YNOT EUROPE – Based on the input of adult online industry professionals, the 2012 YNOT Awards will present trophies in categories not often found among adult industry honors, organizers said Wednesday.

Best New Adult Brand, Best Adult Company Rep, Marketing Campaign of the Year and Innovator of the Year are four of the new categories in a field of 25, up from 20 categories in 2011. The list was determined by a panel of webmasters, business owners, industry support personnel and performers. The complete categories list is here.

“There are some surprises in the list this year,” said Connor Young, President of Houston-based YNOT Group LLC. “Of course, categories like Best Adult Affiliate Program are still there, but jurors also chose some categories like Innovator of the Year and Best Adult Company Rep, so there will be great opportunities for voters to honor some of the industry’s unsung heroes. Interestingly, some categories from last year, like Best Adult Tube Site, didn’t make the cut in 2012.”

Even with twenty five categories this year, the award ceremony, presented by Affil4You and scheduled to take place Sept. 25 at SaSaZu nightclub in Prague, is expected to be fast-paced and lively.

“It’s important to us that YNOT Awards are focused,” Young said. “We have no interest in running an award show that nominates the entire industry and lasts four or five hours before getting to the party. Our award categories are very limited compared with other awards events, and we’re targeting the adult internet business specifically. We don’t include DVDs or novelty companies — just internet businesses and professionals.”

With the categories selected, YNOT Awards now moves to the next step in the process: Jurors will choose the nominees for each category.

The YNOT Awards stand out in their use of industry voting in place of specialized judges. A large group of inside-the-industry jurors select the categories and the nominees, but the entire industry votes to determine the winners in each category.

“If you win a YNOT Award, you’re one of the few who have been recognized by their friends and business associates for excellence in a crowded and competitive field,” Young said. “That should make all our winners very proud.”

Nominees in each category will be announced on Aug. 15, at which point any individual with demonstrable industry ties can register to vote.

The 2012 YNOT Awards are presented by Affil4You, the event’s exclusive Diamond Sponsor. Gold Sponsors include SexGoesMobile, WebBilling, MojoHost, RIV Cash, Fleshlight’s FNCash and Dating Factory. They will take place as one of the official events associated with The European Summit.

A video from last year’s event is available on YNOTAwards.com and on YouTube.