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Is the Best On Long Island A Popularity Contest or A Sign Of A Real Good Business?
The model that Long Island Press uses for its gauge is not the best one. Having businesses vie for the most votes just makes it a popularity contest to me without really showing Long Islanders how much quality a local business offers in its products and services.
Ok, I understand that if you really like a business, you will vote for it, but I have seen one too many business owner advertise that they need votes without the voters purchasing their products or services. So, how can those voters give true votes without knowing how good the business really is?
I think a solution to this observation should be to allow local businesses to enter and get nominated, but a panel of judges should make the final decision as to who really wins. Take a baking contest for example. A panel of judges actually tastes the baked goods and judges based on the taste, texture, and overall delectability of the baked good. They do not ask the audience to vote unless the audience actually got to taste the product, which in my opinion, would make them a judge as well. Why would the Best On Long Island be any different?
I am looking for your opinion to my concern. Please feel free to comment.
23 Responses to “Is the Best On Long Island A Popularity Contest or A Sign Of A Real Good Business?”
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Bruce Chamoff
Lisa Moffa
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:30 pm
I agree with you Bruce, the LI Press means well by attempting to recognize the “Best of Long Island” but it is a click campaign. They should have a rating system based on criteria to be fair and tally those results. Readers just need to remember that it’s the LI Press promoting their advertisers and connections for marketing and doesn’t seem like a genuine title.
vivian piccone jung
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:06 am
Agree. I throw that out. Not a good measure at all. But good for those businesses that get the press coverage. Even NY Mag’s “Best of..” is not a real indicator of anything. I don’t think it is possible to even do this type of thing accurately. Thanks for bringing up the issue.
mICHAEL ZINN
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:03 am
Very bold question Bruce!
I happen to agree that it does NOT consistently reflect a businesses prowess or level of service.
Sometimes I would agree with the title sometimes not so much.
Debbie Viola
November 23rd, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Hi Bruce,
As a nominee in the “Best Artist of LI 2010″ category, let me give you my thoughts.
First, I want to clear up a misconception — it does not take one vote to get nominated. I didn’t nominate myself. A client informed me that they went ahead and submitted a nomination for my company. Not knowing what that meant, I contacted the Long Island Press, who explained the procedure. One nomination generally does not mean you get a spot in the category. The companies with the most nominations, during the certain nominating time frame, are tallied up and then the top 12 of every category are selected. While I am not saying that companies can’t nominate themselves, it’s not as simplistic as sending in their name and considering it a done deal. This contest has become more and more popular; I believe this is the 5th year, and last year there were over 100,000 votes in all the categories, if I’m not mistaken.
I have no idea how many votes for nominations I received. All I know is that I did make it as a nominee. I didn’t ask strangers for votes, nor do anything wrong to solicit a nomination. So I am proudly saying that I have been nominated because my clients and others have thought highly enough of me and/or my work to feel that I should be nominated as “Best Artist”. Do I think that I am? I’m sure there are a lot of artists on Long Island that are more experienced than me, have a larger body of work than me, and feel that the 12 of us in the category aren’t better than them. They are entitled to feel that way, and they may be right. But the fact is, I was nominated, and am very proud of that, and know that my skills are equal to those artists in my same field of decorative painting.
Now that I’ve been nominated, it’s human nature to think, wow, could I actually win this?!! How exciting and great for business would that be?!! The Long Island Press doesn’t make it easy for nominees to win. It is a fair and square matter of voting. And it’s one vote per computer. So a business can’t sit at the computer all day and submit votes for themselves. That’s not how it is run. So I think that gives the contest a bit of integrity. So I have asked my family, friends, and fellow networkers that know me, that if they feel I am worthy, to please vote for me.
As far as popularity, I agree with you to an extent. Someone in my category relies heavily on popularity, as she positions herself deep within online painting forums to become well known. Then she asks for votes, and of course everyone will vote for her. I belong to online forums, but don’t ask people to vote for me because unless I’m an active participant in the forum and people know me well, I don’t think it’s appropriate to just ask for a vote. So I don’t hold out a big chance of winning, but it sure would be great publicity for my business.
I’ve looked through all the categories, and some of the nominations have surprised me, because I don’t think that particular business should be there, but there are obviously enough people who disagree with me. So I understand what you’re saying. If this were a contest where there was a huge cash prize or something, then I would agree with you 100% that the way to find the “best” of each category needs to be changed. Then there should be a panel, where each business’ product or service was tried and reviewed.
I understand what you’re saying — for example, the Bakery category. I unequivocally think A Taste of Home is the best bakery on Long Island. Does that mean I have visited and tasted something from every other bakery in that category? Several of them, but certainly not all. They started out as clients, but now we’re so much more than that. They did my daughter’s wedding cake, and I use them for everything; never a problem. They always go above and beyond to accommodate their customers, and their products are always fresh. Does that make my vote for them skewed or invalid because I like them and now am voting as more of “popularity”? I don’t think so. I also have a favorite diner, my local Massapequa Diner. I voted for them. Have I tried all the other diners in the category? No. Does that make unqualified to vote because I didn’t? I don’t think so. I don’t think that was the purpose of this contest. I think the purpose of this contest is to generate good will and publicity for The Long Island Press, as well as to give some publicity and “buzz” for local small businesses, which are such an important part of Long Island’s economy.
I think you’ve started a great discussion. I’m anxious to see what others have to say.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Debbie Viola
CUSTOM FINISHES & MURALS BY DEBBIE VIOLA
http://www.debbieviola.com
Bruce Chamoff
November 24th, 2009 at 3:44 am
Thanks, Debbie. That was some great input from a person who was nominated and you made some great points. I voted for you, because I saw your work, which proves my point that I voted for you as someone who appreciates your talent.
I also respect the fact that you did not ask friends and family to vote for you unless they thought you were worthy to win as well as my respect for you not blasting it out on forums that you belong to.
However, many companies have taken advantage of the fact that they CAN get votes whether they are worthy or not. I think the LI Press has made it too easy for them which leads me to believe that this contest is not valid.
One other solution that I want to suggest to the Long Island Press is that in order for a nomination to become valid, people should not just nominate a company in a certain category, but a description should be written about the company to give voters a little more background into the company in making their voting decision. This way a voter who has never heard of any of the businesses in a certain category can have something to actually vote on than just 12 names that they never heard of.
Thanks for your input!
Bruce
Debbie Viola
November 25th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Bruce,
Thank you for taking the time to vote, and your kind words. I appreciate it very much.
You do make valid points. It sure isn’t foolproof, and there should be ways to prevent businesses from taking advantage. The contest certainly isn’t perfect, and if it continues to gain in popularity, there certainly is room for improvement to make it more “valid” as you like to say. Not sure I like that; I’d hate to win an invalid contest!!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Debbie
Janita Ras
November 25th, 2009 at 12:32 am
Bruce:
A very good piece, but I have to agree with you that it appears to be more of a popularity contest rather than actual statistical proof. I would truly like to see this kind of “Best of” list be based more on the actual facts of sales, etc. If a consumer is spending his hard earned cash with you then you can bet that is definitely an indication of whether you are successful or not.
Granted, that not everyone has the turnover of, let’s say Wall Mart. In these instances levelling should be applied.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.
Janita
Sandra McCarty
November 25th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
The intent/objective of the Long Island Press ‘Best of Long Island’ is good. However, due to the fact that by just becoming a nominee gives publicity to your business and can help to drive sales, some business owners/stakeholders have employed aggressive lobbing tactics to ensure a place on this coveted list of nominees and a win their category.
If it is a competition where the best is decided by the customers of these business, then the customers must play a key role in deciding who the winners are. So satisfied customers, friends, well-wishers or whoever else, can make these nominations. However, once the nominees are in, a panel of judges made up of business owners, the customers and even representation from the state or federal consumer organization should decide on the final winners. The criteria for winning each category must be established and made known to the public well in advance of the competition
Sandra McCarty
November 25th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Bruce my previous comment did not have the correct url. Although I am pretty sure you will see and correct the typo here it is http://www.smbizsol.blogspot.com/
admin
November 25th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Sandra, all good points. I agree that a system of some sort should make the businesses prove that they are worthy of votes as Debbie Viola said, and not just the number of votes.
Quality, not guantity, should be what the criteria is based on.
Arlene Mcloughlin
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 am
The contest you are talking about is not really a measure of “the best” how can it be? The contest is more of a popularity contest. Do I think I am the Best Artist on Long Island? Certainly not, there is always someone better. Some of the artists in previous years did not even know they were nominated, how would they get otes, unless someone saw them in the paper. The point is this contest is really an advertising tool, or a marketing strategy for the nominees involved, it is a way to contact clients, friends and family and get them to vote for you. I read through the opinions listed and see that Debbie Viola has mentioned someone in her category having internet ties and soliciting votes that way. I see no difference in that then leaving cards in stores or advertising this contest on a website, both of which Ms. Viola has done to assure her place in the contest. The reality is that even though you are declared a winner it not really indicative of your talent as far as say an artist, musician or a performer, all of which would need to be seen or heard to assess whether they really are THE BEST. So if Ms. Viola were to win it would prove her point that indeed the contest is invalid in determining who really is the best artist on Long Island, because all of the artists listed are very talented and she would have had to really solicit a huge amount of votes to beat someone with such “huge ties” in the art forum community. I can not say I believe any such contest really exists, because art is a very subjective medium and what one person deems beautiful another might hate. Example I know many who are enamored by Modigliani, I am not moved by such art. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and when it comes to naming a best artist by the Long Island Press it really just boils down to who ran a better campaign and isn’t that what all politics is about?
Bruce C
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:27 am
Leaving business cards in stores is a perfectly acceptable form of advertising and I think that it is a common business practice. However, using a contest where the organizing company calls it “best of” and it is nothing but a marketing strategy is simply not acceptable. The companies should prove that they are the best. There is no method of doing that in this contest.
Alan Benasaraf
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:04 am
Bruce, I read your blog and you have some good points. Debbie Viola said it best. It is a popularity contest and I I too was nominated last year and i also won that catagory. I can only speak from experience that we were nonminated and I did not nominate myself. People that Know me and Our company know the quality of work we do. if the panel of judges that you are talking about to make the final decision,then then need to know the kind of work that we do. they need to see and understand what we are all about and the final result of what we do.
I reach out ONLY to people that I know and That either have done work for them or Know the capabilities that we have. In a case the this LI Press, Everyone wants to be voted for and it is a click of the button that will determine the end result. Yes i agree with you that it’s not the Bet procedure , but thats how they do it. I am not asking anyone out there to just vote because they know me. By now the people i sent this to to vote for me, at least have been to my website and know our capabilities. Bruce, I know you have never been to my studio to see what we really produce for our clients, but Im sure that you have visited my website to see what our capabilities.
I will say that all Im doing is following the “Jones” being that we were one of the nominees in that catagory, Now Im asking you to vote. It all boils down to Politics and why not try to win.
Bruce C
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:17 am
Good points, Alan. Good luck in the contest.
Although I have never been to your studio, I have seen the great quality your work and judging from that alone, I am sure you deserve to win.
Troy Conor
December 4th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Bruce,
Let me start off by saying that I am a college student presently perusing a career in art and have already placed my vote but, I am angered by some comments that I have read here. Arlene Mcloughlin said that this is in fact a popularity contest and not a true measure of talent but useful for marketing and advertising her company. From what I have read she thinks she will win the contest and beat Debbie Viola based on the her popularity within the art forum community. I have taken the time to view both of their work and truthfully I really don’t know what this Arlene Mcloughlin is so confident about. Debbie Viola has written that being nominated was an honor and that she is seeking votes from people who know of her work ( her talent), Arlene is getting votes via the internet from basically anyone. How can this be viewed in the same light as a politically campaign? It is the choice of each nominee involved to run their “campaign” one or two ways, like a professional or like they are re-living their high school days I understand that winning the contest is great for business and I see nothing wrong with using your winning title to market your product/services, but winning based on popularity is just unethical and unprofessional. Perhaps this Arlene Mcloughlin should re-think her marketing/advertising strategies, from what she wrote here she is not marketing herself or her company very well.
Bruce C
December 4th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Very good points, Troy, and I agree wholeheartedly with you. If you have your work on the internet, feel free to include a link to it.
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Robert Saunders (Skylark NetWorks)
December 7th, 2009 at 12:20 am
Hi, Bruce,
And then there are businesses like mine, whose clients never read the Long Island Press, or don’t even know it exists despite the fact they may have passed within 2 feet of it while exiting their favorite diner or coffe shop. So my company will never get nominated, let alone win. Does this mean my company doesn’t rate? I don’t think so.
And despite the fact there are many legit companies who get nominated, there are still the companies with many friends and contacts who win just because they know so many people.
More power to those who win without the bogus votes.
John Hill
December 7th, 2009 at 6:56 am
It’s both a popularity contest and good business. To have a mediocre business and have the opportunity of your name being seen by hundreds, if not thousands of people is not bad. I think Debbie Viola said it best. To me, trying to articulate what was already written so eloquently would be unproductive.
Sarah Battaglia
December 15th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
It is indeed a popularity contest. A “Best of” anything should involve such true judging of one’s products or services, and not just counting a bunch of votes. On top of that, I notice there are rarely any businesses on the annual lists that go anywhere east of Farmingdale! There are tons of excellent restaurants out my way but you never see them listed. That may also be because the L.I. Press is not circulated as heavily further east either, so you can’t nominate businesses without knowing about the contests. In any event, I take the honor of “Best of” with a grain of salt.
Debbie Viola
December 28th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
The special issue of The Long Island Press which will list all the winners will be out on January 14, but my suspense has been ended. I am proud to say that The Long Island Press notified me that my decorative painting company “far surpassed” other nominees, and I have been chosen “Best Artist of L.I. 2010″!!!
For those of you who may have supported me, I truly appreciate it. Thank you very much.
Wishing everyone a prosperous, healthy and Happy New Year!
Debbie Viola
CUSTOM FINISHES & MURALS BY DEBBIE VIOLA
Robert Yeganeh
January 27th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
i totally agree with you, even though we came up number one, which is something to really be proud of.
keep up the good work dude..