Best of Dawson Frequently asked questions:

NOMINATIONS
Open December 1 through December 31

I don't see my business in the contest, what do I do?  You may nominate your own business if you wish to do so. If you know of a business that should be nominated but hasn't been, please go ahead and enter that business.  Please note that a nomination must go through a moderation process, so it will not appear immediately.  If you have difficulty entering a nomination, please email marketing@dawsonnews.com and we may be able to help. 

How are nominations moderated?  We look to see that a business is in the correct category and is actually located inside Dawson county. 

I've nominated a business, but I don't see them in the contest, what should I do?  As mentioned, businesses won't appear immediately.  During the opening days, we get hundreds of nominations per day, and it may take time for them to be placed in the contest.  If you still don't see your nominee after a day or two, please be certain the nomination was correct. The two most frequent reasons a nomination is not approved are:

The business is not located in Dawson county. 
The business is in the wrong category. 
If you're certain it's in the correct category and is a Dawson county business, please email us at marketing@dawsonnews.com

Who is eligible to participate?  All nominees should have an actual Dawson business address. A business with a physical address outside Dawson county may be allowed in the contest if they do a significant portion of their business inside Dawson County.  Contact us if you feel your business would qualify. Contest moderators decisions on this are final and made on a case-by-case basis. 

How Often do I need to nominate a business?  Only one nomination is needed for a business to move to voting on January 1st.  

How many categories can one business enter?  We ask that businesses only enter those categories that truly represent what they are the "best" at. In some cases where categories could overlap or services are similar, our moderators will decide which category that business best fits into based on their business description. We reserve the right to limit the number of categories that an individual business is entered in. 

I'm having trouble registering, what should I do?  When you start nominating or voting, you'll be asked for your email address and zip code.  This will allow you to register, and you can continue making selections on the ballot.  If you encounter issues registering, please email marketing@dawsonnews.com so we can assist you. 

Voting

Open January 1 through January 31

How often can I vote?  Each person can vote once per day per category during the voting period, which is January 1 through January 31

Can I create multiple user accounts to vote from?  No, users should only have one voting account.   Please note that the company that administers this contest will flag suspicious voting patterns, and contest administrators may remove votes that violate the terms of this contest. In other words, one vote, per person, per day per category.  

Can a business pay to win?  No. The winners are determined by the numbers of votes they receive.

Can I campaign for my business?   Campaigning is fine but bribery is not. To be specific, it's okay to enter your customers/clients/supporters into a raffle if they vote, but not okay to give them a gift or offer payment in exchange for votes. For example, you can hold a voter appreciation raffle, and award someone a prize, but it has to be a raffle with a random drawing.  Awarding something to the person who votes the most would be a rules violation, as would giving something for each voter. 

I see ads for businesses on some of the categories, how can I get one of those?  Those ads are available for anyone who wants to increase their visibility in the contest.  Remember, once a person votes in the category they came in for, they will likely continue to vote in more categories, so having more visibility is important.  Contact us via email at marketing@dawsonnews.com or call (770) 205-8960 to learn more.  Some of the ads are limited to one per category and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  

How are votes tracked?  We use a third-party company that utilizes a variety of systems and techniques to monitor voting patterns to assure a fair and equitable contest.  We reserve the right to remove fraudulent votes. 

Do you still have a question?  Email marketing@dawsonnews.com, and thank you for participating in your Best of Dawson Contest!