Sometime ago tweeting was what birds did and if I wrote on your wall you would probably be a bit peeved.

Blog could be where you saved turf and mail came through your letter box.

Fast forward to Galway in 2014 and these are seriously in demand skills.

Not only that there are awards to recognise the best and we want to tell you about them.

Galway’s 1st ever Digital Marketing awards takes place on the 22nd April in The Town Hall theatre

A venue renowned for its drama and when the lights go down on the evening of the 22nd we promise you an amazing show.

Such excitement in Galway it’s akin to the madness of Race Week and we know how exciting that can be.

Nearly 200 businesses have registered for the Awards categories, which include Best Website, Best Blog and Best Social Media. The Awards will showcase the leading companies in Galway with a strong online presence. Businesses will vie for the whooping €25,000 prize fund on the night. Industry experts from all over Ireland will be busy over the coming weeks judging the finalists.

The first round of nominations for the People’s Choice Award has now opened. The people of Galway are being asked to choose a business from the list of nominations, that they think deserves to scoop the prize worth €5000. One vote per person is allowed and voting can be done via http://www.galwaymarketing.ie/awards/peoples-choice/. After Friday, March 28th, the first round will close and 10 finalists will be chosen. Then a second round of voting will commence until April 18th.

The winner will then be announced on the night of the Awards. The bumper prize includes;

• €1000 Cantec Print Services
• €1495 Professional Diploma from the Digital Marketing Institute
• €2500 Galway Technology Centre-Office Package

This brilliant event will sell out so advance booking of tickets is essential.
Tickets are priced at just €5 and are currently on sale at http://www.galwaymarketing.ie/event-bookings/.

All monies raised will go to the chosen charity which is the worthy Galway Hospice.

Some of the most high profile names on the digital scene in Ireland will be attending including Ciaran Quilty, SMB Regional Director of Facebook and Anthony Quigley of the Digital Marketing institute.
Anybody who is involved in digital marketing can attend so the evening so it’s not just for finalists.

The group headed by Maricka Burke-Keogh, behind the Awards are busy planning over the coming weeks so keep an eye on Galway Marketing website and social media for more news.

The event is kindly sponsored by the Connacht Tribune and Galway City and County Enterprise Board.