12 tips to running a winning social media contest

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Running a social media contest is a great way to drum up enthusiasm for your business, increase your list of email subscribers, get new Twitter followers and Facebook likes, and create a fun experience in the process.

In this post, we share 12 recommendations, choices for you to consider, and options to keep in mind to run a successful social media contest of your own.

1. Know what you want
Are you trying to get newsletter subscriptions, expose certain usa phone number list products, gain brand recognition, or drive up Facebook fans? Knowing what your goals are will guide the process.

2. Choose the type of contest you want to have
Sweepstakes contests are the easiest to enter, with the lowest barrier of entry. Photo or video contests with fan votes get the most engagement. Caption contests or quiz contests are other options. Winners can be randomly selected, picked by you or a panel of judges you select, or voted on by other readers. Pinterest also has a wide variety of “Pin It to Win It” promotions you can peruse for ideas including this simple contest from Ally Bank Financial Inc.



3. Decide how long the contest will run
If you’re running a photo or video contest, stretch contests out longer by having several rounds of voting says Nicole Krug, owner and operator of brand marketing and social media company Social Light.

“If you don’t have a huge budget but just want to spur some engagement, you can also do a flash contest,” Krug says. These contests – often one-day contests done every week or two – brings small bursts of engagement without emptying your marketing budget.

4. Choose a platform
Decide whether you want the contest to run on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, etc. Choose one and stick to it, though you can still cross-promote your contest on other social networks. Want an all-encompassing campaign? Popular options for contests include Rafflecopter, Votigo, PromoSimple and Giveaway Tool. Many have free trial plans or versions that are free for up to a specified number of entries. Some have forms and templates. “If you’re on a budget and know how to code, Krug recommends Shortstack.