Competition Rules

Key Dates/Deadlines

  • November 22: Info Session – 10:15 am Sanford 212
  • December 5: Early Registration Ends/Fee Increase
  • January 14: Team Intro Video Due
  • January 17: Coach’s Draft Day
  • January 24: Kickoff Dinner
  • February 7: Battle Round Elimination
  • February 21: Knockout Round
  • March 21: Client Visit (Atlanta)
  • March 28: Final Round (Atlanta)
  • April 11: Winners Trip

Eligibility

  • All entrants must be enrolled undergraduate students at UGA as of Spring Semester, 2025. Teams must be made up of 4 – 5 people.
  • Students in the Digital Marketing Area of Emphasis are required to participate at least once as part of their degree program.
  • Students are free to recruit outside of the marketing major in order to round out the skill set of their team as long as at least two team members are marketing students.

Communication

  • Students must not contact the client or their customers through any means of communication (i.e. phone, email, social, etc.).— If your team has questions for the client, work with your coach. There will be a round of questions and answers managed by the Competition Commissioner.
  • For any other questions, contact Jamie Jimenez (jamie721@uga.edu).

The Brief / Case Study

  • Students will gain information about the specific business problem and the marketing brief at the kickoff dinner. The client will be in attendance to provide an overview as well as answer any immediate questions students may have.

Elimination Rounds

Each coach has their own process for the elimination rounds on February 7 and February 21. Each coach will begin with five teams. In the first round, three teams will be selected to move forward. In the second round, only one team will advance. Each coach will have only one team in the final round on March 28.

Final Presentation

The final teams for each coach will be selected to present in person to the client. Each team will have 30 minutes to present their team’s research findings, paid digital marketing strategy, owned digital strategy, media placement, and evaluation methods. Immediately afterward, the client will have ten (10) minutes to ask questions to each team.

Presentations must be 30 minutes or less. If a team goes over, they will be asked to stop.

Judges will consist of the key members of the client’s management team and active industry digital marketing professionals.

Winner’s Trip

Lodging and airfare for all winners, their coach, Professor Jen, and Professor Scott will be provided.

Media Release

Each participant agrees to be photographed and/or recorded knowing that the media could be shared in future communications regarding the DMC.