August 5th, 2024 – Case Study Released
October 25th, 2024 – Teams Must be Registered by 5 P.M. (CST)
October 25th, 2024 – 1st Round Video Due by 5 P.M. (CST)
November 15th, 2024 – Finalists Announced
December 1st, 2024 – Finalist’s Presentations (Virtual)
January 2nd, 2025 – Case Study Released
March 23rd 2025 – Teams Must be Registered by 5 P.M. (CST)
March 23rd, 2025 – 1st Round Video Due by 5 P.M. (CST)
April 4th, 2025 – Finalists Announced
April 26th, 2025 – Finalist’s Presentations (Virtual)
UNDERGRADUATE COMPETITION
Open to all undergraduate students in all countries.
Undergraduates for the DMC are defined as those that are currently working toward an Associate or Bachelor degree.
Teams must consist of two to four undergraduate students and one professor of record.
Professors may oversee multiple teams in both the undergraduate or graduate competitions and there is no limit to the amount of teams from one university.
All work must be performed by the students, but professors can provide critiques. Professors are defined as a paid employee of the university they are representing. Outside consultants or non-paid professors may not assist the teams with their work, otherwise your team may be disqualified.
DO NOT CONTACT THE CLIENT: Direct all questions to the client through the Digital Marketing Competition staff and we will send them to the client for answers. Unfortunately due to some issues in the past, we will now DISQUALIFY teams that do not follow this rule.
GRADUATE COMPETITION
Open to all graduate students in all countries.
Graduate teams are defined as working toward a Master’s program and already possess a Bachelor’s degree.
Teams must consist of two to four graduate students and one professor of record.
All other rules follow the undergraduate version.
In round one, you’ll submit a prerecorded YouTube video for judging:
PRESENTATION LENGTH: Video must be eight minutes (8:00) or less in length or your video will not be scored. Each presentation must begin with a title presentation (i.e. Powerpoint) screen that includes the names of their 2-4 students and their professor.
VIDEO: Uncut means videos must be filmed in one continuous shot. A Zoom recording is considered an uncut video. Graphics and other video overlays can be used in the presentation video, but must not cover up the presenters or cut the presentation video in any way. The judges must see at least one presenter at all times in the video. Videos must be uploaded to YouTube as “unlisted” only. Public or private videos will not be judged.
JUDGING: All videos will be judged by active industry digital marketing professionals and will have no ties to the university team presenting. Judging is based on the rubric: 25% Research, 30% Paid Strategy, 30% Owned Strategy, and 15% Media/Evaluation.
Four (4) undergraduate team finalists and two (2) graduate team finalists will be selected to compete during the Digital Marketing Competition & Summit. Two (2) undergraduate and one (1) graduate alternate teams will be announced as well if a finalist can’t present.
In the finals, your team will present live (via Zoom) at the Digital Marketing Competition & Summit.
NUMBER OF FINALISTS: Four (4) undergraduate finalists and two (2) graduate finalists will be selected to present virtually to the client live during the Digital Marketing Competition & Summit.
PRESENTATION LENGTH: Each finalist will have 15 minutes to present. Immediately afterward, the client will have ten minutes to ask questions to each team. Each presentation must begin with a title presentation (i.e. Powerpoint) screen that includes the names of their 2-4 students and their professor.
JUDGING: Judges will consist of the key members of the client’s management team and active industry digital marketing professionals. Judging is based on the rubric: 25% Research, 30% Paid Strategy, 30% Owned Strategy, and 15% Media/Evaluation.
TROPHIES: Awards will be provided to all team members/professor of the first and second place teams in both the undergraduate competition and graduate competition.
RECORDING: Each team will be recorded and the recording will be provided to their professor and could be shared in future communications regarding the DMC.