How to Win a Regional 'Best Of' Competition

A stream of social media posts encouraged followers to vote in the competition.

Each year, regional magazines in cities across the country assemble a "Best Of" issue where residents vote for their favorite establishments. Knowing this is an excellent strategy for exposing their brand to potential new clients, RedBloom in Calgary, Alberta, rallied with other local vendors and devised a strategy to encourage their clientele to vote. Check out this winning idea that captured a STAMP award.

Going for Best
RedBloom Salon
Calgary, Alberta
Owners: Jodi Ohama and Troy Winget

Each year the city of Calgary launches its “Best Of” Survey, asking residents to weigh in on their favorite establishments. RedBloom has been an honoree in this survey since 2012. “Winning helps us gain exposure, get new clients and give the salon’s team and existing clients a reason to celebrate,” Winget says.

When voting time rolls around each year it becomes a big focus in the salon and online. This year, most of RedBloom’s campaigning for votes revolved around a $500 giveaway they put together with a gift card and product from the salon and gift cards from some of their local favorite destinations, including a clothing boutique, jeweler, ice cream shop, restaurant, coffee shop, wine seller, spa and Film Fest tickets.

Once the salon was a finalist, the owners emailed clients to remind them to keep voting.

Guests were entered into the giveaway when they showed the salon they had submitted a survey, regardless of whom they voted for. The salon created both print and online promotions, and staff members where incentivized for getting the most votes.

“We put up mirror talkers, posters and banners around the salon with the QR code that took guests right to the survey,” says Winget. “Weekly posts on our social media encouraged followers to vote, we sent out an email to our client list and wrote a blog about it on our site.”