De-Coding The Best of CSUN 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012 at 05:32PM
(1) What is it?
The BEST of CSUN is an annual publication produced through the Daily Sundial at Cal State Northridge. Each February the CSUN community votes for their favorite businesses and servicesaccording to predetermined categories. Voting lasts through the month of February and the results are published both in print and online by late March.
(2) Why does it matter?
Once the results are released, the Best of CSUN provides valuable insights to businesses about their reputation within the CSUN community. For example, winners tend to have a combination of strong branding and fan loyalty where as those who did not win might be missing something valuable to students.
To a business, winning means free exposure in the Daily Sundial through a directory like listing giving the top three winners for each category. But that isn’t all; winners in any of the food and drink categories will have their listings carried over into a restaurant guide published in the fall.
(3) What's new this year?
This year featured a unique illustrated cover incorporating all the winners in a fun and unique way. The illustration gives the issue a sense of collectability and encourages people to treasure their copy . Alex Sonbalee, owner of the Thai Food Restaurant Lum-Ka-Naad, has even requested a copy of the illustration to frame and display in his restaurant!
In addition to the Daily Sundial's online promotion of the Best of CSUN results through their website, we've created a list of all the winners in foursquare.
Foursquare users that check-in to businesses (or businesses nearby) that won in the Best of CSUN will see a tip from the Daily Sundial about the category that they won! Users can also follow the list and keep track of which businesses they've been to. It's kind of like a digital guide to all the best places around CSUN.
(4) What's Next?
Winners of the Best of CSUN will soon be receiving certificates with the coveted Best of CSUN logo! Winning is a great honor so it would be beneficial tobusiness owners to display their certificates for all their customers to see. But the honor does not stop there, winners should think about how to maintain their title while others should think about how to grow their audience for the next year.
And of course the Daily Sundial is here to help; we have a fantastic staff just waiting to answer your questions and help you rise to the top, so give us a call! You can reach us at (818) 677-2998 or through our e-mail at ads@csun.edu.


