B2B Twitterer of the Year Awards Program

I’m proud to announce that I'm overseeing the judging panel and protocols for the B2B Twitterer of the Year Awards Program. Now in its second year, the B2B Twitterer of the Year (B2BTOTY) Award recognizes B2B organizations for outstanding contributions in practicing, promoting, and/or enhancing business via the micro-blogging sensation Twitter.

Unlike social media "popularity contests," the B2B Twitterer of the Year award is awarded to qualified, nominated entities. The judging is performed by a panel of experienced B2B veterans, and the focus on B2B only. It's not about how many followers you have, or how many tweets your tweet. It's about creating a community and the value a B2B entity brings to it.

In addition to B2B “companies”, there is a category for "Boss Tweet" B2B Personality – This award is based on an individual, not a company and is meant to recognize a B2B professional who goes “above and beyond” their employer’s brand and truly serves the B2B community. It's called "Boss Tweet" after our little blue mascot, but you don't have to be the "boss" to be nominated. Any B2B professional who tweets may be a candidate. Like the other categories, this will be judged by some of the panel and is not award based on popularity or votes.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, December 18, 2009. There is no fee for submissions.

http://www.b2btoty.com/

2008 Winner - United Linen

United Linen & Uniform Services (http://twitter.com/UnitedLinen) of Bartlesville, Oklahoma is a 73-year old family run business with 120 employees and 20 more across Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas. The company cleans 15 million pounds of laundry every year, from uniforms to napkins and welcome mats. They also have a blog and a Facebook fan page.

Scott Townsend, United Linen's Marketing Director and a 10-year employee, is the brain and brawn behind @UnitedLinen and is sitting on the judging panel for this year's awards.

United Linen, a regional company, was chosen as "B2B Twitterer of the Year" in 2008 in recognition that it seized a promising tool and applied it to their world. Most business communicators have certainly never heard of them, but it's not about being the "bon vivant" of the digital crowd, it's about someone trying new things to grow a business and foster dialog their customers.

"Having been named the B2B Twitterer of the Year last year was both unexpected and validating. It was an honor to be recognized for our B2B efforts via Twitter. I encourage everyone applying Twitter in their B2B marketing mix to compete for this meritorious award."