The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX) and Marine Marketers of America (MMA) today announced the creation of the Exhibitor Video Awards (EVAs) to honor the best product and company videos produced by IBEX exhibitors in 2012.

The EVAs winners will be selected by a panel of judges from MMA, and the awards will be presented at the IBEX Industry Breakfast at 7:30 a.m., Oct. 2, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. The competition is open to all 2012 exhibitors who post a product or company video with their online booths on the IBEX web site.

“We are launching this award program to encourage more exhibitors to take advantage of the opportunity to preview their companies, products and services through video clips on our IBEX web site,” said Carl Cramer, co-director of IBEX. “It’s just one of the exciting new programs to help exhibitors get the most out of their IBEX experience.”

“Savvy marketers in the boating industry recognize the power of video as a strategic marketing tool,” said Wanda Kenton Smith, president of MMA. “A well-done video allows organizations to engage with their customers’ emotions through a compelling mix of sound, imagery and narrative to reinforce their messages. If you are not including video in your marketing mix, you are missing an important opportunity to separate your company from the competition and build your brand.”

Market research documents the amazing growth of online video. YouTube reportedly gets some three billion views per day, 400 million of them on mobile devices. The eMarketer U.S. Digital Media Usage Report predicts that online video viewers will reach 169.3 million this year, and 70.8 percent of Internet users will watch online video content in 2012. Research also reveals that people spend 75 percent more time on web sites with video content.

EVAs will be awarded in two categories: Best Company Video and Best Product Video. All videos posted by exhibitors to the IBEX web site will be automatically entered in the competition. The video clips should be no longer than three minutes. A full set of entry rules and conditions will be forthcoming.