Marketing Mondays: Equestrian Social Media Awards

This morning, a look at the international winners of the inaugural Equestrian Social Media Awards.

The ESMAs were set up in December 2010, initially for United Kingdom and Irish equestrian fans to vote for the equestrian businesses they felt really \”flew the [social media] flag for the equestrian community.\”

During the first 10 days of voting, so many nominations were received – over 4,000 apparently, that the group decided to split each category into two groups: A. UK/Ireland and B. International. The top 10 within each category, a total of 181, got through to the finals – which closed mid-February, 2011.

Some facts from the awards competition was posted by the group, including these figures:

5,682 – number of people who've voted.
38,939 – number of times the voting page was viewed.
29,846 – number of individual viewers.
2.31 – average minutes they spent on the page.
2,490 – number of Facebook fans.
5,270 – number of times the voting page URL has been shared on Facebook.
500,0369 – number of Facebook post views.
84 – number countries who've viewed the voting page (Top 5 countries: UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia)

In the international category, Team Parelli secured the \”Oscar\” in three categories: Best Use of YouTube, Best Use of Social Media by a Riding School; and finally, with over 42,000 fans, Best Use of Facebook.

Best Use of Social Media by a Charity went to Save A Forgotten Equine.

Best Use of Social Media by a Newcomer, was captured by Horses in the Morning, on the Horse Radio Network.

Best Use of Twitter, as well as the Most Informative Social Media, was garnered by The Horse.Com.

Best Use of Social Media by a Magazine, The Chronicle of The Horse.

Best Use of Social Media by an Event, was, not surprisingly, the World Equestrian Games. Canada's own Spruce Meadows came in third in this category.

Finally, Best Use of Social Media by a Talking Horse, was captured by one of my favorites, Henny, whose videos we've broadcast on the Western Horse Review Facebook page. Rider of Henny, Peter Atkins, often wears a helmet-cam on Henny's amazing cross country eventing competitions.

Check out all of the finalists of the inaugural Equestrian Social Media Awards right here.