FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who can submit a nomination and how do you do it?
Anyone can nominate a business to get them on the Best of Gwinnett ballot. Reflect on all the vendors and services you think are top-notch, then click here to nominate them and show your support for local businesses. It’s completely free! Self-nominations are also welcomed. Getting your business on the ballot and in the Guide to Gwinnett directory is the initial step towards hearing from your fans and supporters who wish to vote for you. You can’t win if you’re not on the ballot!
What kind of businesses are eligible?
Any business or organization in good standing is eligible. There are more than 20 industry and community sections, including categories like Arts & Entertainment, Beauty & Spa, Real Estate, Healthcare, Legal, Insurance, Education, Sports, Recreation, and more! The bottom line? All types of law-abiding organizations are eligible to be showcased in the Best of Gwinnett.
Is there a cost associated with being nominated or winning Best of Gwinnett?
Not at all! There is no fee to have your business listed on Guide to Gwinnett, or to be on the ballot to receive votes for the Best of Gwinnett. All winners are listed in our newsletter, on the website, and the print annual at no cost. We do offer optional advertising in the print annual and merchandise items after you have been informed of your final result. We also require a license to use the Best of Gwinnett winner art if you wish to use it on your own marketing materials to ensure the integrity of the award.
When can you nominate an organization?
You can nominate an organization any time during the year.
How long after a nomination is submitted, does it appear on the official ballot?
Typically, the company you nominate should appear on the online ballot within 5 days of your nomination. Guide to Gwinnett will review the nomination, then reach out to the nominee to claim and verify their information prior to being placed on the public ballot. It can take longer than 5 days, depending on the responsiveness of the nominee business.
When are you able to vote?
Voting remains open 24/7/365 and concludes on December 31st at 11:59PM for each calendar year. In other words, results are tabulated each year using all the votes that come in before December 31st. After that date, votes count toward the next year. Voting remains open throughout the year so that organizations can ask for votes as they serve their customers. That being said, over 90% of the total votes cast roll in during the last 30 days of voting when Guide to Gwinnett begins promoting voting to our readers - so even if you have a late start, you still have great odds at being recognized!
How often can you vote?
Voters can cast a vote one time each day for each company they wish to vote for. Repeat customers and ongoing support are traits of the best, so vote often!
Are there things a business can do to encourage voting?
Absolutely! Posting signs in locations, adding a voting link to your emails, and promoting it on social media are great ways to generate voting support. We even provide a campaign kit with artwork you can use to promote your company in the Best of Gwinnett awards. Download your campaign kit here.
How many winners are there & how are they selected?
Winners are selected primarily on the voting results. However, the Guide to Gwinnett editorial and compliance team will review the votes to ensure that all votes are valid. Guide to Gwinnett will also review all winning businesses to verify that they are in good standing with broad consumer reports and trade-specific organizations where applicable. The number of winners per industry will vary with the total number of businesses in that category. For instance, Food & Drink will have many more nominees, and thus winners, than a smaller industry segment such as Professional Sports. We recognize up to 30% of the businesses within a specific industry who are nominated. Companies are grouped into winning tiers based on their regions and the statistical variance of total votes within a category.
What are the winning tiers and categories?
For each industry, there are three tier levels of remarkable winners.
Best of Gwinnett: This is the highest designation given to the businesses that rake in the highest number of votes for their category.
Among the Best of Gwinnett: Since Gwinnett is a broad, diverse, and opportunity-filled area, we recognize deserving businesses that may not get enough votes to win the “Best of,” but still achieve great regional recognition as Among the Best of Gwinnett winners.
Best of Gwinnett Ones to Watch: Earning a spot in the Ones to Watch tier is a commendable achievement, given only a small percentage of Gwinnett businesses get recognized at all. Often, these are those lesser-known places that end up being the hidden gems of Gwinnett just as worthy of attention. If a business makes it to the Ones to Watch category, their odds of gaining more recognition rise with the increased publicity through our promotions.
How long after voting closes are the winners announced?
Once the voting tabulations and verification process is complete, the results will be formatted and posted on Guide to Gwinnett within six weeks after the voting for that year is closed.
What is the Best of Gwinnett Print Annual?
The Best of Gwinnett Annual is a perfect bound print edition covering all of the Best of Gwinnett winners and is released two months after the voting period for the year has closed.
Are there advertising opportunities in The Best of Gwinnett Annual?
Optional advertising packages are available to all Gwinnett businesses within the Best of Gwinnett print annual, with special rates offered for all winning businesses.
Where is the Best of Gwinnett Annual distributed?
The annual print edition will be distributed throughout the county to reach new customers and will be delivered to all winners. In addition, the annual can be found online at GuideToGwinnett.com.
