Expert Interview: Doug Davis on Building Trust in Local Recognition
Paid placements and “pay-to-win” badges have made many consumers skeptical of business award. Voted Number One, the top-rated platform for community-voted local business awards, is taking a different approach. We sat down with Doug Davis, Founder of Voted Number One, to talk about why community voting matters, how local businesses can use recognition responsibly, and how this philosophy aligns with the work we do at Siana Marketing, helping brands build real, trust-based digital authority.
Siana Marketing: Doug, for people hearing about Voted Number One for the first time - what is it, really?
Doug Davis: At its core, Voted Number One is a platform where communities recognize the local businesses they genuinely trust. Customers nominate and vote, and the winners are decided entirely by the community. There’s no panel, no paid ranking manipulation, and no behind-the-scenes deal-making.
One thing I want to be very clear about: this is not a vanity award. Businesses don’t buy their way to the top. They earn recognition because real people take the time to vote for them.
SM: Why was that distinction so important to you when building the platform?
Doug: I’ve been on the business-owner side. I’ve seen how some “awards” operate, you get an email saying you’ve won, but the real goal is to sell you a plaque. That kind of model erodes trust.
We wanted to flip that. Recognition should come first. If a business chooses to purchase a physical award or promotional materials afterward, that’s optional. The credibility comes from the vote, not the purchase.
SM: How does community voting create real value for local businesses?
Doug: Trust. When a business can say, “We were voted number one by our community,” that means something. It’s social proof that didn’t come from an ad campaign or a clever tagline.
It also motivates teams. Employees get excited when customers show up for them like that. It’s one of the most genuine forms of recognition a local business can receive.
SM: At Siana Marketing, we focus heavily on digital trust and visibility. How do you see Voted Number One fitting into that ecosystem?
Doug: They’re very connected. Digital marketing today isn’t just about traffic, it’s about credibility. Awards only matter if people trust them. When a platform like Voted Number One shows up in search results, AI summaries, or local research, it reinforces that credibility because the recognition is community-driven.
What Siana Marketing does well is help businesses communicate why they’re trusted - through SEO, content, and visibility in AI-driven search. Voted Number One becomes one more proof point in that story.
SM: Many business owners worry about awards feeling “salesy.” What would you tell them?
Doug: I’d say: look at how the winner is chosen. If the answer is “by the community,” that’s a good sign. We’re transparent about our process, and we actively vet nominations to ensure businesses are legitimate.
Our long-term goal is to be a trusted reference point, for consumers looking for the best local options and for businesses that want recognition they can stand behind.
SM: What’s next for Voted Number One?
Doug: We’re starting city by city. The vision is to become the go-to place people trust when they ask, “Who’s the best at this in my area?” Not because we said so, but because the community did.
