Advertisers using the YouTube platform in South Africa are eligible to submit their best work from Monday, 1 January 2024, to Saturday, 31 May 2025, for review by a panel of industry leaders, says Google. 

The judges, whose names will be unveiled in the coming weeks, will select winners across seven categories, all based on brilliant storytelling, results and effectiveness in leveraging YouTube to achieve a clear business impact, says the awards. 

The seven categories are:

• The Hidden Gem Award: Celebrating a YouTube campaign that achieved the biggest impact through audience insights.
• The Creative Visionary Award: Celebrating the YouTube campaign with the most captivating and original creative vision.
• The Underdog Award: For the YouTube campaign that achieved a big impact on a small budget.
• The Tech Pioneer Award: Celebrating the YouTube campaign that made excellent use of technology or AI in order to achieve more impact.
• The Shapeshifter Award: For the campaign that told original stories in different ways across all YouTube formats.
• The YouTube Symphony Award: Celebrating the campaign that redefined integrated marketing through the use of other platforms and YouTube.
• The Grand Prix Award: For the YouTube campaign that was the most effective, creative and innovative, while also driving great business results.

Kabelo Makwane, Country Director for Google South Africa, says, "YouTube continues to be a prime platform for content and outstanding advertising campaigns. An overwhelming 87% of viewers see ads on YouTube as a bridge to new brands and products and two-thirds find these ads relevant and trustworthy. To recognise this, we're introducing awards to celebrate the innovative talent behind YouTube advertising campaigns that drive significant business results and connect with millions of viewers."

Google concludes that South African brands and agencies who ran YouTube campaigns from Monday, 1 January 2024, to Saturday, 31 May 2025, can enter their best work online at the YouTube Works Awards website by Tuesday, 17 June. Entries carry no submission cost and multiple entries are permissible. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in September, following a review of submissions by the judging panel.

For more information, visit www.youtube.com. 

*Image courtesy of YouTube Works Awards