1) How do I get help?

First, try the FAQ section. If your question still is not answered, contact one of the committee members.

2) How can I get a copy of a blank entry form?

Download a blank entry form here.

3) How do I pay for my entries? Can I pay for my entries separately?

All entries should be paid for online. Once the entry form is submitted, you will have the option to pay for that entry or to add more entries and pay at the end.

4) How do I submit my company's entries?

Click on the LOGIN from any page and create a Lanterns account.

5) Do I have to set up an account on LanternAwards.com?

You must create an account to submit your entries, even if you only have one.

6) In what format do we submit our printed entries?

For all categories E-R, entries must be mounted to a board, either 18x24" or 24x36", with a maximum of (4) four boards per entry (or an additional boards fee will apply). Retain a 3 inch-square "safety zone" on the bottom right corner of the board for entry labeling.

7) In what format do we submit our digital entries?

For categories A-D, submission is completed online by uploading a video file or web link. There is no need to mount a board for display.

A virtual presentation "board" will be accepted at the time of entry so that if an award is granted it can be displayed at the Gala. This should be submitted as a single PowerPoint slide that best illustrates why the entry should win in that category.

8) What is AIDA and how is it used for scoring?

A panel of at least three recognized B2B marketing professionals reviews each entry. The judges are instructed to consider the AIDA principles when reviewing entries – how well they believe each entry would generate Attention, Interest, Desire and Action from a targeted business audience.

• Visual impact to grab the (A)TTENTION of the target audience – 25 points
• Execution of that impact to generate (I)NTEREST – 25 points
• Level of (D)ESIRE the proposition stirs – 25 points
• Effectiveness of the marketing piece to cause the audience to take an (A)CTION – 25 points

The scores from all judges are combined and averaged for one total score per entry. That entry score determines whether a Lantern Award, Award of Excellence or no award is granted. Thoroughly completing all of the criteria is the best way to help the judges properly score your entry. For best results, be brief but as descriptive as possible. Also see our Tips for Success

9) The entry forms are set up for online submitting, but BMA requires me to attached printed forms to the boards. Do you have a PDF form that you can send me in order to make the prints?

Yes, we have you submit the form itself online. Once you complete the first entry, you have the option of downloading the entry form, then either paying for that entry or submitting another one. The Entry Form Download is a PDF file of your completed entry form. This way you can save the PDF for reference and print out as many copies as you need.

10) I have more than one person submitting entries. Can we submit the entries at different times and then pay for them all at once?

Yes. Once you have set up an account, be sure all of your team members have the log in details (email & password). Using the same log in details will ensure that all entries are submitted by your team within the same Lanterns account. Once you have finished submitting your entries, "Finish and Pay Here". You will be connected to the payment page.

11) Who should be listed in the contact details on the entry form?

These contact details are in place so that the Lantern Awards Committee knows who to contact if there are any questions about your entry. The contact information will default to the first person entered, but it does not have to be the same person for every entry. This is also the person who will be contacted regarding winning entries.

12) Why is there is a 44 character limit to the Company Name and the Title of the Entry Title?

This information is used for printing the winning entry Company Name and Title on the Award itself; we are limited to 44 characters on both the Lantern Award and the Award of Excellence.

13) Why am I limited to listing only two names for the Company to be Announced and the Names to be Announced at the Awards Gala? More than two people worked on this entry.

We limit this to two names in order to expedite the Awards ceremony. However, we believe everyone deserves recognition. If you would like to share that, feel free to bring your whole team to the Gala and up to the stage if your entry is announced.

14) Do I have to fill out all FOUR criteria sections?

If you want to win it is best to answer all four criteria: Target Audience, Name/Description of Featured Product or Service, Statement of Purpose/Strategy, and Method of Research and Results. Thoroughly completing all of the criteria is the best way to help the judges properly score your entry. For best results, be brief but as descriptive as possible.

15) Under Space Advertising (P) and Total Communications Program (Q), what does the budget include?

The budget here includes the entire ad campaign budget (cost of creative, placements, etc.). Rationale on where the ads were placed, how effective they were, what response was received, etc., as well as the rationale behind the creative, is all taken into consideration by the judges, so include as much detail as possible.

16) I have a 3-dimensional package design to be entered this year, with multiple components with in box. Do I mount artwork on the black boards as well as mail the 3-dimensional box separately?

We have two options, depending on the actual shape and size of the package:
1) If it is easily mounted, go ahead and mount the box and the contents on the board.
2) If it is a larger 3-D piece and not easily mounted, mount photographs of the item(s) and include the entire package separately. We suggest enclosing the package in a bag or some type of container. Deliver the package with your mounted entry and include an additional copy of the Entry Form to avoid misplacement.

17) I have an odd-sized, multi-page printed Promotional Item to enter into Category N (such as a calendar), but I am not sure how to mount it. What would you suggest I do to make sure I meet the required guidelines?

For printed pieces that fall into Categories E-R, include the entire printed piece in a secured pocket mounted to the board so that the judges can take it out and look through the pages of the document.

18) For Category F (Magazines), you are requesting "2 or 3 issues" be included. Is this 2 or 3 different issues or copies of the same issue?

It is 2 or 3 different issues. This illustrates that the publication is a magazine, not a stand-alone, one-time publication

19) Why is there a word count limit for each section of the criteria?

Judges ask that you be descriptive but brief when describing your entry.

20) We have a campaign entry that includes both web and print. Should we have a board with the website design and also have the URL with that board? Or, should we submit the website electronically and submit the print separately?

This could actually be two separate entries under individual components (one for print and one for web) or submitted together as a total campaign (to include both components together). The judges will not combine both print and online under individual categories. You can put the other pieces on individual components to help with the rational behind the entry, but only the individual component will be judged in the individual categories.

If you choose to submit individually, you'll submit the online electronically and the print on a board. If you choose to submit as total campaign, you submit everything on the boards.

21) We have an internal staff magazine that we'd like to submit for consideration (category F) - but we ran a publicity campaign with the launch of the magazine which we'd like to include for consideration. Should the campaign graphics just run on the magazine submission board?

Absolutely, include them in the magazine submission board as well. It is always nice to have the background and launch behind the piece.

Also, the other components of the campaign can be submitted individually. For instance, if a new logo was created for the magazine, it would fall under category I1. The cover or another individual graphic piece would fall under category J. Or if it were designed for recruitment as well, that would fall under category L3.

22) The other item that one of our managers wanted us to submit was a departmental annual report for both internal and external consumption - but the only category I can see that this would fit into is the annual report of a public company. This report was subject-limited rather than of the entire company. What category does it fall under?

Yes, that would fit under category H. Be sure to include on the entry form that it is a "piece" of the annual report and not a full-blown annual report, the purpose and the target audience (shareholders, etc).

23) I have a digital entry (category A-D) and my site requires a log in to view. What do I do?

Include the necessary log in details with the entry form. If you need to set up a temporary password, make sure it stays active until November 16.

24) What is Business-to-Business (B2B)?

Business-to-business (B2B) describes commerce transactions between businesses, such as between a manufacturer and a wholesaler, or between a wholesaler and a retailer. B2B marketing materials that are created by individuals or organizations, including commercial businesses, governments and institutions, facilitating the sale of their products or services to other companies or organizations that in turn resell them, use them as components in products or services they offer, or use them to support their operations. Any business-to-consumer entries will automatically be disqualified without refund.