Readers’ Choice Awards: From Nomination to Voting

A nomination is not always a final vote

Local awards often start by collecting nominations, then publish a finalist ballot. The action you ask customers to take needs to match the current stage.

Best of Las Vegas describes online nominations followed by an official ballot. Its organiser also offers nominee-specific voting pages. That is a useful lesson in reducing friction: send supporters to the correct category or an authorised nominee page where one exists.

Write down the category and entry name

A business may appear in several categories, sometimes under slightly different names. Confirm which location and category you are promoting. A customer should not have to search the whole ballot to work out your request.

Keep a small record: award name, business name as displayed, category, stage, official ballot URL, permitted frequency and closing time. Check any voter location restrictions separately from the business’s eligibility.

Ask the people who know your business

A simple request to customers or your existing audience is easier to understand than a generic “help us win” message. Give the exact category and explain any registration step.

We’re finalists in the [category] section of [award]. If you’ve enjoyed visiting [business], we’d appreciate your support. Find us at [official ballot link] and submit by [date, time and time zone]. Thank you for being part of our community.

This is a template. Do not imply that buying something is required to vote unless the organiser explicitly says so.

Keep the route to the ballot short

Use a clear link in an email or a QR code on an appropriate customer-facing notice. Test it on a phone before printing. Where the organiser provides artwork or a voting badge, follow its usage conditions.

If you record visits to your own campaign page, keep them separate from completed official votes. A click on your “vote” link does not prove someone finished the external ballot.

Read restrictions before arranging support

Daily voting permission is not permission for any kind of vote generation. Best of Long Island’s rules, for example, include US participation restrictions and prohibit third-party resources generating fraudulent votes. Use the actual rules to assess the proposed activity.

“Readers’ choice” can also describe a rating survey rather than a raw-count race. Establish the selection method before estimating a target. Publish a thank-you when the round ends, and update old requests so customers are not sent to a closed ballot.

A nomination is not always the final vote

Record whether customers are nominating a business or selecting a finalist. The name, category and round should appear in the request so supporters can find the right option. A useful fictional example is: “If you would like to support Elm Café in the neighbourhood readers’ choice final, choose our name in the café category at [official ballot]. Voting closes [date, time and zone]. Thank you.” Replace every detail with the current rules.