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If you run paid search, you probably spend most of your time and budget on Google, and Bing can feel like an afterthought. Choosing who manages that second channel is still a real decision, because the right partner can turn it into a steady source of leads. That is why we are proud to share that SmartSites has won the Microsoft Advertising Rising Partner of the Year award for North America, a recognition of the work our Microsoft Advertising management team does for clients every day
Key takeaways
- SmartSites was named Rising Partner of the Year for North America at the 2026 Microsoft Advertising Partner Awards, announced in person in New York on October 29, 2026. The category honors one Select tier partner that has grown its Microsoft Advertising business steadily over time. What decides it is measurable results in three areas: revenue growth, adoption of new platform features, and how well the partner onboards and keeps its clients. For advertisers, the award points to a team that Microsoft itself has watched deliver.
SmartSites Wins Microsoft Advertising Rising Partner of the Year in North America for 2026
Microsoft Advertising announced the winners at its Partner Awards 2026 event in New York on October 29. SmartSites took the Rising Partner of the Year award for North America, chosen from a shortlist of five agencies.
For our co-founder, the win belongs to the people who run these accounts.
“Being named Rising Partner of the Year by Microsoft Advertising is a milestone for our team and for the clients who trust us with their Microsoft Advertising campaigns,” said Michael Melen, co-founder of SmartSites. “We are grateful to Microsoft Advertising for the recognition and proud of the work our team does every day.”
We also want to thank the Microsoft Advertising partner team, who work alongside our specialists throughout the year.
Microsoft Judged This Award on Growth, Adoption and Client Retention
Microsoft describes this category as one that celebrates a Select tier partner with sustained business growth on its platform. Judges looked at three kinds of measurable results:
- Revenue growth: how much the partner’s Microsoft Advertising business expanded.
- Feature adoption: how quickly the partner put new tools and ad formats to work for clients.
- Client onboarding and retention: how many advertisers the partner brought onto the platform and kept there.
The last point matters most to us. Growth only lasts when clients see enough value to stay.
From 2024 Finalist to 2026 Winner
SmartSites has made a Microsoft Advertising awards shortlist before. In 2024, SmartSites was named a finalist for Channel Partner of the Year. Two years later, we are bringing home the trophy in a category built around steady growth, which says a lot about how our Microsoft Advertising practice has matured.
The award joins a list that includes Inc. 5000 recognition 10 years in a row. You can see the full list on our SmartSites awards and recognition page.
What the Award Means for Your Microsoft Advertising Campaigns
Microsoft Advertising puts your ads in front of searchers on Bing, Yahoo, AOL and partner sites, and it lets you target by LinkedIn profile data such as company and job function. Those reach and targeting options reward an agency that knows the platform well.
SmartSites is a Microsoft Advertising Select Partner, a Google Premier Partner and a Meta Business Partner. Founded in 2011 by brothers Alex and Michael Melen in Paramus, NJ, we have an in-house team of 370+ people who build Microsoft campaigns alongside Google and Meta so your budget works across every channel instead of in silos.
Ready to Grow Your Microsoft Advertising Results?
If Microsoft Advertising is an untapped channel for your business, SmartSites can show you where it fits in your paid search plan. Reach out to our team to get a free proposal.
