Why RiseUp's UK Digital Excellence Awards Shortlist Matters
We're proud to share that RiseUp has been shortlisted in four categories at the 2026 UK Digital Excellence Awards: Standout B2C PPC Campaign of the Year, Standout B2C SEO Campaign of the Year, Standout Use of Data and Standout PPC Agency of the Year. The shortlist was announced on 6 March 2026, and the awards ceremony will take place on 23 April 2026 at the London Hilton Paddington.
For our team, this recognition is both an honour and an exciting milestone. At RiseUp, we work across paid media, organic search, and data strategy to help businesses improve visibility, generate better leads and achieve profitable digital growth. Being recognised across these disciplines means a lot to us.
Why This Shortlist Matters
The UK Digital Excellence Awards celebrate digital work that raises standards across search, data, user experience, software, and agency performance. Founded in 2023, the awards are accredited "Outstanding" by the Independent Awards Standards Council's Awards Trust Mark, which adds further credibility to the shortlist.
What makes this recognition particularly meaningful is the judging process. Campaign and data entries are evaluated on goals, strategy, execution, creativity, challenges, and results. Judges also assess how the work stands apart from others in the industry.
For us at RiseUp, being shortlisted suggests more than good marketing. It reflects work that is commercially focused, strategically sound, and proven in the metrics that matter most to growing businesses.
Our Four Shortlisted Categories
We're delighted that RiseUp has been shortlisted in four categories:
- Standout B2C PPC Campaign of the Year
- Standout B2C SEO Campaign of the Year
- Standout Use of Data
- Standout PPC Agency of the Year
This spread of categories is especially meaningful to us. It recognises not just a single campaign but the systems, thinking, and processes our team uses to drive sustainable digital growth.
Standout B2C PPC Campaign of the Year
This category recognises consumer PPC campaigns that combine smart strategy, creative thinking, and efficient media performance to drive real commercial results. RiseUp has been shortlisted here for "The Global AI Fuelled Mystery Engine" with Masters of Mystery.
At RiseUp, we believe high-performing PPC campaigns rely on much more than simply buying clicks. Strong results come from combining audience insights, creative testing, feed optimisation, and automation guided by experienced human strategy.
Our work with Masters of Mystery reflects that approach. The campaign included Google Performance Max, proprietary Google Ads scripting, first-party audience data, and AI-led A/B testing. Creative storytelling supported activity across Search, Display, and YouTube.
The results were strong. The campaign generated more than 70% year-on-year sales growth, delivered a ROAS above 5:1, reduced acquisition costs, and supported expansion into North America and Europe.
For businesses investing in Google Ads, the takeaway is clear. Effective PPC performance comes from combining data, automation, creativity, and commercial discipline.
Standout B2C SEO Campaign of the Year
This category recognises consumer SEO campaigns that strengthen search visibility and drive measurable growth. RiseUp has been shortlisted with "Building a Global Mystery Brand Through SEO."
At RiseUp, we see SEO as a long-term growth engine. When technical SEO, content strategy, and website performance work together, businesses can reduce reliance on paid acquisition while strengthening trust and discovery.
Our work with Masters of Mystery demonstrates this approach. The strategy included hreflang implementation, country-specific landing pages, localised keyword research, international schema, and Core Web Vitals improvements. Digital PR and story-led content also played an important role.
The results were significant. Organic traffic increased by around 500%, daily clicks grew from roughly 900 to more than 5,000, and the website secured a number-one ranking for "murder mystery game".
For businesses focused on long-term growth, this reinforces an important lesson. SEO works best when treated as a connected system rather than a checklist of technical fixes.
Standout Use of Data
The Standout Use of Data category recognises organisations that transform data into better decisions and measurable results. RiseUp's shortlisted entry, "Data Powered Global Mystery Growth", highlights the role data plays in modern marketing strategy.
At RiseUp, we believe great data is not about creating more dashboards. Instead, it helps businesses make better decisions about where to invest, which audiences to target, and how to optimise campaigns across channels.
In the Masters of Mystery campaign, first-party customer data informed audience targeting and lookalike strategies. AI-driven testing helped refine creative messaging quickly, while localisation insights guided international market expansion.
As a result, data supported every stage of the campaign rather than appearing only at the reporting stage.
Standout PPC Agency of the Year
The Standout PPC Agency of the Year category recognises teams that consistently deliver strong performance from paid media campaigns.
Being shortlisted in this category is particularly meaningful to us. Campaign awards highlight individual successes, while agency awards recognise the systems and expertise that deliver results repeatedly.
At RiseUp, we focus on performance-driven marketing powered by data, strategy, and measurable outcomes. Our work spans PPC, SEO, CRO, email marketing, and digital strategy to support e-commerce, B2B, and lead generation businesses.
Recent case studies reflect that broader capability. For example, our work with Chummys delivered 105% sales growth and a 70% increase in ROI. Results like these reinforce our commitment to helping businesses achieve measurable commercial growth.
Why Modern Growth Requires SEO, PPC, and Data Together
One belief shapes much of the work we do at RiseUp: digital growth rarely comes from isolated tactics.
SEO helps businesses capture high-intent demand and build long-term visibility. PPC allows brands to test quickly and reach customers at the point of decision. Meanwhile, website improvements and conversion optimisation turn traffic into revenue.
Data connects all of these elements together. When used effectively, it helps businesses understand what works, where to invest, and how to refine strategy over time.
For that reason, we don't see SEO and PPC as competing channels. Instead, they work best when each strengthens the other.
What Businesses Should Look For in a Digital Marketing Agency
For businesses looking to improve their digital marketing, several factors matter:
- A clear strategy linked to commercial outcomes
- Strong collaboration between SEO, PPC, and data teams
- Reporting that leads to meaningful action
- Creative work designed to support performance
At RiseUp, these principles guide how we approach every campaign.
Looking Ahead
The UK Digital Excellence Awards ceremony will take place on 23 April 2026, and our team is excited to attend.
Most importantly, this recognition reflects the trust our clients place in us and the dedication of the team behind the scenes. Every campaign represents collaboration, strategy, and daily optimisation across SEO, PPC, analytics, and website performance.
Being shortlisted across four categories is an honour for RiseUp, and we're excited to continue helping businesses grow through smarter digital marketing strategies.
