OLX has launched its first Social Media Awards (SOMA) in Kenya that will see celebrities, media personalities and companies win cash and other prizes for using Facebook, Twitter and blogs.
The awards and website were launched yesterday via Twitter and Facebook.
Martin Muli, the awards organiser, and Peter Ndiangui, general manager of OLX, an online marketplace, explained how the awards will work.
Nominations are open until June 30, with panel selection between July 3 and 18, and voting from July 18 to August 8. The ceremony will be held on August 9 and will bring together a diverse selection of corporate organisations..
“It will be a battle pitting celebrities against each other, media personalities, corporate organisations and individual users,” said Muli.
Winners will take home cash, hi-tech electronics and other prizes.
OLX will award KSh100,000 (US$1,200) to the Most influential Facebook personality. The best online advertising agencies will walk away with KSh250,000 (US$3,000).
Ndiangui said: “We believe social media users should be recognized for making the Internet their home. We have used our website, a platform that seeks to connect buyers and sellers in Kenya and is accessible via PC or mobile, to make life easier and better for Kenyans and it is time we also rewarded them.”
Other sponsors include Trinc Media and Public Relations Society of Kenya.
The public will nominate their favourite social media users (Facebook, Twitter and blogs) as per the outlined categories at www.soma.or.ke. A panel of judges will then shortlist those nominated and the top five per category will be presented to the public for voting.
The categories include Social Media News Channel of the Year, Social Media Personality of the Year, Social Media Agency of the Year, Social media Innovation of the Year and Best Use of Social Media.
