for your entry. Then you will be able to print using the "Print" link.

What is the total word count allowable for the campaign entry?
The entry has different sections:
Campaign Purpose: 150 max
Campaign Objectives: 150 max
Campaign Results and Campaign Creative Solutions: 300 word max (are not mandatory)
The agency MAY NOT be mentioned in these descriptions and may cause your entry to be disqualified.

What are the artwork specifications?
Click here to see the artwork specifications.

Can others view my entry before it is submitted?
Yes. If you provide others with your ECHO Awards entry system login information, they can log in to your account and see your entry. You may also print your entry and share that way.

If I am sending physical samples, when are they due?
Entries must be postmarked by August 31, 2019. All material should be labeled with the entry number (available on your invoice) and campaign name. One sample must be delivered per category. Address for mailing/shipping:

ECHO AWARDS SUBMISSION
Attn: Mark A. Galliher
Association of National Advertisers
10 Grand Central | 155 East 44th Street, Floor 2
New York, NY 10017
212.455.8026

We have a special situation with our submission and would like to include the AGENCY name, as it is part of the overall CSR campaign. Can we do so?
Unfortunately, there can be no mention of the agency name in any submissions. The rules state: Please remove all reference to the agency name in the entry text and all file uploads. The Awards reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to disqualify any entry that contains the agency name in the submission.


Our agency name is mentioned in the video. Is that allowed?
Unfortunately, there can be no mention of the agency name in any submissions or collateral uploaded to support your submission. The rules state: Please remove all reference to the agency name in the entry text and all file uploads. The Awards reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to disqualify any entry that contains the agency name in the submission.

Am I able to use a YouTube video as supporting materials or in place of a website URL?
No. Click here to see the artwork specifications.

What if my campaign results are not in before the regular deadline?
Enter as many results as you can at that point in time (i.e., selling results) and indicate that your final results were not available before your submission. There must be some results included to qualify.

What if my results are confidential?
The ECHO Awards are judged on results. Your entry should have at the minimum indices to show the judges the results, or handled in such a way to not create any confidentiality issues for you. There is a section for "judges' eyes only," so this information will not be published.

What should I do if my client does not want to share results?
Consider including additional program goals that may have been unspoken secondary goals, or even sub-goals. Make sure that the results that you are able to share connect to your program goals in some capacity. For example, perhaps convert results to an index versus goal, so we can see the value that the delivered is demonstrated.

When will I know if my campaign is among the finalists?
The finalists will be announced and contacted by the ANA on December 1, 2019. The ANA will notify the specified contact that your campaign is among the winners, but you will not know your ranking (Gold, Silver, or Bronze). The rankings will be announced at the ECHO Awards ceremony on March 2, 2020 in Orlando, Fla.

Can I review a case study from previous years?
Yes, click here to review the 2016–18 ECHO Award Winners. For previous years, ANA members can log in and search through all the past years.
Sample winning case studies may be reviewed here.

Who won last year's ECHO Awards?
Click here to view the 2018 winners.

When and where will the ECHO Awards be presented?
The 2020 ANA International ECHO Awards will be presented live at a special evening awards gala dinner on March 2, 2020 in Orlando, Fla.

How do I become a sponsor of the 2020 ANA International ECHO Awards?
Sponsorship packages are available and can be customized and tailored to meet your company's business needs. To learn how to become a sponsor or for more information on sponsorship, please contact Wilson Vargas at sponsorship@ana.net.

How do I become an ANA member?
To learn how to become a member or for more information on membership, please click here.

Terms and Conditions
Click here to read the entry rules.

If you have any questions regarding the ANA International ECHO Awards, please do not hesitate to contact us at:

Jane C. McDermott
Awards/Event Support
ANA — ECHO Awards
ECHOawards@ana.net
Office: 516.763.1322

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