Ring, Party City, 22squared, GSD&M, Pizza Hut, Carhartt, January Digital and Movers + Shakers are 2024 Digiday Media Buying and Planning Awards winners

This year’s Digiday Media Buying and Planning Awards winners found success with data-driven, personalized and inclusive campaigns across the dynamic media landscape. Agencies and brands are increasingly leveraging emerging technologies and influencer partnerships to amplify brand messaging, engage target audiences and drive impactful results. 

In the new Best Use of AI category, home security leader Ring used AI to enhance its marketing strategy, particularly in search, amid growing competition. Facing resource restraints, the brand leveraged ChatGPT early, refining its capabilities well before the AI marketing trend gained steam. Overall, Ring experienced a 40% reduction in time spent ideating new ad copy, which enabled more time for strategic campaign optimization that helped improve overall performance. Its Memorial Day campaign saw impressive results, including a 172% increase in click-through rate, a 73% decrease in cost-per-click and 32% more direct-to-consumer unit sales year-over-year. The brand’s innovative approach also contributed to Ring’s success during Amazon Prime Day, further cementing AI’s role in its marketing.

For the new Best Emerging Technology Campaign category, specialty retailer Party City and agency partner 22squared are winners for their new PartyAI solution. Party City was at risk of becoming a last resort due to increased competition from Amazon, Target and Walmart. Enter PartyAI, a planning tool aimed to transform the customer experience, offering personalized recommendations and reducing planning fatigue. Customers complete a brief quiz to indicate the party occasion and their product preferences, then receive a set of personalized activity and merchandise recommendations integrated with Party City’s product catalog. A three-week pilot successfully engaged users, helping the retailer reclaim its positioning as a destination for party essentials.

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