Entries extended! Golden Post Awards open through Feb. 5

The 2024 Government Social Media Conference – the premier event for government professionals – is happening April 16-18, 2024 in Palm Springs, California. In-person tickets are projected to sell out; unlimited virtual tickets available! Attendees can expect 2.5 days filled with actionable sessions, genuine networking opportunities and much more.

There’s one more week to self-nominate your government agency’s social media wins into this year’s Golden Post Awards! We’re extending the deadline for submissions to 11:59 p.m. PT Monday, February 5, 2024. 

There is zero cost for government agencies to submit up to three entries. This awards program was created to celebrate your hard work in government social media in these 9 categories — including Best Nextdoor Presence, Best Use of Social Media in an Emergency, Best Social Media Customer Service, Best Podcast and more. Finalists will be announced in March; winners are named at a special ceremony at GSMCON2024 and receive an engraved trophy. Get started on your entry now.

The Golden Post Awards is an annual awards ceremony at the Government Social Media Conference, exclusively designed to honor outstanding use of social media by government agencies in the U.S. Our award program features 9 categories focusing on social media strategy, presence and success. View our rules & eligibility criteria to enter in the United States.

How to enter

Determine your eligibility
You may only nominate your own agency, but if you want to recognize another agency, we encourage you to reach out to them! Eligible agencies include these entities within the United States. 

Pick your categories
Our award program features 9 categories focusing on social media strategy, presence and success. Government agencies can submit up to three entries at zero cost!

You’ll find categories recognizing everything from platform presence and best short-form video to social media customer service and best use of social media in an emergency. Categories like Best Facebook Presence, Instagram Presence and Long & Short Form Video are typically very competitive in terms of number of entries received. Don’t forget about entering in other categories, like Best Nextdoor Presence, Best Social Media Customer Service, Best LinkedIn Presence and Best Podcast, as well!

Get your entry ready!
Head to our awards platform to create an account, and from here, you’ll follow the steps to fill out your entries. Answer each question showing the judges why your agency excels in this category!

Officially submit your entry by this extended date to be considered for the Golden Post Awards: Entries are due by 11:59pm PT Monday, February 5, 2024.

Submitting outstanding entries

How can you make your agency’s entries really stand out? 

1. Read through this blog from Awards Committee Co-Chair Katie Grant! She breaks down how to understand the judging criteria, why you should tell a story, quantifying your success and more helpful tips to make sure your entry catches the eyes of judges.
2. Then, to gain even more valuable insights, make sure to watch the recording of “How to Create Standout Golden Post Awards Entries!” Awards Committee Co-Chairs Katie Grant & Frances LaRue take a look behind the scenes on how to craft excellent entries for the 2024 Golden Post Awards. Learn even more top tips on how to make your agency’s hard work stand apart from all the rest and hear updates to this year’s program. Watch the recording now!
3. Another great resource is to check out last year’s finalists and winners to see how they composed a winning entry! View the gallery to take a look at actual submissions from winners and finalists.

New for 2024 & recent updates

Every year, we continue to make enhancements to the program based on your feedback! Here’s what to expect for 2024:

• Entrants will continue to receive feedback from judges! Introduced in 2023, we heard that this popular request was a helpful addition to the program, and we’re excited to continue to offer this feature to entrants. Receive insightful feedback at the close of this year’s program, highlighting areas of excellence and opportunities for improvement!
• After carefully listening to the government social media community, “Best Twitter Presence” will be sunsetted as a category in this year’s program. This adjustment reflects the evolving landscape of social media, refining the program to highlight platforms where our community is most engaged.
• We’ll be putting a bigger spotlight on the great work public servants do during our ceremony - you’ll see the best examples and more from top entities!
• Entrants will be asked to share more information on entity type, jurisdiction size and follower count. 

What are the Golden Post Awards?

People who manage social media in government are in one of the most difficult fields for social media professionals. The Golden Post Awards is a free program dedicated to recognize their hard work, which frequently involves high stakes, high expectations and limited resources in facilitating open communication with the public. 

The Golden Post Awards debuted in 2015, and this year will be the 8th installation! Our 2024 Awards Committee is hard at work planning a memorable ceremony celebrating the work of social media professionals. Winners will be named at the ceremony, happening during the 2024 Government Social Media Conference. 

Only registered GSMCON2024 attendees (either in-person or virtual) will be able to participate in the ceremony — be part of this experience by registering to attend GSMCON! In-person ticket sales are going fast, so we encourage you to reserve your spot today. Registration for a virtual ticket also allows entry to watch the live streamed awards ceremony for those not attending the conference in person. 

More on GSMCON2024

More than 800 in-person and virtual participants have already signed up for the premier social media conference for government agencies! GSMCON is the place to learn about the latest tools and best practices to achieve mastery in social media — plus, you’ll get the chance to genuinely meet with the people who truly know your role best. 

• View this stellar lineup of over 35 speakers you’ll hear throughout this packed program;
• Attend sessions that matter most to you! We’re introducing different types of session lengths and formats, including session labeling for Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced courses. Sessions will also be labeled by track (including a Public Safety, Crisis & Trust track!).
• Celebrate wins at the Golden Post Awards and enjoy other special networking opportunities throughout the program;
• Explore different upgrades to make GSMCON what you need to succeed! Add-on pre-conference workshops (on hot topics like Reels and legal); extend your on-demand access to view session recordings; attend post-event panels; or get the VIP Ticket which includes absolutely everything at GSMCON!

We’ll see you at the Golden Post Awards at GSMCON2024! 

Government Social Media empowers government professionals to achieve mastery in social media through conferences, online training, and professional association membership.

Best communicate with the public you serve and get connected with fellow socialgovs by registering for the 2024 Government Social Media Conference happening in Palm Springs, California or virtually from wherever you are! Join our free network for bi-weekly Government Social Media Chats or professional association for member-only webinars. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest updates on training, events and more.