The Seguin Gazette's Best of the Best nominations open Thursday, Oct. 1, and close Thursday, Oct. 8. It's a readers' write-in ballot, and Google reviews aren't part of it. The businesses that make it are the ones whose customers actually write them in.
Here's how the 2027 ballot works, straight from the Gazette's ballot and its rules, plus a one-week plan for asking your customers without being pushy.
The dates
Nominations open: Thursday, Oct. 1, at 12:00 a.m. Central.
Nominations close: Thursday, Oct. 8, at 11:59 p.m. Central.
Round two: The Gazette will announce the top 3 finalists and open a second round of voting on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
How the write-in ballot works
It starts empty. There's no list of businesses to pick from at first. Voters type a name into each category they want to nominate.
More than 5 votes puts a name on the ballot. Once a business has more than 5 votes, its name shows up with a green Vote button, so the next person can tap it instead of typing. The Gazette says to allow 24 to 48 hours for write-ins to show up.
One vote per category. The rules say you may only vote once in each category. This round isn't about voting every day. It's about how many different people write you in.
One ballot per person, not per email address. The ballot says voting with multiple email addresses will get you disqualified.
Voters must be 13 or older, per the Gazette's Official Rules. The Gazette also reserves the right to change the rules at any time, so read the top of the ballot again before you send your ask.
There are 210 categories in 12 groups, from Barbecue and Coffee Shop to Plumber, Insurance Agency and Pool Contractor. Some are for people, like Hair Stylist or Real Estate Agent, and say "(include location)." For those, write in the person's name and where they work.
Before Oct. 1: two things to do
Find your exact category. The ballot is already posted, even though voting hasn't started. Find the category that fits you and use the Gazette's exact wording when you ask. "Nominate us for Plumber" is easier to act on than "nominate us."
Settle on one spelling of your name. Voters type your name themselves, so tell them exactly how to write it: the way it reads on your sign and your Google Business Profile. That keeps every write-in pointed at the same name.
A one-week game plan
Wednesday, Sept. 30: Find your category. Decide how your name should be written. Draft one Facebook post and one short text.
Thursday, Oct. 1: Nominations open. Post on your business page, text your regulars and put a note by the register or on your receipts.
Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3: Check the ballot. Once more than 5 people have written you in, your name shows up with a Vote button. Give it the 24 to 48 hours the Gazette mentions.
Monday, Oct. 5: Send one reminder to the same people. If your name has a Vote button by then, say so. It's one tap instead of typing.
Thursday, Oct. 8: Nominations close at 11:59 p.m. Central.
Wednesday, Nov. 11: The top 3 finalists are announced and round two opens. If you're one of them, that's your next ask.
What to send
Keep it short. Something like this, with your own category and the ballot link at the end:
"Could you nominate us for Barbecue in the Seguin Gazette's Best of the Best? Write in our name the way it reads on our sign. Nominations are open Oct. 1 to 8."
How to ask without being pushy
Ask people who already like you. Your regulars, past clients and the folks who send you referrals. You're giving happy customers an easy way to say so.
Make one clear ask. Your name, the category, the dates and the link. That's it.
Ask where you already talk to people. Your own Facebook page, a text to regulars, a note at the counter or on your next invoice.
Thank people either way. Nobody should feel like they owe you a vote.
What to skip
Don't offer anything for a nomination. No discounts, drawings or freebies. The Gazette's rules don't mention incentives, but a vote someone got paid for isn't a recommendation, and in a town this size people notice.
Don't ask anyone to vote twice. The ballot says voting with multiple email addresses gets people disqualified.
Don't mix in a review request. Reviews aren't part of this ballot, and two asks in one message make both weaker. Save the review ask for another day.
Don't flood every Facebook group in town. One post on your own page and a few personal texts is plenty.
Round two
The nomination ballot doesn't spell out how round two voting works. When the finalist ballot opens Nov. 11, read its rules first. The same habits still apply: one clear ask, the exact category and nothing offered in return.
Questions about the ballot? Email me at ryan@rjdigitaltx.com.
Sources
The ballot: 2027 Best of the Best Nomination Ballot, Seguin Gazette, read Sept. 28, 2026. The dates, voting rules and instructions, the category list and the Nov. 11 finalist round.
The Official Rules, from the Rules link at the bottom of the ballot. Voters must be 13 or older, and the Gazette may change the rules at any time.
Correction: An earlier post of mine said Google reviews decide Best of the Best. They don't. Readers' write-in votes on the Gazette's ballot do, and this post replaces that one.
