Contest Options
Limited Bandwidth? Not a Problem
We recognize that chambers are often short-staffed and have little bandwidth for taking on new projects. As chamber board members, we know!
That’s why we designed our program to include a comprehensive consulting and software solution. Let us do the heavy lifting.
Project Planning
- We start by reviewing your fundraising goals and project schedule to make sure that the Best of Contest fits into your annual plans.
- Next, we create a project plan with milestones. Everything is documented and shared so all parties can follow along as tasks are completed.
- Fundraising through sponsorships can pay for the program if designed to attract large and small business interest. We’ll provide sponsorship package best practices.
- We’ll look at your existing membership and membership goals and work to come up with a ballot that includes as many business categories as possible. Want to honor schools? Want to honor diversity? Let us know and we’ll incorporate special categories.
- Begin outreach to local media and create a press release.
Graphic Design
- Includes professional graphic design services for badge, program flyers, vinyl banners, window clings, plaques and postcards as needed. (Printing costs are additional.)
- Design social media assets and email blasts.
- Design ballot with images and categories customized for your community.
Technical Implementation
- Set up ballot on chamber site. We can work with most web platforms.
- Technical support for users.
- Create and fulfill personalized “nominate us”, “vote for us” and winner badge requests for businesses.
- Regularly provide voting and engagement statistics to chamber.
Celebration and Recognition
- Celebration best practices planning meetings.
- Creation of Best of City Magazine (optional)
- Creation of Best of City Website (optional)
- Order and distribute certificates, window clings and plaques. (optional)
Example of a voting ballot embedded on the Chamber website.Voting is simple and includes votor fraud prevention options.
Winner Award Plaque Example
Winner Magazine Example
Example Award Site: Best of San Mateo Winner Directory
Example of vinyl banners placed around town with QR codes direct the public to the ballot. Banners help to get out the vote, provide a sponsorship benefit and promote the Chamber.
Included with All Contests
Easy to Vote Software
Our voting software makes it easy for people to vote. They simply login once and don’t need to remember a password. Voter fraud prevention features ensure that there’s only one vote per login.
Chamber Members Recognized
The contest is open to all businesses in the area. However, chamber members get a boost by appearing at the top of the ballot. We’ve found that this option helps boost membership.
Bring in the Votes
In order to help businesses promote themselves, we provide custom “nominate us” or “vote-for-us” badges by request that are personalized for each business. Businesses typically share out these badges to their past customers asking for the vote.
Social Media and Email Marketing
Getting the word out to the community is essential for Best of Contest engagement. To maximize engagement, your team will create social media assets and campaigns to reach a large number of voters and businesses. They will also push out targeted email campaigns on your behalf.
Graphic Design Services
Graphic design servcies are included for digital and print assets. Your team will start by creating a custom Best of Badge for your City. Then they will follow up with design of posters, banners and other assets to publicize the contest.
Regular Consulting Meetings and Updates
Between the initial planning phase and the award party, best of programs can last up to 4 months. To keep you and your staff on pace, your team will provide regular updates and keep you appraised of completed tasks and next steps.
Premium Options
Best of City Magazine
Create a professional award magazine for your Best of City contest. We handle all details including layout, printing and distribution. These magazines include listings of all winners, a letter from the Chamber president and a place for the Chamber to advertise membership and promote the chamber.
Best of City Website
As a premium option, we’ll create a Best of City Website which serves as a directory for your business community and lists all winners. Chamber members are highlighted.
Award Plaque Design and Sales
Want to offer custom wood-framed, full-color glossy-front award plaques to the winners? This can be an additional monetization strategy for chambers. We’ll design and create them and handle production, sales, and distribution for you.