The Big Idea: Turn Local Love Into Measurable Growth
How Charleston’s Choice 2026 helps established favorites and emerging brands turn community love into year‑round revenue.
11
years of Charleston’s Choice
celebrating local favorites
celebrating local favorites
30,000+
engaged readers invited to
nominate & vote in 2026
nominate & vote in 2026
6,000+
businesses nominated
in 2025 across the Lowcountry
in 2025 across the Lowcountry
125,000
votes cast in 2025,
creating massive word‑of‑mouth
creating massive word‑of‑mouth
Charleston’s Choice is not just a contest—it is the moment each year when the Lowcountry pauses to recognize the businesses they simply cannot live without. Now in its 11th year, the 2026 program again invites more than 30,000 engaged readers to nominate and vote for their favorite local businesses across 350+ categories, from food and nightlife to home services, health, shopping, and more.
In 2025, over 6,000 businesses earned nominations and more than 125,000 votes were cast, giving local brands massive word‑of‑mouth exposure and recognition that lasts long beyond the ballot. For 2026, Charleston’s Choice is designed to serve two core groups: long‑time favorites ready to defend and expand their reputation, and emerging businesses that want to get on the map fast.
▲ Why It Matters for Established Favorites
Turn past wins into a 2026 loyalty engine.
If your business has been nominated or placed before, Charleston’s Choice is now part of your brand story—and 2026 is about amplifying that advantage. A pre‑populated ballot means prior nominees are already in the system, making it easier for loyal customers to find and support you during Phase 1 (May 1–29).
If your business has been nominated or placed before, Charleston’s Choice is now part of your brand story—and 2026 is about amplifying that advantage. A pre‑populated ballot means prior nominees are already in the system, making it easier for loyal customers to find and support you during Phase 1 (May 1–29).
Built‑in head start
Upgrade listings into full‑funnel touchpoints.
Upgraded listings let you stand out with photos, descriptions, and links, turning a simple “vote” button into a full‑funnel brand touchpoint. Instead of a plain name on a list, customers see who you are, what you offer, and how to engage with you—right at the moment they are most motivated to choose their favorites.
Upgraded listings let you stand out with photos, descriptions, and links, turning a simple “vote” button into a full‑funnel brand touchpoint. Instead of a plain name on a list, customers see who you are, what you offer, and how to engage with you—right at the moment they are most motivated to choose their favorites.
Visibility + depth
Layer on sponsorships for market dominance.
Category, group, and package sponsorships add premium visibility: fixed 728×90 placements, print ads, and high‑impact digital positions across postandcourier.com and the ballot itself. Your name stays front and center while customers are actively deciding where to spend their money in the year ahead, creating proof you can use in advertising, hiring, and sales all year long.
Category, group, and package sponsorships add premium visibility: fixed 728×90 placements, print ads, and high‑impact digital positions across postandcourier.com and the ballot itself. Your name stays front and center while customers are actively deciding where to spend their money in the year ahead, creating proof you can use in advertising, hiring, and sales all year long.
Defend & grow
■ Why It’s a Launchpad for Newcomers
Compress years of awareness into one season.
For businesses that are new to Charleston’s Choice—or even new to the market—this promotion compresses years of awareness‑building into a focused, highly visible window. Readers are actively looking for “the next great” restaurant, shop, service provider, or experience in their neighborhood, giving newer brands a rare chance to be discovered alongside long‑time favorites.
For businesses that are new to Charleston’s Choice—or even new to the market—this promotion compresses years of awareness‑building into a focused, highly visible window. Readers are actively looking for “the next great” restaurant, shop, service provider, or experience in their neighborhood, giving newer brands a rare chance to be discovered alongside long‑time favorites.
Fast‑track exposure
Tell your story with upgraded listings.
An upgraded listing gives your brand the space to properly introduce itself: your story, your visuals, your links, and a built‑in share button that makes social amplification easy. Instead of hoping people stumble across your name, you give them a clear reason to click, explore, and vote.
An upgraded listing gives your brand the space to properly introduce itself: your story, your visuals, your links, and a built‑in share button that makes social amplification easy. Instead of hoping people stumble across your name, you give them a clear reason to click, explore, and vote.
Brand introduction
Choose packages that scale with your ambition.
Entry‑level options like upgraded listings or single‑category sponsorships provide an efficient path into a crowded marketplace. Bronze, Silver, and Gold packages add multi‑channel reach with bundled print, digital, and ballot exposure—helping new businesses quickly earn finalist or winner status, then leverage that badge on their website, signage, and marketing all year long.
Entry‑level options like upgraded listings or single‑category sponsorships provide an efficient path into a crowded marketplace. Bronze, Silver, and Gold packages add multi‑channel reach with bundled print, digital, and ballot exposure—helping new businesses quickly earn finalist or winner status, then leverage that badge on their website, signage, and marketing all year long.
Flexible investment
★ What’s New in 2026: Frictionless “Text to Vote”
Turn everyday interactions into votes.
The 2026 program introduces dedicated “Text to Vote” keywords, giving both established and new businesses a low‑friction way to turn everyday customer interactions into nominations and votes. With a simple SMS—no links, no QR codes needed—customers can take action in seconds, whether they are in your storefront, on the phone, or seeing your message on social or email.
The 2026 program introduces dedicated “Text to Vote” keywords, giving both established and new businesses a low‑friction way to turn everyday customer interactions into nominations and votes. With a simple SMS—no links, no QR codes needed—customers can take action in seconds, whether they are in your storefront, on the phone, or seeing your message on social or email.
Frictionless action
Add Text to Vote as a built‑in or standalone lever.
These keywords are included in packages, group and category sponsorships, and upgraded listings—and can also be sold on their own. That flexibility lets you test the waters or layer “Text to Vote” onto your existing marketing mix, creating a seamless bridge between your real‑world customer base and the Charleston’s Choice ballot.
These keywords are included in packages, group and category sponsorships, and upgraded listings—and can also be sold on their own. That flexibility lets you test the waters or layer “Text to Vote” onto your existing marketing mix, creating a seamless bridge between your real‑world customer base and the Charleston’s Choice ballot.
New 2026 lever
▼ How Charleston Businesses Plug In
Understand the three phases and pick your level.
Charleston’s Choice runs in three clear phases: Phase 1 nominations (May 1–29), Phase 2 finalist voting (June 5–July 3), and Phase 3 celebration and publication of winners and finalists in The Post and Courier in September. Throughout, you can choose the level of participation that matches your goals and budget—from upgraded listings to Bronze/Silver/Gold packages and the exclusive Title Sponsorship for maximum market dominance.
Charleston’s Choice runs in three clear phases: Phase 1 nominations (May 1–29), Phase 2 finalist voting (June 5–July 3), and Phase 3 celebration and publication of winners and finalists in The Post and Courier in September. Throughout, you can choose the level of participation that matches your goals and budget—from upgraded listings to Bronze/Silver/Gold packages and the exclusive Title Sponsorship for maximum market dominance.
Structured timeline
Lock in sponsorships before they sell out.
To reserve a group or category sponsorship, or to discuss the right package for your business, contact charlestonschoice@postandcourier.com and secure placement before key categories are sold out. Whether you are defending your title or stepping into Charleston’s Choice for the first time, the big idea is simple: show up where local love is being measured—and turn that love into measurable business growth.
To reserve a group or category sponsorship, or to discuss the right package for your business, contact charlestonschoice@postandcourier.com and secure placement before key categories are sold out. Whether you are defending your title or stepping into Charleston’s Choice for the first time, the big idea is simple: show up where local love is being measured—and turn that love into measurable business growth.
Act early