Thursday, October 1, 2026
I. Contest Basics
What is Bluffton’s Best?
Bluffton’s Best is an annual readers’ choice contest, celebrating the people, businesses, and organizations that make our community special.
Winners are celebrated not only at the TBD event and in the Bluffton’s Best magazine, but also throughout the year in newsletters, articles, social media posts, and other Bluffton Sun coverage.
The contest is hosted by The Bluffton Sun, which prints a free, twice monthly newspaper with the largest circulation in Bluffton and publishes www.BlufftonSun.com.
How do the Bluffton’s Best nominations work?
Nominations begin Tuesday, Nov. 4, and run through Thursday, Nov. 20. This is the “open round,” meaning you can nominate any person, business or organization located in the greater Bluffton area. Nominations are accepted once per day, per category.
How do I nominate someone for Bluffton’s Best?
In each category, you can either click on the name you want to nominate or type the name into the text box at the bottom if it’s not listed.
Write-ins take up to 2 business days to be approved and appear on the ballot, but don’t worry — your votes still count right away. Keep nominating daily because only the Top 5 in each category move on to the voting round.
How does the Final Voting round work?
At the end of nominations, the Top 5 in each category advance to the final voting round. We’ll do our best to begin notifying finalists during this time, but with thousands of finalists, it may take a little while.
During the voting round (December 2 - 23), you can only vote for those Top 5 finalists. Again, you can vote once per day, per category.
Who can nominate and vote?
Anyone can nominate and vote, and we encourage nominees to get customers and supporters to vote. However, any “pay for vote” scheme or utilizing an outside company to “buy votes” or “guarantee a win” outside the spirit of the local contest will result in disqualification.
All determinations on voting legitimacy are made at the sole discretion of The Bluffton Sun.
Do businesses have to pay to participate?
Never. There is no cost to be nominated, to vote or to win.
So, why do you offer advertising on the ballot or in The Bluffton Sun?
Advertising packages are available to increase brand visibility during this high-traffic time, as the contest is expected to receive thousands of votes. These advertisements include ballot placements, print and digital ads. Advertising helps offset the costs of producing this contest, including the event, as well as supporting everything we do at The Bluffton Sun — from news coverage to promotions and more.
Keep in mind, advertising does not guarantee a win (and never will) — but it does connect your brand with Bluffton’s largest recognition contest.
II. Nominations & Voting Details
I didn’t see a name on the ballot, so I wrote one in. After refreshing, it still doesn’t appear. Where is it?
If a nomination isn’t already on the ballot, it must be reviewed by our team. Please allow at least two business days — though it’s often much quicker. Once approved, the nomination will appear on the ballot.
Don’t worry! You can keep writing in the name each day until it appears. All write-in votes will continue to tally toward the nominee even if it hasn’t yet been officially added to the ballot.
How detailed should my nomination be?
The more details we have, the better. Some nominations will not be approved without enough information. For example:
• If you’re nominating “Scott” for Best Chef, include at least “Scott at Nectar” if you don’t know his full name. Full names are best in every situation, as there may be two (or three) of the same name at a business.
• For teachers, write “Rachel McQueen at [School Name].”
Basically, if we can’t figure out who they are from the information you give us, we won’t be able to find them. Additionally, other people who are nominating may agree with you — if they know who you are talking about.
Why do some business names auto-populate while others don’t?
The auto-populate feature is handled by Google, not The Bluffton Sun. It helps keep the ballot organized and prevents misspellings. If your business isn’t showing up, make sure it’s registered and active on Google. Please note that if you have moved and not updated your address on Google, it may appear incorrectly on the ballot. For more information, visit Google Business.
And sometimes, even if you are registered, technology can just be a pain. It may take some time before Google updates.
What if people misspell my name? Will those votes still count?
Absolutely. Our ballot software recognizes similar spellings and lets us combine them with the correct one. Once a misspelled vote is merged, any future votes with that same error will automatically count toward you.
I nominated a business with the wrong location or outside of Bluffton. How do I fix it?
If the correct business is already approved on the ballot, simply select that one instead. If it’s not on the ballot or you can’t change your selection for any reason, email us at promotions@blufftonsun.com and we’ll help you get it corrected.
My name, address, or other information is listed incorrectly on the ballot. What do I do?
If you notice any incorrect information on the ballot, email us at promotions@blufftonsun.com and let us know the issue. To help us correct it faster, please include the category where the mistake appears along with the correct information.
Can I suggest a new category?
If you have a category idea, email us at promotions@blufftonsun.com. While we review all suggestions, not every idea will make it on the ballot.
Can I come back later to finish the ballot if I don’t have time to complete it all right now?
Absolutely! With over 200 categories, we know it can take a while. As long as you’ve registered by entering your email on your first nomination or vote, you can pick up where you left off. When you return on the same device, you should be automatically logged in and see your previous selections.
If you aren’t logged in but have already registered, click the “Already entered?” link at the top of the ballot and enter the email address you used.
I registered but didn’t get the email to verify my account. What should I do?
First, check your spam folder. If the email isn’t there, follow these steps:
Sometimes emails get caught in an Email Service Provider’s (ESP) spam or virus filter before reaching your inbox. Each provider has its own filtering standards, and occasionally messages can be delayed or not delivered at all.
While DI Media Group cannot control how an ESP handles emails once they leave our system, we recommend asking users who haven’t received their verification email to whitelist the From Address: blufftonsun@secondstreetmessages.com as well as promotions@blufftonsun.com. This can help ensure the email passes through spam filters and reaches the inbox.
There are several online guides that walk through the whitelisting process. HubSpot has a helpful article covering many email service providers — check it out here.
Once you receive your login link, it’s valid for 90 days, so you can access the ballot anytime without requesting a new link (unless you use a different device during that time).
If you’re still having trouble after following these steps, contact the ballot software company’s Consumer Support team at secondstreet-consumersupport@uplandsoftware.com. Please note, this is not Bluffton Sun support — they handle only software issues.
Why do I need to create an account?
Our ballot software requires an account to track your selections. This protects against fraudulent voting and lets you return to the ballot before the deadline to make changes or add more nominations.
Can I submit my nominations or votes by email or in person?
No. All nominations and votes must be submitted through the official ballot platform. You must create an account using a valid email address.
III. Winning & Recognition
I really, really, REALLY want to win. Can I ask my customers to nominate me in every category so I’ll definitely win something?
Please don’t do this. While you are welcome to ask your customers to nominate you in multiple categories (or even nominate yourself), the best approach is to focus on the categories that truly fit your business. Think about what your customers already say makes you the best and lean into that.
If nominations are submitted in categories that don’t actually apply to you or your business, we reserve the right to remove them.
Speaking of winning, someone contacted me on social media or by email claiming they can “sell votes” and “guarantee” a win. Should I use them?
Absolutely not — these are scams. The Bluffton Sun will never charge for nominations, votes, or winning. Unfortunately, some fraudulent companies try to profit off contests like Bluffton’s Best. Our ballot software automatically tracks voting activity, and any attempt to buy votes will result in disqualification. Utilizing these “don’t pay us unless you win”-type companies may also result in the disqualification of your nomination.
Another common scam is offering finalists or winners the chance to purchase plaques, signs or awards. These companies are not affiliated with The Bluffton Sun, and any awards they sell are not official.
Official winners receive a framed certificate at no charge, and all recognition comes directly from The Bluffton Sun through the event, the magazine and official online/social media announcements from us.
If you ever doubt the legitimacy of an email, offer or promotion, reach out to promotions@blufftonsun.com before responding.
What do winners receive?
Each winner receives:
1. A free framed certificate
2. A Bluffton’s Best window cling
3. Recognition in the Bluffton’s Best magazine
4. A winner listing on the winners’ website
5. An invitation to the TBD Bluffton’s Best event
When will finalists and winners be notified?
We aim to notify finalists after nominations close in November, typically by email or social media, before the next voting round begins. Winner notifications start in January.
Because contact information isn’t always readily available, we may not reach every finalist immediately. If you haven’t heard from us, email your sales representative or email promotions@blufttonsun.com. When reaching out, please provide your business name, location, and contact information, including both phone number and email address.
Why didn’t I get notified that I was a finalist or winner?
With over 200 categories and thousands of nominees, keeping an up-to-date contact list can be challenging. If a nomination or voting round has ended and you haven’t been contacted, please email promotions@blufftonsun.com or reach out to your sales representative. They can help confirm whether you advanced to the next round. When reaching out, please provide your business name, location, and contact information, including both phone number and email address.
When are winners celebrated?
Bluffton’s Best event: TBA, Spring 2026
Bluffton’s Best magazine release: TBA, Spring 2026
How do I find out who the winners are?
Winners will be announced publicly at the Bluffton’s Best event and online at www.blufftonsun.com/best. A copy of the Bluffton’s Best magazine featuring all winners will be available at the event and on our website. Additional copies will be available throughout Bluffton.
IV. Promotion & Marketing
How can I promote my business and earn more nominations or votes?
Advertising is also a great way to stand out. The contest draws thousands of visitors and votes every single day, giving your business a chance to be seen by a huge audience. Advertising options — from ballot placements to print and digital ads — can help boost your visibility and keep your name top of mind with voters. Contact your sales representative for more information.
V. Issues & Complaints
I have a complaint about the contest or one of the winners. Who should I appeal to?
All decisions about the contest — from the rules to the winners — are made by The Bluffton Sun and are final.
That said, if you think there’s been an error, send us an email at promotions@blufftonsun.com, and we’ll take a look.
Vi. Miscellaneous
I don’t see my question here. Who can I reach out to?
If your question isn’t covered in this FAQ, feel free to email us at promotions@blufftonsun.com. Our team will be happy to help and point you in the right direction.
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