The email arrives. The subject line makes your heart skip a beat.

You open it, and there it is: “Congratulations, you are a Shorty Awards Finalist.”

In that moment, the late nights, creative debates, endless revisions, and relentless pursuit of a bold idea suddenly make sense. Being named a finalist means your work stood out among campaigns that shaped culture on the internet this year.

But that moment is also the starting line for something new.

The Audience Honor voting period is a rare opportunity to extend the life of your campaign. It’s a chance to turn recognition into visibility, conversation, and long-term brand equity. The teams that get the most from this moment don’t treat it as a simple vote drive. They treat it as a storytelling window.

Here’s how to make the most of it.

Share the News (and Pop the Champagne!)

First things first: let people know.

Your finalist announcement should feel like a celebration, but it should also tell a story. Give your audience context so they understand why this recognition matters.

Finalists will receive official Shorty Awards social assets via email. Use them in your posts to highlight the recognition and make voting easy to promote.

A strong announcement includes:

• A short explanation of the campaign
• The challenge or problem it addressed
• Why the recognition matters to your team
• A clear link where people can vote

Framing the message around creativity, innovation, or impact helps audiences connect with the work.

For example: “We’re honored to be a finalist for our campaign tackling digital misinformation, a project built to help people better navigate what they see online.”

Pro Tip: Start Internally

Some of the most powerful advocacy starts inside your own organization.

A finalist campaign includes strategy, creative, production, analytics, and many collaborators across departments. Recognizing those contributions internally can spark genuine excitement and organic sharing.

Ways to activate your internal community:

• Share the nomination across company channels
• Encourage employees to vote and post about it
• Highlight different teams involved in the work
• Celebrate the people who helped bring the campaign to life

Content formats that resonate well include:

• “Meet the team behind the campaign” posts
• Short behind-the-scenes threads
• Creative team shoutouts and spotlights

Channels to Activate

Spread the news across your owned platforms to reach different audiences.

• LinkedIn: Ideal for highlighting strategy, creativity, and professional insights.
• Instagram or TikTok: Great for visual storytelling and behind-the-scenes content.
• Email newsletters: A direct way to reach your most loyal followers.
• Company blog: The place where you can tell the full story.

Turn the Recognition Into a PR Opportunity

A finalist badge is a strong media hook.

Industry publications and marketing blogs are always looking for stories about creative work that pushed boundaries or sparked meaningful conversations. Your campaign already has a compelling narrative.

Consider turning the moment into a broader PR opportunity to turn the campaign into something more than an award entry. It becomes a piece of thought leadership.

Publish a deeper case study.
Write a blog post that expands beyond your awards entry. What was the original problem? What insight unlocked the idea? What creative risks did the team take?

Pitch the “how.”
Reach out to industry publications with a specific angle, such as: “We’re a Shorty Awards finalist, and here’s the biggest lesson we learned about [topic].”

Focus on outcomes.
Talk about the impact the campaign created. Did it shift public perception, drive meaningful engagement, or spark a conversation people weren’t having before?

One Moment, Infinite Content

You already created the campaign. Now it’s time to make those assets work harder.

The voting period is the perfect moment to repurpose your work into new content formats that invite audiences into the story behind the idea.

Some simple ways to do this:

• Turn campaign clips into short-form videos for Reels or TikTok
• Create carousel posts visualizing key campaign results
• Share screenshots or highlights from the campaign itself
• Feature testimonials from team members or the audience

You can also expand the narrative by exploring the creative journey behind the work. This approach transforms a simple “vote for us” message into engaging content your audience genuinely wants to watch, read, and share.

Consider creating:

• A podcast episode discussing how the campaign came together
• A LinkedIn article about the strategic thinking behind the idea
• A short explainer video breaking down the concept
• A live Q&A with the creative team

Topics worth exploring include:

• The biggest creative challenge your team faced
• What surprised you about the campaign’s response
• Lessons learned during the process
• What you might do differently next time

The Final Stretch: Keep the Momentum Going

A single announcement on day one can disappear quickly in the feed. The voting period works best when you treat it as a mini-series rather than a one-time post.

Consider a simple sequence:

• Day 1: The announcement - “We’re finalists!”
• Day 3: A behind-the-scenes look at how the campaign came together
• Day 5: A team spotlight or collaborator shoutout
• Final Day: A reminder that voting closes soon

This cadence keeps the campaign visible without overwhelming your audience. Each post adds a new layer to the story, reminding people not just to vote, but why the work matters.

And one small but important tip: collaborate/tag @ShortyAwards when you post. A reshare from the official account can introduce your campaign to a much wider audience across the industry.

This Is Just the Beginning

Every campaign represents dozens of conversations, experiments, and creative decisions made by a team that believed in the idea.

The voting period is your chance to spotlight that journey. By sharing the process, the challenges, and the people behind the campaign, you invite your community into the story.

With the right storytelling and community activation, your campaign can move beyond the awards stage to create visibility, connections, and momentum that last long after the votes are counted.

Recognition opens the door. What you do with the moment determines how far the work travels. The Shorty Awards are honored to showcase the creativity of this year’s finalists and look forward to celebrating with you.