When setting up your event, one of the choices you will face is whether to show the rankings of contestants or not. The ranking feature is designed to display the top three contestants with the highest votes in a special section, each with their vote count and a fire icon. 

If you turn it off, the section disappears, leaving only the Meet Contestants section where all contestants are shown with their votes. Both options are available to you, but deciding which one to go with depends on the kind of experience you want to create for your voters.

Let’s go step by step and look at what matters when making this choice.

Understand What the Ranking Feature Does

On your phone, the ranking feature is simple but powerful. When you enable it, a ranking section appears at the top of your event page, showing the top three contestants with their votes. This gives voters a quick snapshot of who is leading. 

When you disable it, that section disappears, and every contestant is shown only in the Meet Contestants section. The votes are still there, but the hierarchy is hidden.

Think About the Type of Experience You Want

Events can have different moods. If you want your event to feel like a competitive race where the leaders are highlighted, turning on rankings will help. 

But if you want a calmer environment where every contestant feels equal in presentation, turning it off might be the better choice. Both experiences are valid, but only you can decide which one suits your event.

Consider the Impact on Contestants

Some contestants thrive on being seen at the top of the leaderboard. It motivates them and may encourage their supporters to vote even more. On the other hand, contestants lower down might feel discouraged if they never see themselves close to the top. 

Hiding the ranking can balance the field, making everyone appear the same way without any highlighted positions.

Think About Voter Psychology

Voters react differently depending on what they see. When rankings are displayed, voters often rush to support those already leading, which may make the gap wider.

When rankings are hidden, voters can focus more on the contestant they personally support without being influenced by who is ahead. This difference can shape the overall voting pattern in your event.

Match It to Your Event Goals

At the end of the day, the decision should align with the goal of your event. If your goal is to build hype and keep voters excited with a visible race, then showing rankings will serve you well. 

If your goal is to keep things suspenseful and let the final results be more of a surprise, hiding rankings is the smarter choice.

Final Words

The ranking feature is not about changing results but about shaping the experience of your event. Showing it creates a sense of competition, while hiding it creates balance and suspense. There is no single correct option. 

It depends on how you want your event to feel for both contestants and voters. So, before you toggle the setting, take a moment to think about the kind of atmosphere you want to build. That will help you make the right choice.

Keep the conversation going, read more on VoteNaija

• How to Track Event Performance from Your Dashboard (On a Smartphone)
• Difference Between “My Events” and “Manage Events” Tabs (On Your Phone)
• Understanding Your Dashboard on VoteNaija (On Your Smartphone)
• How to Create a New Event on VoteNaija (On Your Smartphone)
• How to Avoid Auto Publishing Before You Finish Setting Up Your Event on Your Phone