About the
Inbox Awards

What are the Inbox Awards?
The Inbox Awards are for excellence in newsletter strategy. We’re honoring operators who are delivering exceptional experiences for the inbox. These awards are presented by Inbox Collective and Optimism.


What categories will be awarded?
This year, we’ll be honoring newsletters in six categories:• Innovation in Content — For newsletters that are pioneering new storytelling methods within the inbox.• Innovation in Design — For newsletters that are creating unique email formats and experiences.• Innovation in Engagement — For newsletters that are finding novel ways to interact with audiences, both digitally and in real life.• Innovation in Growth — For newsletters developing smart owned, earned, algorithmic, or paid strategies to grow.• Innovation in Revenue — For newsletters establishing unique revenue streams or employing new marketing tactics to boost income.• Innovation in Technology —  For newsletters leveraging AI or other technologies creatively in newsletter development or management.


Who can apply?
If you run a newsletter, either at your job or on your own, you can apply. These awards aren’t just for newsrooms or marketers — they’re for everyone who works on newsletters.Our goal is to honor operators who are deploying one-of-a-kind strategies with their newsletter. We’re not looking for the newsletters that are growing the fastest or making the most money — we’re focused more on finding newsletters that are trying things that many others aren’t.And it’s worth noting: The winners in each of these categories may very well be innovating in ways we don’t expect. (That’s what makes them so innovative!)

What does it cost to apply?
There is no cost to apply — we want these awards to be accessible to all newsletter operators, regardless of size or revenue.


How many categories can I apply for?
The Inbox Awards is a small production, so to keep things running smoothly, newsletter operators can only apply for one category. (Applicants who submit a newsletter for multiple categories will be disqualified.)


Can I apply on behalf of another newsletter?
No, you can only apply for your own newsletter. But if you think a newsletter should be applying, send them a link to inboxawards.com.


How and when will the winners be awarded?
A group of semi-finalists will be chosen by the team at Inbox Collective, and the winners will be selected by a public vote. (Voting is now live! You can vote via this link.)All winners will be announced in March 2025 and will be featured in stories on Inbox Collective.


Is there a prize for winning?
There is! Winners will receive a personalized Inbox Award. (We’ve designed something that you’ll look great on your desk or behind you on Zoom calls.) They’ll be mailed to winners in March.

Inbox Collective

Inbox Collective is a consultancy that helps newsrooms, non-profits, and indie newsletters grow audiences and get results via email.

OPTIMISM

Optimism is an email-first media company that publishes History Facts, Nice News, Word Smarts, and 15 other brands. They believe in the importance of bringing positive and informative content to the inbox.

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