Applications are officially open for the Mortgage Industry Marketing Awards 2026, celebrating the (often-unsung) efforts of those who are raising the bar for marketing in mortgages and financial services.
If you want some tips and tricks on how to make your entry stand out, here are the things we recommend you show off in your application.
Your achievements
To know what makes you stand out, the judges need to know about the things you’ve achieved in your career, so don’t be afraid to shout about them! Whether it’s leading a campaign, a product launch, or excelling on social media, it’s crucial that you don’t shy away from your shining moments.
Your impact
Next, the judges will want to see the results of your achievements, so showing how your work has had an impact on your business or brand, or on the industry as a whole, is equally important.
Your evidence
Backing up your application with evidence will help to solidify your entry in the eyes of the judges. Statistics, data and analytics are all beneficial, and you can also attach case studies and testimonies to your application.
Your story
While all of the above is important, the heart of what will make your application stand out is telling your story. What motivates you to bring your best self to mortgage marketing, and what is your journey in this industry?
Make sure to show, rather than just tell, the judges.
A note on AI usage
While we understand that AI can help to pull ideas together, applications written by ChatGPT or other AI tools tend to be generalised and non-specific, meaning the judges will miss your story and the nuances that could make you a potential award-winner.
Our top tip for catching the judges’ eyes is to ensure your entry primarily comes from you and that if you do choose to use AI, that you only use them for planning your entry.
This process is a chance to reflect on your successes as you write, and we really want to hear from you, not ChatGPT.
How the application process works
Nominations close on 2nd September, with all nominees having an extra week (until 9th September) to submit their application.
To nominate or apply, head to the ‘apply now’ page on the website, and submit the details of your nominee, whether that be yourself or someone else. After this, the nominee will receive an email with details about how to complete their entry.
Once the application period has closed, the judges will decide on the shortlist, with finalists being revealed on 7th October. The winners of MIMA26 will be announced at our awards event in Manchester on 26th November, and we hope to see you there!