The finalists of the 2022 Northern Ireland Social Media Awards in partnership with the Corner Bakery have been announced, after more than 300 entries were received from a broad range of industries including tourism, education, healthcare, retail and fitness.
The shortlists span from small businesses including Wardens in Newtownards, Belfast Skin Clinic, Unleashed Dog Adventure Park in Lurgan, Orto Pizza to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, elf the Irish Football Association, Linwoods, South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust, Property Pal and the Nerve Centre.
Organised by two of Northern Ireland's leading award-winning digital marketers and industry mentors, Niamh Taylor of Digital 24 and Caroline O’Neill of Digg Mama and Digg For Success, the awards aim to celebrate how individuals, organisations and businesses are creating inspiring content and using social media positively and to shine a light on those excelling in digital marketing.
Read more: NI Social Media Awards launched with global panel of judges announced
Niamh Taylor, NI Social Media Awards co-founder said: “We are absolutely blown away with the response to this year’s Northern Ireland Social Media Awards. Over 300 entries were received and the independent panel of judges had an extremely hard job of whittling down the shortlists as the quality was outstanding. Over the last two years, social media and digital platforms kept friends, families and businesses connected through long periods of lockdown and it has been a vital tool in helping businesses not just survive, but to thrive.
"The category with the most entries is the award for Best Use of Social Media in Retail which reinforces the important role, particularly in a sector that has continued to struggle post-pandemic, that social media can play. From the judges feedback, it is clear that social media and digital marketing is a key priority for local businesses of all sizes.”
Matt Swain, Social Media Advisor & Personal Brand Expert who has worked with some of the UK’s leading entrepreneurial figures and creators said: “Northern Ireland is really leading the way in showcasing how social media should work. Across the 29 categories, the shortlisted accounts have over 10 million followers, and when used correctly, you can imagine the impact this can have. Entrants have clearly shown how they are understanding their audiences, creating creative content and engaging with their community to achieve mega results.
"On behalf of my fellow judges, congratulations to all the finalists and we look forward to celebrating the local stars of social media and marketing excellence at next month’s social media event of the year.”
Joining Matt on the independent judging panel is John Thornton, Senior Creative of SURREAL Cereal; Rowena Flynn, one of the world’s top female gamers and Partner of global community, Twitch; Oonagh O’Hagan, Managing Director of Meagher’s Pharmacy Group; Danielle McGookin, Founder of Dubai based digital marketing company, Social Story and Leanne Ross, Executive Director of New Zealand Game Developers Association and Paul Walsh, Owner of Adhere Digital.
Individual category sponsors include Balmoral Healthcare, Belfast City Centre Gift Card, Bellamianta, BNL Productions, Bodyfit Mums, EP Design, Holistic Kidz, House of Vixen, Malfy Gin, MCG Investment, Ooh & Aah Cookies, Pod Camping Ireland, Todds Leap and Ted & Stitch. Media partner is Belfast Live and the charity partner is Aware.
Here are the finalists in each category:
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN RETAIL
Award Category Partner: Belfast City Centre Gift Card
Over 10k following
The Dresser Boutique
Jack Murphy Jewellers
Castle Court
MXB / Mace
Ooh + Aah Cookies
bBold tan
Wardens
DFI Beds
Osborne & Co
Under 10k following
Effortless Boutique
Cameron and Breen
Sophie Mcilwaine Ceramics
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN FITNESS
Over 10k following
Bodyfit Mums
Rory Martin
Arianna Kennedy
Under 10k following
Core Kids
The Conscious Coach NI Terri Mc Canny
Boundary Crossfit
Better Gym Belfast
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN HEALTHCARE (INC. COSMETICS AND AESTHETICS
Award Category Partner: Balmoral Healthcare
Over 10k
Dr Madelaine
Dr Emma Clinics
Dr Bonny
South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
Belfast Skin Clinic
Kingsbridge Healthcare Group
Northern Health and Social Care Trust
Under 10k
Niamh Gallogly Podiatry
BF Mullholand
Gransha Dental
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN SERVICE / B2B
Award Category Partner: BNL Productions
Over 10k following
Think Network
Tall Paul Marketing
Q Radio
Purple Dot
Under 10k following
Cavanagh Kelly
Hatch Web design
Unleased Dog Adventure Park
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN HOSPITALITY/TOURISM
Award Category Partner: EP Design
Over 10k following
Lamppost Cafe
Blind Cobbler
Central Belfast Apartments
Larchfield Estate
Jailhouse
Fermanagh Lakeland
Bob and Berts
Nugelato
Insta Belfast
Coleraine Business Improvement District / Our Coleraine - High Street Heroes
Under 10k following
Jen Crowe Travel Counsellor
Orto Pizza
Honeybees Playtown
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN EDUCATION
Motherhood Bubble
Fey Cole - Independent Early Years Specialist
Dr Bonny Academy
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN CHARITY / CHARITY CAMPAIGN
Award Category Partner: AWARE NI
Blossomingbirds / Mae Murray
Bauer Media NI - Cool FM / Coast to Coast Challenge - Cash for Kids
Bernadette Hagans
So Social / NI Scrubs
Clogher Valley RFC
NIPANC
Cancer Fund For Children
DIGITAL MARKETING PERSON/TEAM
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETER OF THE YEAR
Award Category Partner: DIGG For Success
Hannah Connolly (Social H)
Mairead McKibbin (Crossbox Marketing)
Carla Brogan (Property Pal)
Alannah Slane (MCE)
Stewart Murdock (Stellify Media)
SOCIAL MEDIA IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR
Award Category Partner: Ted and Stitch
PSNI
Q Radio
Tobermore
bBold
Wardens
Jack Murphy Jewellers
Irish FA
Castle Court
SOCIAL MEDIA AGENCY TEAM OF THE YEAR
Award Category Partner: Belfast Live
Beyond Digital
Walker Communications
Part Three Digital
Mash Mob
MXB Agency
DIGITAL MARKETER OF THE YEAR
Award Category Partner: Digital Twenty Four
Matt McRoberts - Hastings Hotels
Nieve Taylor - Taylor Marketing
Demi Wright - Walker Communications
Ollie Jowett - Beyond Digital
Orla O’Hare - Linwoods
BEST SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN
BEST SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN IN PUBLIC SECTOR
Award Category Partner: Fiona Brown Communications
Care By Kathleen Adopt A Grandparent
Genesis / PHA Organ Donation
PSNI - Sexortion
South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
BEST SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN IN RETAIL
Bear Competitions
MXB / Mace
MXB / Moypark
Alanna Interiors
Part Three / Yellowtail
Part Three / Magners
bBold
MCE / Centra
Linwoods
BEST SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN IN HOSPITALITY/TOURISM
Award Category Partner: Todds Leap
AC Connects / Ten Square
Galgorm Christmas Voucher
Walker Communications / Game Of Thrones Studio Tour
Buzz Of At Bumble And Bee
INFLUENCER CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Award Category Partner: Pod Camping Ireland
AC Connects / Ten Square
MXB / Moy Park
Castle Court / 12 Days of Christmas
Buzz Of At Bumble And Bee
Se7en
INFLUENCER/CONTENT CREATOR
FOOD INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR
Award Category Partner: Ooh&Aah Cookies
Only Slaggin
Bored of Lunch
Jill Bakes
Bakehouse NI
Oats in my bowl
HAIR / BEAUTY INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR
Award Category Partner: Bellamianta
Caroline Mac Mahon - Hidden Hair
Emma Kearney
Roisin Thornbury
Grainne McCoy
Shawna Smyth
Olivia McVeigh
FASHION INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR
Award Category Partner: House of Vixen
Tristan Mcgavigan
Denise Curran
Galsgoss
LIFESTYLE INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR
Award Category Partner: Holistic Kidz
India Sasha
Frans Travels
Blossomingbirds
Cameron Glasgow
Annalivia Hands
Pride and Pinion
FAMILY INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR
Award Category Partner: Bodyfit Mums
Motherhood Bubble
IVF Mumblings
Hello Erin
Our Life At The Whitehouse
HOME INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR
Award Category Partner: MCG Investments Ltd
Inside number sixteen
Home at rose cottage
Self build north coast
Home on Cherryblossom Lane
Dream DIY
Ian Thompson Interior Design
The Home Bird NI
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNEL
BEST USE OF TIKTOK IN BUSINESS
Wardens
Dr Madeleine
Nugelato
Central Apartments Belfast
BEST TIKTOK CONTENT CREATOR
Only Slaggin
Emma Kearney
India Sasha
Bernadette Haggin
BEST USE OF INSTAGRAM
Kellys Warrenpoint
Ooh and Aah
Osbourne and Co
Rave Residence
Se7en Limavady
Mackles
BEST USE OF FACEBOOK
Mums at Work
Cool FM
Linwoods
NI Business
Property Pal
OVERALL SOCIAL MEDIA EXCELLENCE
CONTENT CREATOR OF THE YEAR
Zara Mclaughlin Studio
Only Slaggin
Tristan McGavigan
Home At Rose Cottage
SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Award Category Partner: Corner Bakery
India Sasha
Stuart Robinson – Cool FM
Emma Kearney
Nico Leonard Vanderhorst
MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Award Category Partner: Malfy Gin
Cool FM
PSNI
Bear Competitions
Nerve Centre presents 'Our Place in Space’
Irish FA
BEST OVERALL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Irish FA
PSNI
Nerve Centre
MXB / Moy Park
bBold
Linwoods
Q Radio
To purchase tickets for the NI Social Media Awards gala event on Saturday 1 st October in the Europa Hotel go to www.nisocialmediaawards.com
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