Recognizing &
Celebrating The Best
California.com only recommends a very limited number of businesses who truly represent the best of our Golden State. Our recommendation program is unlike any other.
Wondering how we define the best?
exceptional products or services
Highly regarded by customers within each respective industry.
COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY
Demonstrated social and/or environmental impact.
CALIFORNIA SOUL
Unique California heritage or story.
Are you a top California business?
When customers see our recommendation badge, they know your business stands out for a reason that matters.
Great businesses deserve unique recognition and customers should be able to cut through the noise to easily find them. When customers see our recommendation badge on your website or on ours, they know your business stands out for a reason that matters.
Stand out as a unique and high-quality business
Stand out
We offer only three recommendations in each business category (per geographic area).
your story?
AMPLIFY your story
When customers understand the story behind a business, their loyalty and likelihood to recommend increases dramatically.
When customers develop an emotional connection with a business, their loyalty and likelihood to recommend dramatically increases.
Inspire your customers and win their lifetime loyalty
Inspire your customers
Customers are increasingly making their buying decisions based on a company’s values, impact and authenticity. Our badge is a symbol of your commitment to community.
Customers are increasingly making their buying decisions based on a company’s values, impact and authenticity.
Benefits
We work collaboratively with the businesses in our program to elevate their brands in creative ways.
RECOMMENDATION BADGE
License to use our recommendation badge on your website, marketing materials and storefront (where applicable).
BUSINESS FINDER
Be featured on our geo-targeted Business Finder. Only three businesses are highlighted in each category and geographic area.
RECOMMENDED BUSINESS
FINDER
SOCIAL MEDIA + EMAIL
Promotion to our 1M+ followers on social media and our email subscribers.
@HELLOCALIFORNIA
PROFILE PAGE + CUSTOM CONTENT
Beautiful profile page and custom content that is search engine optimized.
Does your business qualify?
Our program is exclusive to California-based businesses with verified high-quality products or services and a demonstrated commitment to serving their community. We recognize that the nature of community impact varies across industries and business sizes. Examples can include volunteerism, efforts to reduce or eliminate waste, charitable donations, etc.
Please feel free to reach us at partnerships@california-corp.com with any questions regarding eligibility.
APPLY TODAYWe do not spotlight businesses that are primarily focused on alcohol, tobacco or marijuana (i.e. bars, wineries, dispensaries) on our site. Learn more in our FAQs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes. However, every California.com recommendation is earned, never bought. An applicant cannot simply pay their way into our program. Once we have determined that a company meets our criteria and is accepted into our recommendation program, we do charge a membership fee to cover the cost of administering the program and to reflect the commercial value our program provides for our recommended businesses. Fee schedules range based on industry and location. Please feel free to reach out to us for more information: partnerships@california-corp.com.
We recommend a very limited number of businesses in each category and geographic area (typically 3-4 max). Our program cuts through information overload and helps customers easily identify top businesses that we have carefully selected and curated.
Unlike most recommendation programs, we go beyond customer reviews to look deeply into a business and its impact in the community. And unlike most accreditation-based recommendations, we go a step further by actively promoting our recommended businesses.
We are a one-of-a-kind recommendation program specifically designed to promote, support and celebrate our Golden State business community.
We start with a short application process and interview. For businesses that move forward in our process, we require proof and validation from our applicants regarding the information they have submitted to us.
We also conduct our own analysis, taking into account reviews and other accreditations a business may have received. For some industries, we may ask for letters of recommendations from clients or suppliers.
While we support everyone's individual freedom and choices, we choose to stay away from alcohol and other intoxicants on our site. We believe that, overall, these industries do not serve community health and wellness.
One of our core company values is service to humanity. In order to live true to this principle, we do not promote businesses whose primary product or function is alcohol, tobacco or marijuana related.
Note that a business is not precluded simply because they offer these products (for instance, a restaurant that serves wine).
No. We feature many businesses on our site, including in our Getaway Guides and other articles. Not all of these businesses are in our recommendation program but those that are are indicated as such with our badge and a note that distinguishes them as a recommended business.
We believe top businesses deserve unique recognition and customers should be able to easily cut through the noise to find them. Furthermore, today’s customers rightly care about what the businesses they patron stand for. We inspire customers to support the best businesses in their communities, and we inspire businesses to consider their contributions to the community.