The 2012 About.com Phoenix Readers' Choice Awards categories have been announced. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions I receive about the awards.
What is the schedule for the About.com Phoenix Readers' Choice Awards?
January 17, 2012 at 10 p.m. local AZ time - Nominations open
February 15, 2012 at 10 p.m. local AZ time - Nominations close
February 22, 2012 at 10 p.m. local AZ time - Finalists are announced and voting opens
March 21, 2012 at 9 p.m. local AZ time - Voting closes
March 30, 2012 at 9 p.m. local AZ time - Winners are announced
What is the difference between nominating and voting?
During the nomination period people may submit the names of their favorite people, places or things in a category. At the end of the nomination phase, I will pick between 3 and 5 finalists from the pool of nominees which will be presented during the next phase, the voting phase. I will choose the entities for each category that received the most nominations, assuming, of course, that they are appropriate for the category. A nominee may be disqualified if I have reason to believe that the nominations were automatically generated or not authentic. During the voting phase, people will have the opportunity to vote, a maximum of once per day, for any of the nominees presented as finalists.
Can I nominate more than one entity in a category?
Some categories allow only one nominee per form, and some allow you to nominate up to three. The nomination form is clear.
Can I submit a nomination for all ten categories?
Yes, you can nominate someone or something in each of the ten categories.
Can I nominate the same person, place or thing in more than one category?
Yes, it is possible that a person, place or thing might qualify for more than one category. For example, If your fitness club offers its members the best brownies that you've ever tasted, you could nominate that business in both categories, Best Gym or Fitness Club and Favorite Place to Satisfy a Chocolate Craving. Honestly, this situation is most likely to occur where a business qualifies for Best New Thing and another category, or Favorite Phoenix Apps and another category. In any case, if the nomination is appropriate, I will accept it.
How do I get people to nominate me or my business?
Get the word out! Use your email lists, Twitter, Facebook and other social media accounts. Create a flyer with the instructions and link to the About.com Phoenix Readers' Choice Awards page (http://phoenix.about.com/od/Readers-Choice-Awards/tp/2012-Readers-Choice-Awards-Phoenix-AZ.htm) and hand it out to your customers. Blog about it. The more you promote yourself, the more nominations and votes you'll receive.
How many times can I vote?
You may vote once per day in each of the ten categories. A finalist may be disqualified if I have reason to believe that the votes were automatically generated or not authentic.
What do I get if I win the About.com Phoenix Readers' Choice Awards?
There is no physical prize. You'll be announced as the winner, with a link to your website, and that recognition will be available on the About.com Phoenix site as long as I am the About.com Guide.
I have another question that wasn't answered here.
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