Anyone who follows a service provider on Twitter likely has seen the get-out-the-vote pleas: Help get my restaurant/store/salon
onto one of the “Indy’s best” lists. I know my timeline has been full of them lately—enough so to
make me question the business value of making the grade.
(In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll admit I’ve been a “best of” skeptic ever since Outback
was named the top steakhouse in Fort Wayne more than a decade ago. In a city full of meat-and-potatoes restaurants, I just
didn’t buy it.)
Of course, the lists are far from scientific. They’re typically compiled by media outlets who solicit votes from their
audience. And I certainly can’t blame business owners for wanting a pat on the back.
But time is scarce, and money talks. So I wonder if the payoff is worth the investment. Sure, it’s nice to be able
to say you’re the best cat wrangler in central Indiana, but does it bring customers through the door?
Discuss.
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Welcome to Small Biz Matters, where IBJ discusses issues of interest to small-business owners and entrepreneurs. I'm your host, Associate Editor Andrea Davis.
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Saw the Indy Men's Chorus "Music of Gilbert & Sullivan" at the Indiana Historical Society on Sunday evening.
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Temporary workers are not "tools" they are people and companies that keep large amounts of temp staff are cheating.
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I miss having them around. I hope one of their stores is in the general Meridian/86th Street area. I will make good use of it.
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The Fringe! Plus, the simple fact that there are so many local faves in such close proximity to each other.
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I remenber, watching the toll road, being built, through South Bend, when I was 10 years old. I believe, back then that it was estimated, that the toll road, would be paid for in 20 years and then it would be free. I am now 71, what happened? Since the power is in the people, by that, I mean that, we the people are in total control of everything. I, suggest that no one ever use the toll road again, let it go broke. We the people can control the price of everything, from groceries to gas, if we would just do it. If we don't pay the asking price, the sellers will lower the price and if we wait awhile, they will lower the price to what we accept as reasonable. I would like to know why a highway like interstate 94, is so well maintained, a much better highway, than the toll road, but has no tolls. I would also like to know why, a sitting governor, with a term limit, maximum of eight years, can lease, public property, for 75 years. Even though I have transponders in both of my trucks and will not be affected by the increase, I have been and will contine to avoid using the toll road. I make many trips from northern Indiana to Chicago, every year, and I prefer the better highway, I94!
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I've edited more than my share of Best Of articles, both here in Indy (at another publication) and in Philadelphia.
At best, these sections are fun opinionated pieces highlighting places and things that the publication staff feels are worth celebrating. In an ideal world, the word Best on such articles would be replaced with Our Favorites. (I hope nobody truly believes that a city or regional magazine has the funds to taste every hamburger in a town and try every cat sitter.)
At worst, they are ways for advertisers to worm into editorial through pay-to-play deals.
Somewhere in between (closer to worst, though), are those that are just the results of get-out-the-vote campaigns. The results may appeal to some non-thinking consumers but, for others, they taint the credibility of the publication that prints or runs them.
Quick story: At another publication, which had an editorial-staff Best model, a fellow staffer insisted that a certain bakery had the best chocolate chip cookies. Relying on his passion and judgment, the editors that year awarded Best Chocolate Chip Cookies to said bakery.
Unfortunately, that bakery didn't make chocolate chip cookies and called to complain. I took the call (I was an editorial assistant at the time) and listened patiently as the baker railed about how customers keep calling and calling and calling for the chocolate chip cookies now that the story was in print. "What should we do about it?" he demanded.
My response: "Maybe you should start making chocolate chip cookies."
--Lou Harry
I enjoy the fact that sites like the Indy Channel's A-List exists because so many people leave comments on them. I don't pay the ratings any attention at all, but if I'm looking for reviews on a local bridal shop, for instance, the "best of" sites tend to have more reviews than the Google Places pages.
I also appreciate it when journalists do the reviewing because (depending on the publication, as Lou pointed out) I semi-trust them to have actually gone to the places. It's not how I would find a heart surgeon, but I'm willing to gamble $5 on a chocolate chip cookie they say is good, assuming it exists :).