What You Need to Know Before Getting Started
Custom Voting Links are ballot‑specific.
Your ballot must be turned on.
Your domain must be mapped to the active ballot in order for Custom Voting Links to function correctly.
How to Create Custom Voting Links (Admin Setup)
Navigate to Advertising.
Select Other Ads.
From here, you can either:
Manually enter Custom Voting Links, or
Click + New Ad to create one.
Complete the required fields, including:
Cover image (no required image size)
Intro text describing the business
Filters for the groups and categories included in the link
This functionality is also available through Self‑Serve, allowing businesses to purchase Custom Voting Links directly.
Enabling Custom Voting Links for Self‑Serve
Go to Settings.
Scroll down to Enable Ballot Sales Portal.
Under Other Ads, locate Custom Voting Link.
Enter a price for the Custom Voting Link:
Minimum price: $1
Recommended range: $20–$75, depending on your market
Toggle the feature On.
Once enabled, the Custom Voting Link will appear as an option in the Promotion section of your ballot.
What a Custom Voting Link Looks Like
A Custom Voting Link includes:
A landing page image (any size)
Business description text displayed below the image
A Continue button that launches a focused voting experience
When a voter clicks Continue, they are taken through a curated selection of groups and categories chosen for that specific link.
The Micro‑Ballot Experience
The Custom Voting Link opens a snippet of your live ballot, often referred to as a micro‑ballot or custom ballot.
Any existing advertisements on the ballot will still appear.
Voters can:
Submit a vote
Skip a category
Use navigation to move between categories
Groups and categories do not need to be within the same group. For example, a voter may move from Drinking to Eating during the experience.
After completing the micro‑ballot or custom ballot, voters are redirected to the main ballot page, where they can continue voting in other groups and categories if desired.
Receipts, URLs, and QR Codes
When a business purchases a Custom Voting Link via Self‑Serve, they receive a receipt.
The receipt includes their unique Custom Voting URL.
Businesses can use this URL to:
Create their own QR codes
Display them at their business (tables, signage, etc.)
Share the link digitally
Note: QR codes are not created by the system, but businesses are free to generate their own using the provided URL.
Final Notes
Custom Voting Links are a powerful way for businesses to drive engagement while keeping the voting experience simple and focused.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to us at support@cityspark.com.—We’re happy to help!