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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Entertainment
Sheena McStravick

NI Social Media Awards 2022 finalists announced

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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