Lidl among winners at 2012 Irish Social Media Awards

Lidl Ireland are among the winners at the 2012 Irish Social Media Awards

Social media glory was awarded to a selection of Irish companies at the 2012 Bord Gáis Energy Social Media Awards. The awards which took place at the Mansion House in Dublin honoured businesses who have demonstrated innovation in their use of social media in business over the past year.

Winners included Discover Ireland, who was recognised for its use of social media as a state body, whilst The Cork Opera House took top honours in the hugely competitive Facebook page for a non-profit organisation category.

Irish motoring website, Carzone, took the award for best mobile application, whilst web solutions company, Blacknight won the category for best business blog.

A new category added to the awards this year was the best use of social media in an election and was won by the Labour Party Campaign. 

Spin 1038 were out in force at the awards snapping up two of the most competitive categories. They won best managed Facebook page (business owner) and best business use of Twitter (marketing & sales).

The Grand Prix award for the company who demonstrated the best overall use of social media went to Vodafone Ireland, who also picked up two awards earlier in the night for the best use of video as part of their social media strategy and customer care using social media.

Commenting on the winners Damien Mulley, founder of the Irish Social Media Awards:
"Despite us being only in our terrible twos, the baby that was the Social Media Awards has certainly matured with a large amount of established brands entering and winning this year. The high standard of entries received proves that there are some extremely talented and creative businesses in the country. The aim of these awards is to recognise talented businesses in online engagement and innovation and I think we have successfully achieved that this evening.”

Digital and Social Media Manager at Bord Gáis Energy Eoin Ó Súilleabháin said: “Bord Gáis Energy is delighted to be sponsoring these awards for the second consecutive year. It is great to see both well known brands and smaller organisations with varying budgets be commended for their highly successful social media strategies.” 

Award winners:
Facebook Page for a Business (Non Campaign), sponsored by Newsletter.ie
Winner: National Lottery

Facebook Page for a Business (owner managed)
Winner: Spin 1038

Facebook Page for Non profit/organisation, sponsored by Avonmore
Winner: Cork Opera House

Integrated Facebook Campaign: page, app & ads
Winner: Lidl Ireland

Best Business Twitter: Marketing/Sales, sponsored by Burritos & Blues
Winner: Spin 1038

Best Business Twitter account: Support, CRM
Joint Winners: Irish Rail and Eircom

Best Business Twitter Campaign
Winner: Buyers Broker

Video/Video Campaign (non-broadcast), sponsored by Publicis QMP
Winner: Vodafone Ireland

Best Blog of a Business
Winner: Blacknight

Best use of SM for a sponsorship campaign
Winners: o2 Rugby

Innovative Use of Social Media by DIT Foundation
Winner: Brando Tweetsweets

Online PR Campaign
Winner: OMG! Jedward's Dream Factory

Use of Social Media by State Body
Winner: Discover Ireland

Best Mobile App (Marketing), sponsored by Made In Hollywood
Winner: CarZone.ie

Customer Care using Social Media (Integrated), sponsored by Like.ie
Winner: Vodafone Ireland

Social Media Effectiveness
Winner: Lidl Ireland

Integrated Social Media Campaign, sponsored by NCI Digital Marketing Cert
Winner: Electric Ireland

Best Use of Social Media in an Election, sponsored by Pi Communications
Winner: Labour Party

Agency of the Year
Winner: WHPR

Grand Prix
Winner: Vodafone Ireland