May 7, 2025

2025 Digiday Content Marketing Awards Highlight Innovative Campaigns

Real Internet Sales

Real Internet Sales is a digital marketing agency located in Columbia, South Carolina. We specialize in website design and development, SEO, social media management, online advertising, AI integration, and workflow automation. Our services also include affiliate marketing and digital strategy.

Real Internet Sales also offer specialized programming for real estate firms, using IDX and RETS feeds to automatically populate MLS properties on their websites for improved property listings and sales. We also work with clients in the restaurant, tourism, and e-commerce industries to enhance their digital presence and streamline operations.

News Summary

The 2025 Digiday Content Marketing Awards showcased remarkable achievements in video content and branded campaigns. With a focus on storytelling, brands like L’Oréal and e.l.f. Cosmetics exemplified innovation, engaging audiences through personalized experiences. These awards underline the shift towards creative strategies in marketing, fostering deeper consumer relationships and driving significant results.

New York City – The 2025 Digiday Content Marketing Awards celebrated outstanding achievements in the realm of video content and branded campaigns, recognizing innovative strategies that emphasize storytelling and long-term consumer relationships. These awards highlighted the industry’s shift towards personalized content that resonates with individual preferences, ensuring brands effectively engage their audiences.

This year, the coveted title for Best Branded Podcast was awarded to L’Oréal Groupe and The New York Times for their joint campaign titled “This Is Not a Beauty Story.” At the heart of this initiative was “This Is Not A Beauty Podcast,” hosted by Isabella Rossellini, which consisted of six episodes exploring the impact of beauty across various sectors, including sports, politics, and business. The campaign successfully bolstered L’Oréal’s position as a thought leader in the beauty industry and spurred significant discussions about the cultural and societal implications of beauty.

Another notable winner, e.l.f. Cosmetics, in collaboration with BDG Studios, received the award for Most Innovative Use of Content thanks to their campaign “The Beauty Hotline.” This initiative drew inspiration from ’90s and Y2K aesthetics and utilized an advanced language model (LLM) to deliver personalized product recommendations to consumers. The campaign not only increased brand awareness but also drove purchases of key products within e.l.f.’s range, demonstrating the effectiveness of blending nostalgia with cutting-edge technology.

Additionally, Best Use of Brand and Performance Marketing was awarded to Business Insider and Dell Technologies for their custom content initiative, “Generation AI.” This program successfully combined storytelling with data-driven insights in the highly competitive AI market, employing interactive articles and virtual programming to enhance brand engagement. By focusing on lead generation alongside brand marketing, Dell gained valuable insights into target domains and improved customer connection.

Other distinguished winners at the ceremony included:

January Digital as Advertising Agency of the Year.
Movers+Shakers x e.l.f. Cosmetics for Best Agency/Client Collaboration.
Celebrity Substitute – Amazon for Best Branded Content Series – B2C.
The Outside Festival and Summit 2024 for Best Event.
Weber Shandwick x Trigger(House: Cheez-It “Cheez-In Diner”) for Best Experiential Marketing Campaign.
Big Think and Unlikely Collaborators for Best In-House Content/Brand Studio.
Atlas Obscura & Maine Office of Tourism for Best Interactive Content Piece or Series.
e.l.f. Cosmetics x Movers+Shakers for Best Use of Shoppable Content and Best Use of TikTok.

The winners of the 2025 Digiday Content Marketing Awards reflect an evolving landscape in content marketing, marked by a strong focus on creativity, collaboration, and measurable results. Brands are increasingly recognizing the importance of understanding their consumers on a deeper level and tailoring their content strategies to foster lasting relationships. The successful campaigns recognized this year demonstrate how effective storytelling and innovative use of technology can not only capture attention but also incite interaction and drive sales.

As marketing continues to evolve, these awards serve as a benchmark for excellence, inspiring brands to push the boundaries of creativity and consumer engagement in their marketing efforts.