• The festival features three segments of categories, each designed to recognize different dimensions of excellence within the digital ecosystem:

• Local and International Judges will be selected by the SME. These judges will represent the digital industry with resources from academia, companies with digital experience, and advertising agencies with digital divisions. The Jury will be announced. 
• Agency judges will not vote in categories where their clients or their client’s competitors are nominated. 
• The Local Jury will review entries in each category and will be responsible for the selection of the Shortlist that will be submitted to the International Jury - unless the category description states otherwise.
• The International Jury will be responsible for the selection of the Awards which will be presented as Gold, Silver, and Bronze -unless the category description states otherwise.
• The Local Jury Chairperson will be a voting member of the International Jury.
• The International Jury reserves the right to decide that no awards will be issued for any given category if, in the opinion of the judges, no entry within a given category meets the criteria to be awarded. Same applies to categories selected by a Local Jury.
• Both the Local and International Jury reserve the right to reallocate the category of any entry if they feel an alternative category better represents the case.  If such a decision were to happen, the SME would inform the contact person who nominated the case.
• Artificial Intelligence may be used to support ideation, production processes, or data analysis; however, it may not be used to fabricate, simulate, alter, or misrepresent campaign executions, results, metrics, testimonials, or outcomes that did not occur. The SME and the Jury reserve the right to request verification materials to confirm authenticity. Failure to disclose AIusage or inconsistencies between disclosure and case materials may impact evaluation and may result in further review or disqualification.

• Objectives

• Present creative solutions that communicate the full extent of the idea. It is critical that the material presented clearly represents the category for which the case is being submitted.
• Develop a simple and compelling narrative explaining how the project contributed both marketing and business success to the brand. Don’t just send screenshots for the jury to interpret.
• Artificial Intelligence disclosure (mandatory if applicable) - If AI was used, the case presentation must clearly specify:

The judges acknowledge that KPIs may vary depending on the campaign, platform, and type of initiative. However, cases that wish to be seriously considered must present complete and verifiable results, supported by clearly identified sources. All submissions must include:

Failure to provide clear, sourced, and objective-aligned metrics may affect the case’s ability to be properly evaluated.

Judging Criteria:

The judges will carefully review all the above stated content and grade each submission on a point system based on the following criteria, as it applies to the different categories:

Refer to your objectives and ensure that you’ve included how you met or exceeded them.

Clear results based on relevant quantitative or qualitative metrics are what the judges are looking for.

It is not enough to count the number of impressions, likes, or shares. Measure and prove the commercial value of social media through the direct effect it had on audience behavior or perceptions and demonstrate correlation with the achieved business results. Include both organic and paid results as well as the category’s KPIs

The following terms and conditions and the decisions of the judges are final on all matters pertaining to SME Digital Awards. By participating in this festival, entrants agree to abide by all federal, state, local, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations that may apply. This festival is subject to the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 

Though it is highly recommended to be present at the awards ceremony, Winners of the SME Digital Awards who do not attend will be notified within approximately seven (7) working days after the event.

 

The SME reserves the right to use and publish entrants' proper names online, in print and in any other media in connection with the SME Digital Awards contest. Acceptance of an award constitutes permission for the SME to use the winner's name and likeness and entry submission for educational, advertising, and promotional purposes without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law. By entering, participants release and hold harmless the SME, its respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agents from all liability or any injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with participation in the SME Digital Awards. Contact information becomes property of the SME and will not be shared with or distributed to any third party.

Entries submitted become the property of the SME and cannot be returned. The SME retains entries for supplementing presentations to educational institutions, trade groups, advertising professionals and the public. By signing this declaration each entrant specifically grants worldwide, royalty-free permission for the SME to show or play the entries at award shows, at SME sponsored or produced events, or in any other public or private, offline, or online presentation with or without charge whenever and as often as the organizers see fit without compensation to the participants. The participant authorizes for such purpose that the SME uses any trademark, animated character(s), animal(s), and merchandised item(s) included in the entries. SME may use entries or license entries or reproduce entries in perpetuity, without payment to participant, non-exclusively throughout the world, for use in telecasts, videotapes, DVDs, the Internet, exhibits, books, TV promotion, pamphlets and other such publications and media now known or hereafter created, including without limitation. Participants will fully defend, indemnify, and hold the SME, its affiliated companies, assignees, and licensees harmless from any talent or other residual charges due to the release of selected entries or any third-party claims against the SME, its affiliated companies, assignees, and licensees resulting from the content of the entries and the intellectual property contained therein. The person submitting the entry form(s) certifies that he or she has full authority to approve the rights granted herein.