The deadline to nominate your favorite business for the TN Readers’ Choice awards is just a few days away.

Readers have until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to go to the contest page on tnonline.com and name their favorites in auto, entertainment and sports, financial, food and drink, home, health, shopping and professional and specialty services.

And it’s easier than ever to make nominations. Each category has businesses that have already been nominated by readers so new voters can choose from those names or type their own.

“We listened to you and changed the format to make it easier,” said advertising director Jen Benninger.

More than 1,100 people have cast nominations so far.

“We selected 199 categories but the readers nominated every business,” Benninger said.

Businesses also have the options to highlight themselves on the ballot.

“You don’t have to advertise to be featured,” Benninger stressed.

However, businesses can choose to enhance their listing with an advertisement.

Benninger stressed that the people listed already on the ballot have been nominated by readers. “Choices are updated daily.”

Local businesses have been embracing the contest by handing out fliers asking people to vote. One local business is putting fliers on top of pizza boxes.

The top five in each category will be entered into the next phase of the contest to earn bragging rights as the best business in their category.

From Aug. 7 through Aug. 31, readers will vote for their favorites.

The TN Readers’ Choice “Nominate me” is available to businesses for the asking until July 24. You can print out a file or use the logo on social media. Just contact Jen Benninger at jbenninger@tnonline.com. If your business moves to the voting level, a “Vote for me” logo will also be available.

People who participate in Readers’ Choice nominations can win a $25 gift card to Dunbar Bottling Company Inc. of Lehighton. Check out Readers’ Choice at tnonline.com/contests.