February 1st saw the launch of thebestof's annual '14 Days of Love' campaign, hence the suitably romantic look to the site at the moment.  For those who have not been involved in this exciting campaign in previous years, now is the time to catch up and declare your undying love (ok, maybe a bit over the top) or at least your genuine appreciation of our local businesses and the sterling work they do.

You know the ones, the butcher that doesn't skimp on the sausages and can always come up with a delicious, inexpensive dinner idea to impress your guests with. Or the garage who always make sure they have a courtesy car for you when yours goes in for a service.  Not to mention the salon that squeezes you in at the last minute when the man of your dreams finally asks you to dinner, tonight...

From now until the 14th February we are encouraging you all to acknowledge these sometimes unsung heroes by leaving them a testimonial, as a show of your appreciation. It takes minutes, is so simple and yet means a huge amount to the businesses involved.  Aside from the fact that everyone likes to be loved, climbing to the top of the Love-O Meter can give our local businesses fabulous publicity, as the campaign gets bigger and bigger and attracts the attention of not just the local press, but gets coverage in the National newspapers too.  This is a fantastic opportunity to put Rugby on the map and let everybody know what a great place it is to live.

Last year saw fantastic success for local salon Perfection Beauty who celebrated not just the Most Loved Beautician in Rugby award but also the prestigious Most Loved Beautician in the UK - and that is no mean feat.  Clearly they are keen to retain their crown and currently have an impressive 139 reviews on the Love-O Meter giving them top spot in the National Beauticians category!  As a beauty salon at the forefront of cutting edge technology offering the most up to date treatments including permanent cosmetics, Lipofirm Plus treatments, lash extensions, hair removal, tanning, teeth whitening and much, much more a visit to Perfection Beauty is guaranteed to leave you feeling like a million dollars - what's not to love!  And it's not just for the ladies, a wide range of treatments are available for the man who cares about his appearance.

With their reviews currently numbering 347 on the Love-O Meter our region's most popular Mexican restaurant, La Casa Loco is reigning at the top of the table for Rugby. Being in 3rd place in their Restaurant category and 13th place on the overall most loved business section they promise to be a strong contender for both the local and National Awards.  Currently celebrating their 20th anniversary this authentic, friendly eatery offers traditional Mexican and Cajun cuisine to die for!  Catering for parties large and small, everyone who dines at 'the mad house' is guaranteed a lively experience in unique and vibrant surroundings.

Klickers Hair Salon are a mere 14 reviews behind Perfection lying in third place on the Rugby table, so it's clearly going to be a close run thing!  They have been expertly styling the barnets of the ladies and gentlemen of Rugby for 15 years in their salon which boasts not just the latest in styling and colouring techniques, but a full relaxation experience complete with soothing background music, an extensive drinks menu and even the option of TV screens to view whilst you are transformed!

Remember, you need to encourage your customers to submit a review.  Don't be discouraged if your reviews don't run into the hundreds, the nature of each business often determines the level of recommendations it can achieve. A business in a more specialist category can often finish at the top of the local and National tables with significantly less reviews than a business with a high footfall of customers.

And if you are a small business owner don't miss the opportunity to big up your business, you've earned it.  Let your customers know about the campaign and encourage them to post a few words.  Many people welcome the chance to reward excellent service with more than just a thankyou.  Similarly support your business to business contacts, the accountant that rescued your tax return, the IT company that are always on hand to take care of your technology.

And, as if you needed further encouragement, everyone who leaves a testimonial is in the running to win a daily prize.  Spa days, champagne, a Michelin starred dinner for two, even a trip on the legendary Orient Express, an much much more will be up for grabs.

So what are you waiting for, click on the link here and spread the love - and you can also get involved via Facebook and Twitter where we are promoting the campaign nationwide.