Author: Dont Panic

Let me start by admitting winning “US Search Personality of the Year” was my absolute favorite part of the last US Search Awards, at Pubcon Las Vegas 2015. I got 400% more conference keynotes this year, and I’m hugely grateful to the award that prompted this.

And there were tons of awesome moments that night. Tributes, shout-outs, and lots of fun networking. The US Search Awards at Pubcon are a crucial event—an opportunity for search marketers from across the country, from agencies and consulting firms and businesses of all sizes—to get together. It’s our chance to celebrate successes in the industry and inspire the leaders of tomorrow.

It’s part of Pubcon—the best social media, search and digital marketing conference on the planet.

And it all happens in VEGAS!

Here are my 3 favorite things from the US Search Awards 2015 (they’re the same reasons I wouldn’t miss it this October 12^th, again in Vegas.)

1. Insane Networking

There are far fewer specifically search-focused events than there used to be. As search has become more and more interlinked with social, content marketing, and digital marketing as a whole, I’ve found I’m often struggling to pick out the search marketers at conferences.

Image credit: Pubcon

But when you find them—when you get a whole table or, as in the US Search Awards, a whole ROOM full of search marketers together, it’s magic. You have your powerhouse people and winners from last year, like Duane Forrester, Frederick Vallaeys, Marty Weintraub and Mel Carson. But then you get to hang out with these amazing front-line search marketers who are neck-deep in the weeds of PPC day in and day out.

It’s an awesome mix of search marketing professionals, and it’s super rare these days to have just search marketers gathered together to talk only search marketing (well, and maybe craft beers and…other important and totally relevant issues).

It’s a PPC nerd’s dream come true.

2. A Chance to Celebrate All the Awesome of PPC

Search marketing is a stressful industry. Depending on the size of the accounts you’re dealing in, you might be handling quite a bit of your own—or someone else’s—money. Google AdWords, Bing Ads and other networks are constantly innovating, testing and launching new features, retiring products and tools you’re used to using. You can’t sit back on your heels, because the competition is constantly coming for you.

It keeps us on our toes, all right.

That what makes this one night to get together and celebrate ALL THE AWESOME of search marketing so rewarding. We spend most of the year scouring AdWords announcements, trying to educate clients, crunching numbers, begging for budget and basically pulling our hair out. By the time the US Search Awards roll around at Pubcon, we’re more than ready to take a step back and just look at our individual and collective achievements, to see what we can learn from them.

Because let’s face it…we’re here because we love PPC. We want to see it succeeding at every level, for every type of business, so we can take those successes back to our own clients and show them what’s possible (if only they’ll give us the budget and leeway to make it happen!)

3. And It All Happens During Pubcon

One of my favorite aspects of the US Search Awards is that it happens during Pubcon, so it draws a huge, quality crowd of some of the top search marketing pros on the planet.

In 2014, the event was held at Treasure Island and in 2015, at Paris Hotel & Casino. This year marks the fourth annual edition of the US Search Awards, and it’s all happening at Caesar’s Palace on the evening of Wednesday, October 12th.

If you’ve ever been to a Pubcon, you know you need to rest up a few days ahead of boarding the plane to that pulsing, bling-y, blaring city of debauchery and awesomeness. Don’t plan on doing anything important when you get home, either. Even if you behave yourself after hours, the quality of the speakers and the content they share leaves one with a serious case of brain overload, and eager to try the new tactics and strategies in your own accounts.

I can’t wait. Every year, the US Search Awards gets better and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us this year! You have until July 22nd to get your entries in.

Tweet me if you want to meet up, or if it’s your first time and you have questions about what the US Search Awards are really like. Hope to see you there!

Title image credit: Search Engine Journal

If you love the search as much as legend Larry Kim – isn’t it time you placed your entry for the US Search Awards 2016?

For any information on how to enter, or on how you can get involved in sponsoring the awards – check out the US Search Awards site.

The cream of Greater Manchester businesses, training providers and schools gathered at The Point, Lancashire County Cricket Club yesterday evening for the Skills for Business Awards, to promote and honour the amazing contribution made by skills and learning, to businesses across the region.

The evening was a wonderful celebration of how many fantastic opportunities are created when talented people come together with great companies to promote skills and growth, and how much individuals as well as businesses benefit!

The third year of the awards was bigger and better than ever, hosted by a partnership of Greater Manchester Commerce and Greater Manchester Learning Provider Network, and of course – organised by awards specialists Don’t Panic!

The Skills for Business Awards certainly had the X-Factor – with incredible performances from Clarendon Sixth Form and Pendleton Sixth Form, as well as Debut from Stockport College – whose moves were designed by the choreographer to none other than Cheryl Cole! That’s before we even mention the stardust sprinklings of Host Justin Moorhouse and Voice of X-Factor Peter Dickson!

Emotions ran high as some truly moving stories shared with the room, courtesy of personal videos from the Apprentice category. There were plenty of heartstrings tugged on by these inspiring young people! It makes our job as awards specialists even more rewarding when we are honouring such fantastic people!

Looking to relive the wonderful evening? Head to our flickr page to enjoy the photos from the night! A huge congratulations to everyone who made the shortlist – and especially to those who walked away with an award. To see the list of winners, head to the Skills for Business Winners page here.

Thank you so much for taking part in such a great evening, and thank you to all the event sponsors – we can’t wait to see you all again next time!

Last night saw another fantastic night of awards glamour at the Radisson Blu Edwardian – from the Don’t Panic Events team. We gathered the premier PR and communications teams together to laud impeccable talent and creativity, as well as to be wined, dined and have a great time!

Another slice of glamour from awards organisers Don’t Panic!

Celebrating both agency workers as well as in-house teams across 20 categories, the DARE awards succeeded in uplifting and rewarding individuals and teams across a huge range of fields!

The Northern PRCA DARE Awards follow the huge success of the South West Awards, which took place in Bristol on 2 June at the Marriott Royal Hotel. Awards organisers Don’t Panic really know how to throw an amazing event!

Don’t Panic specialise as awards organisers – both for public and private sector clients, so if you’re looking to celebrate your team, or even the best in your industry, get in touch to find out what we can do for you. Check out the full photo gallery to see the visual splendour in which you are investing, when you work with experts in awards organising, Don’t Panic!

What’s next on the Don’t Panic agenda? Tonight is the fantastic Skills for Business Awards – what’s that you say? Now in its third year, the SfBAwards are an annual event celebrating the outstanding contribution that skills and learning make to businesses across Greater Manchester. We’re honouring both businesses and trainees who have been doing fantastic work over the last year – if you want to follow along, check in on social media with the hashtag #SfBAwards!

Next up for PRCA Dare is the Scotland and Northern Ireland Awards, taking place in Glasgow 15th June at the Grand Central Hotel. Keep your eyes peeled for more news and photos from the team – and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn!

We don’t like to blow our own trumpet – or maybe we do when we’re putting on such exciting events – but we are so proud to be working to present the Spotlight Awards 2016 with One4all Rewards – the people behind the leading nationwide multi-store gift card.

Any entrepreneur or business manager knows that it’s vital to motivate and reward employees in order to run a great business, and how can you ensure maximum productivity, staff retention and an engaged employees? With staff who feel rewarded and appreciated for their work. If you think that rewarding employees requires a big budget – then think again. The Spotlight Awards are free to enter, and offer great rewards for your best staff!

Boost employee engagement with the Spotlight Rewards!

Not only do One4all provide employers and companies of all sizes with opportunities to reward their employees through their One4all Rewards Gift Cards, they are now on the lookout for the UK’s best employees, with the Spotlight Awards!

The awards are completely free and allow businesses to nominate staff members and teams for a series of awards, recognising talent, teamwork, initiative, dedication and other key qualities.

Reward and motivate your staff for free – nominate today!

One4all are searching for the UK’s best employees in 20 categories –  each winner will receive a prize of £200 and the winner of the overall Employee of the Year Award will win £500!

The winners will be announced online on the One4all Rewards Spotlight Awards website on 14th July 2016. You have until 27 May to nominate your hard working heroes and reward your team for free! For any information on the employee rewards categories, or how to nominate, please get in touch on 01706 828855 or email becky.mellor@dontpanicprojects.com.

Wednesday saw the cream of European Search descend on the stunning Salle Wagram in Paris. We couldn’t have hoped for a more fantastic evening of fun, fortune and french wine! Congratulations to the very deserving winners, and to everyone who made it to the shortlist for this year’s awards.

Rewarding and uplifting talent across a wide array of categories, this year was the fifth year of the EU Search Awards, and attracted hundreds of entries from the leading search and digital agencies and professionals from across Europe.

To check out more photos from the event, visit our flikr!

In association with Botify, Don’t Panic were delighted to be part of such a successful night, with so many deserving winners showcased for their talent and dedication. To see who from the shortlist was successful, check out the winners here!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at this year’s EU Search Awards – it couldn’t have been the amazing evening that it was without everyone’s participation, and of course a special thanks to our sponsors!

Whether you’re looking to organise an awards ceremony to raise vital funds, or to encourage employee engagement, Don’t Panic have a wealth of experience across the speciality of awards management. Get in touch with our friendly team to find out about what we can offer you, or check out the site to see some of our past accolades and achievements!

The North may not have huge success when it comes to sunshine, but it has become home to a huge industry boom: eCommerce. Once upon a time, it was the South that held the booming economy in the UK, but with the advent of digital, e-tailing and online business has had a huge success, the North is set to change the business world forever!

We are delighted to present the Northern eCommerce Awards together with Prolific North and headline sponsor UKFast, as a celebration of the innovation and expertise that have found a home in the North across online retailing.

Celebrating the very best in e-commerce from across the North, the NECAs will reward success and talent across 23 categories, including for websites, platforms, suppliers, in-house teams and agencies. Entries are open now, and the first closing date is Friday 17^th June. So whatever aspect of e-commerce in which you are innovating change and growth, the Northern eCommerce Awards want to hear about your successes!

CEO of UKFast Lawrence Jones MBE commented on his three-year agreement to be headline sponsor for the event:

“With arguably the largest network of eCommerce clients in the North it makes perfect sense for UKFast to get behind this celebration of Northern British online talent.

“I have said openly that it’s my aim to make Manchester the number one Tech City in the UK in my lifetime and the eCommerce entrepreneurs play a huge part in the success of this quest.

“There is an extraordinary amount of tech talent in the North. We are very proud of this fact and the Northern eCommerce Awards is an annual celebration of this that I am proud to be associated with it.”

Covering industries as far reaching as food and drink, financial services, fashion and apparel, and travel and tourism, the awards are set to find and reward the most talented and hard working teams and individuals.

 Enter to win at the first ever Northern eCommerce Awards!

For any information on how to enter, or for a more detailed overview of the award categories, visit http://www.northernecommerceawards.com/ . To place your entry head straight through to http://www.northernecommerceawards.com/entry-form.

For any questions please get in touch with joe@dontpanicprojects.com or call us on 01706 828855. We can’t wait to see you there to make history at this inaugural event!

Last night saw the fantastic Educate North awards presented in association with The Telegraph at a fun-filled ceremony at the Manchester Hilton on Deansgate!

To see the photos from the 2016 awards ceremony, please click here.

Following a successful launch in 2015, the awards focus on a growing sector which, some see, as critical to the economic and cultural health and future of not only the Northern economy but the UK generally.

It was a hugely exciting and rewarding night, and experts from across the north came together to celebrate, recognise and share best practice and excellence in the education sector in the North.

The event gave a platform to industry experts to enable an examination of the threats and risks facing the sector, resulting in an open a debate on the future of the sector and its value and place in our society. Not forgetting the awards which were a wonderful lifting up of the Further and Higher Education institutions throughout the North across 19 categories. The event was made possible with the partnership of Prolific North and Don’t Panic Event Management.

Whether you’re looking to organise an awards ceremony to raise vital funds, or to encourage employee engagement, Don’t Panic have a wealth of experience across the speciality of awards management. It isn’t just our creative flair that sets us apart – our honed business model means that Don’t Panic’s event management services actually pay for themselves. We’re just that good.

Get in touch with our friendly team to find out about what we can offer you, or check out the site to see some of our past accolades and achievements!

If you’re making strides in online retail – the NECAs want to hear about it! Whether you’re involved in e-commerce for web design, the online platform, or the team driving sales, place your entry to be recognised industry-wide!

The Northern E-Commerce Awards – (The NECAs) are delivered by Don’t Panic Events and Prolific North in association UKFast celebrate the very best in online business from across the North.

THE NECAs will feature 23 categories celebrating exceptional websites, platforms, suppliers, in house teams and agencies.

The North is home to some of the UK’s leading online retail businesses, the NECAs will take place on 21st September at The Point, Emirates Old Trafford and will be the North’s biggest celebration of E-Commerce success and talent.

With categories celebrating industries from Hair and Beauty to DIY and Design, no matter where you stand out from the crowd, there is a place for you at the Northern E Commerce Awards.

The call for entries will commence in on 14 March 2016 with a closing date of Friday 17 June. If you’d like to be kept in touch with all the latest news and updates for the awards, sign up to our newsletter. Alternatively get in touch with joe@dontpanicprojects.com or call us on 01706 828855!

We have seen some big changes over the last year at Don’t Panic HQ – a nicer, funkier office being one of the big day-today ones! As we stride into the future, we’re doing so with a fantastic team of big hitters behind us!

We have been instrumental in organising some fantastic events so far this year, and we’re winning really exciting projects all the time (more to come on that later!) We love to be busy, but we thought it was time to spread the load with some new rising stars, so read on to get the skinny on the latest members of the clan!

All this big business success has meant that the abacus became a little overwhelmed, so in January of this year, we added an accounts manager to the team. Michelle is in charge of the money, which is just as well, as busy developing events left, right and centre!

Our events team has seen huge expansion lately, with the additions of Aimee, Scot and Michael. Supporting our senior Event Managers, together with Events Assistant Becky. These guys have been crucial to our ability to expand, both in terms of the range of events we can provide, and also the quantity! With background experience in teams as diverse as LadBible and the Commonwealth games, these guys have a multitude of talents and experience that have made their contributions so valuable to DP.

As specialists in awards organising, it’s hugely important to our team that we have the best people for the job – which means we’re delighted to have found some brilliant new staff who can bring great experience with them!

That brings us nicely to the Creative team, with new recruits Laura and Addae. Addae is our new Web-developer – a growing client base means a great deal of websites and general coding expertise are needed constantly! Addae has fast become an essential cog in the Don’t Panic wheel, who knows where we’d be without him!

Laura has been taken on as our Marketing Manager, responsible for giving both the company, and our events great exposure. We have big plans at Don’t Panic, and so growth through sustained marketing campaigns is a big part of our plan for the future! Currently Don’t Panic are winning new clients as awards organisers – awards are a specialist event, and Don’t Panic have significant experience in this realm!

What next? You decide! We’re still hiring, both for a full time event manager, as well as events interns and a creative intern with experience in graphic design! If onwards and upwards is your thing, then watch this space! We’re on a huge winning streak, and we don’t plan on stopping any time soon. If you’re looking to organise an awards ceremony, whether that’s for commercial enterprise or to encourage employee engagement – why would you go anywhere but a specialist awards organiser? Want to find out more about our newest clients? Stay tuned for our next news blog!

As one of the leading events companies across the North West, our schedule is full to bursting, and we couldn’t be more enthusiastic about what’s to come!

Toward the end of last week, the office was a hive of activity, taking in last minute Early Bird ticket bookings for SAScon2016. SAScon, which has been organised in association with UK Fast, is set to be a spectacular digital conference, drawing experts in search and analytics from across the globe.

Make sure you check out the schedule! Just because we specialise in awards, it doesn’t mean that we don’t throw a fantastic conference! If you’re all about Social Media, Search and Analytics, you need to save your place at SASCon – tickets are still available!

Next up on the horizon? Well, high on our Don’t Panic agenda is the Skills for Business Awards. This is the third year of the SfBAwards, which work to reward and recognise the contributions of both employers, training providers and schools that focus on skills training of their employees and service users.

The SfBAwards are a fantastic opportunity to be celebrated for the training and skills that you or your company plough back into the workforce. With categories ranging from Health and Social care skills, to Creative, Media and Digital tech skills, whatever industry you focus on, there is an accolade waiting with your name on it – all you have to do is enter!

Past winners include Pennine Telecomm in association with Bury College, for manufacturing and engineering skills for business; UK Fast in association with Total People for Creative, Media and Digital, and Middleton Technology School scooped School of the Year!

SfBAwards are committed to rewarding the best, but you can’t be on the shortlist unless you enter! Make 2016 the year you receive recognition – the deadline for entry is 8^th April, so head to the entry form now! Oh, and didn’t we mention? It’s FREE to enter! What are you waiting for? Excited for more? Find them on Twitter for all the latest news and updates!

We’re in full swing right now at Don’t Panic! We have a really exciting schedule of events booked in – and with typical Don’t Panic flair, we are delivering exceptional results.

Last week was a busy one – but that’s how we like it. The week kicked off with Thinking Digital. The North East’s beloved creative/digital mashup conference made its London debut! It couldn’t have been a better day, the chic Ham Yard Hotel played host to a who’s who of digital industry leaders, led by the fantastic Herb Kim.

With speakers including Digital Minister Ed Vaizey, comedian James Veitch and founder of Little Riot Joanna Montgomery, the event wasn’t just a hub for digital news and ideas, it was a really enjoyable day! One of our favourite lines of the day: “A flower is a weed with a marketing budget.”

Events to put in your diary

We followed up Thinking Digital with Tech North – from London to Leeds! The Tech North Talent Summit featured start ups and scale-ups, and was jam-packed with creative initiative! 75% of the digital companies driving the growth of the digital economy exist outside of the capital, so it’s wonderful to be involved in events celebrating digital in the north.

Not only was the conference filled with the best and brightest in tech, but the day was streamed live on Periscope – the future is here, and it’s all about the livestream!

We couldn’t be more proud of our event managers who delivered these fantastic conferences for us. It just gets bigger and better for Don’t Panic. So what’s next up in our events calendar? We’re celebrating the best of Education at the Educate North Awards and Conference. We’ll be helping to shine a light on the best practice and excellence across the Northern education sector.

As awards specialists within event management, we love a good awards ceremony – if you want to be kept updated with all of the latest news and events that we’re involved in, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!