Have a question about The Local’s List? Check out our frequently asked questions below.
What are the important dates to know?
- Nomination Round: Feb. 15 – Mar. 7
- Voting Round: Apr. 10 – May 1
- Winners Announced: The July issue of The Bend
What is The Local’s List and how does it work?
The Local’s List is The Bend’s annual readers’ choice poll. Every year, The Bend’s staff compiles a list of categories for the ballot. Once the ballot is made public, anyone is allowed to nominate their favorite local businesses, people, places and services once per category. After a three-week nomination round, the top five nominees with the most nominations will advance to the voting round. Each email is only allowed one vote per category. When the voting round begins, if more than five nominations are listed in a category, it is because there was a tie somewhere in the top five nominations.
What are the geographic boundaries of The Local’s List?
The Coastal Bend radius for The Local’s List includes the following counties: Aransas, Bee, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio and San Patricio.
Why does the ballot look different this year and why can’t I see all the nominations?
The Bend is using a new platform to host this year’s nomination and voting ballots. The new platform was chosen to make the entirety of The Local’s List process easier and more efficient for users, advertisers and staff. With this new platform, users will not see a list of nominations per category until the voting round opens (Apr. 10) with the top five nominations in each category listed.
Why is there not a category that fits my business? How can I suggest a new category?
The Bend’s staff sits down each year to reassess the categories. We take into consideration how categories performed the previous year, if a category would allow for five or more possible entrants, etc. While it is too late to add categories to this year’s ballot, we encourage the public to send their category ideas for us to keep in mind in the future. You can send any category recommendations to kylie@thebendmag.com.
How will I know if I advanced into the voting round?
You will be contacted via email by The Bend upon advancement into the voting round. Our small team does its best to find as many emails as possible for the top five nominees in each category to notify them of advancement. There will be a new set of promotional graphics for download to help you market yourself or your business for the voting round.
Does The Bend nominate and/or vote for their own favorites?
No. The ballot is solely populated by the public’s nominations and votes. However, in past issues, we have published “editor’s picks,” which appear separately alongside the reader’s choice winners and are selected by our editorial team.
Do I have to pay to be represented on the ballot and/or win?
No! The Local’s List readers’ choice poll results are based 100% on the public’s nominations and votes. Advertisers may use Local’s List promotional graphics to boost their exposure, but being an advertiser in The Bend or advertising on the ballot itself does not guarantee anything for the contest. There are advertising opportunities on The Local’s List ballot to help promote your listing. Please fill out this form if you’d like to be contacted by a member of our sales team to learn more.
Why do some of the nominations on the ballot have a photo and description?
The top five nominees have the opportunity to purchase a variety of enhanced listing packages to further promote their business during the voting round. If you or your business would like more information regarding this, please fill out this form to be contacted by a member of our team.
Why are there more than five entries in a category in the voting round?
If there are more than five entries in any category once voting has started, this is due to a tie somewhere within the top five nominations.
How many times can I vote for my favorites?
When interacting with the ballot for the first time, it will prompt you to enter an email. Each email is only allowed to vote ONCE per category.
How will I know if I won my category?
Approximately one to two weeks after the voting round closes, all winners will be notified via an email sent out by The Bend.
When will the winners be announced?
Winners will be announced to the public upon the release of the July 2024 issue. Sign up for The Bend’s newsletters to be the first to find out the winners and subscribe to receive the print issue in your mailbox!
Will there be a party for The Local’s List this year?
Yes! We will host The Local’s List Party this year. Stay tuned for details.
Have you nominated your favorite local businesses, people, places and services in The Local’s List 2024 yet? What are you waiting for? Start now!
