Running contests can be a great way to promote your product or service and increase engagement, followers, and sales. They are also a good way to engage people who are on your email list and get them to like your Facebook page. You can also use the information you collect from contests for future marketing efforts. Here are some tips for making your contests as effective and successful as possible.

1. Decide What You Want to Accomplish

To get started, choose one or two relevant and attainable goals to focus on that you want to achieve with your contest. Your goal might be to sell a product or service, grow your email list, or collect pictures of people using your products so that you can display them on your website. Your goals should be measurable and specific. Also, check the contest rules for the social media platforms you want to use.

2. Choose the Contest Type

Choose a contest type that is best suited for your goals. Some poplar contest options include sweepstakes (the easiest to enter), photo-vote, video-vote, and caption. If you want to collect user-generated content, photo-vote or video-vote contests work best.

People like offering their opinions, so one successful contest type is to display a picture with two of your products on it and ask people to vote on which one they would prefer to win. By voting, people are entered into the contest. Then, when the contest ends, you randomly select a winner and give away the prize that received the most votes.

3. Decide How Long the Contest Will Run

The duration of your contest can depend on how often you hold contests and the value of your prize. If you are giving away a large prize such as a vacation trip, you will probably want to run your contest longer to get as many entries as possible. You might also consider doing a weekly or monthly contest for smaller prizes such as a dinner at a restaurant.

Create a page that lists the official contest rules and be sure to include the date and start and end time for the contest along with the time zone, the name of the contest, and the contest sponsor. Remember to share the start and end time of the contest in your promotions.

4. Choose the Right Tools for Your Contest

Using third-party software will help you to collect email addresses and other contact data from entrees. You can also find tools that include voter verification capabilities. A Facebook timeline contest is a good option if your goal is to boost engagement. You can find a comment/like importer tool for gathering Facebook names and user IDs from people who engage with your post. Make sure your contest is mobile-friendly by using software that has a mobile-responsive smart URL, and test your contest on various smartphones and tablets.

If you are using Facebook, you can set up the contest to require people to like your Facebook page before they can enter the contest by using a like-gate on your contest app.

If you use third-party software for your contest, the software you choose should make it easy for you to share the contest on all social media platforms. For example, when entrants finish filling out the entry form, they can be shown a message that gives them more chances to win if they share a referral link to the entry form with a friend.

5. Establish Contest Rules

In your contest rules, detail how the winner will be chosen and announced. For example, will the winner be chosen at random or by community vote? Consider including a section stating that you have the right to determine the final winner. Also, include the date and time when the winner will be announced, how and when the winner will be informed, how long you will wait for the winner to respond to you or to receive the prize before they forfeit the prize, and the number of entries needed to give away the prize.

6. Determine Who Can Enter Your Contest

You can limit your contest to a certain age group, gender and location. For example, if your goal is to increase traffic to your brick and mortar location, you can limit entries to people who live within a 50-mile radius of your business.

7. Choose an Enticing and Relevant Prize

Choosing an enticing prize is important for getting lots of entries. Choose a prize that ties back to your business and is enticing to your customers. For example, if you own a salon, you might offer some free haircuts. Also, display a great image of the prize in your contest with a description of the prize. In addition to giving a grand prize to someone, consider giving a smaller prize to anyone who enters, such as a discount on a product. Thank all entrants for participating.

8. Use a Good Hashtag

Use one or two hashtags to promote your contest on social media. You might create one hashtag for your business and another for the contest name. To get hashtag ideas, try tools such as Hashtagify.me.

9. Optimize Your Page and Images

Create images that represent your contest and brand. On your promotion page, use the colors and logo of your brand. Keep your entry form simple to make it easy for people to enter. Collect up to three pieces of information from entrees such as name, email address, and age. You will be able to use this information in the future for marketing.

10. Promote Your Contest

Facebook Ads are one way to promote a contest that allow you to tailor ads to a specific audience. You can also announce the contest to your email list, on your website, blog, and social media profiles. Find platforms where you can promote your contest. Two options are www.online-sweepstakes.com and www.contestgirl.com.

Once you have run a contest, analyze your results and determine what motivated people. Make improvements to the contest, and repeat successful campaigns. You will build loyalty, and increase your reach and sales.

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