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Viral contests & giveaways: 9 tips to nail it in 2025.

Anthony Kelechukwu

October 3, 2024

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Viral contests and giveaways are both effective ways to drive massive engagement, traffic and leads in online marketing.

In fact, according to statistics, Instagram Posts that feature contests receive an impressive 3.5 times more likes and 64 times more comments compared to regular posts.

As for contest-related emails, they boast an average open rate of 8.8%. That’s 5.5% higher than the typical open rate for most email marketing campaigns.

That’s not even the Interesting part;

In short, when done right, Viral contests & giveaways have a staggering 3.7% higher conversion rate compared to other CTAs.

But how do you create a contest or giveaway that will bring such a level of engagement?

In this post, we’re going to explore some key tips and strategies to help you host contests and giveaways that could go viral!

Let’s get started!

Understanding Contests and Giveaways

Wait! Are contests and giveaways two different things? Okay, let’s clear up the basics first…

A contest usually asks participants to do something. For example, you might ask participants to submit a photo, write a catchy slogan, or even vote on entries. At the end of the day, winners are chosen based on specific criteria.

While at the other hand, Giveaways are all about “A lucky winner”. Here, the winner is chosen randomly. The only criteria might be to follow your page or drop their email for a chance to win. As simple as that!

The common thing between them is that they will massively boost your brand awareness, engagement, and even sales!

For example, FlySafair went from a startup to one of Africa’s top carriers in just four years, after running a sweepstakes that pulled in over 150,000 entries.

In fact, it’s not even the entries that matter, but the fact that this strategy helped them sell around 30,000 tickets in one year.

What FlySafair did was simple; get people to enter the contest, earn more entries by completing some tasks, and stand a chance to win a free flight for one year!

12 tips to host viral contests and giveaways

If you are planning to host a viral contest or giveaway in 2025, you need to take a strategic approach, because, let’s be honest, success doesn’t happen by chance.

It takes smart planning, creative execution, and strategic promotion.

So, let’s see what makes a contest or giveaway go viral…

1. Set Clear Objectives

Before trying to run a contest in your business, you need to understand what you are doing.

An important question to ask at this stage is; What do you want to achieve with your contest or giveaway?

This might sound like an obvious question, but it’s one of the most crucial steps in planning a viral contest or giveaway.

You might be looking to:

• Increase brand awareness
• Generate leads
• Boost social media engagement
• Drive traffic to your website

Whatever the case may be, defining your objectives will guide every decision you make and help you measure success.

For instance, if all you want to achieve with your campaign is to increase website traffic, you need to set a target (eg. 5000 new visitors).

Having clear objectives will not only help you stay focused, but It will also make it easier to evaluate the effectiveness of your contest or giveaway.

And, if you notice that your contest isn’t meeting your goals, you can adjust your strategy a little bit.

2. Choose the right platform (& tool)

The next tip to nail viral contests and giveaways in 2025 is by picking the right platform and the right tool.

This one is essential because not all social media channels and contests/giveaway tools are created equal.

To make it worse, choosing the wrong one can result in missed opportunities and wasted resources.

The key is to select a platform that aligns with your audience’s preferences and your contest’s objectives.

For example, if you want to host a visual-driven contest that relies on user-generated content, Instagram and Pinterest might be your best bet.

While on the other hand, Facebook works well for broader audiences and offers robust targeting options for paid promotion.

It all depends on your objectives and goals.

You also need to consider using specialized contest tools like RafflePress and SweepWidget.

RafflePress integrates seamlessly with WordPress, making it an excellent choice if your primary objective is to drive traffic to your website or grow your email list through contests and giveaways.

Its drag-and-drop builder, pre-built templates, and social media integrations make setup a breeze. Plus, its viral sharing feature encourages participants to share your contest for extra entries, amplifying your reach.

3. Set engaging prizes

A contest is only as good as its prize. So, your prize needs to be something your audience truly wants.

In fact, It should interest your audience while being relevant to your brand and aligning with your main objectives.

For example, offering a set of free products or an exclusive new launch could be a hit if you’re a beauty brand.

While setting a price for your contests and giveaways, be sure to focus on prizes that will appeal to your ideal customer.

Let’s take the FlySafair case study for example, the airline offered free flight tickets as a prize, which directly tied into their brand and was something their audience genuinely wanted.

This relevant and desirable prize helped them generate significant engagement and drive real business results, such as ticket sales.

4. Set Clear, Concise, and Easy-to-Understand Rules

Running a successful contest isn’t rocket science. It’s about keeping things simple. Clear, easy-to-understand rules are the backbone of any great contest. No one wants to spend hours deciphering a legal document.

So, what’s the secret to writing rules that don’t put people to sleep? Keep it short and sweet.

Focus on the essentials:

• Who can enter: Nobody likes surprises, right? especially bad ones. So, be upfront about who can join the fun. Is it open to everyone, or just people from certain places or age groups? Let them know so there’s no confusion or disappointment later.
• What they need to do: Should they follow your handle? Visit a page on your website? or tag a friend for a chance to win?
• How we’ll pick a winner: How will you choose the lucky winner? Will it be a random draw, a panel of judges, or based on popularity? Be clear about it. It’s like playing fair in a game. People want to know what to expect.
• When it all ends: When will the contest be concluded? When do winners need to claim their prize? Are there any special conditions? A quick FAQ section can answer common questions and make things even easier.

Clear rules make for a smooth contest. When people know what’s expected, they can focus on having fun and engaging with your brand.

5. Design attractive visuals

Naturally, people are drawn to visual content, and having a good one can make your contests and giveaways really stand out.

So, how do you create visuals that scream “Enter Now!”?

Start with the basics: bold colors, clear text, and a picture that pops.

Your visuals should match your brand’s style while also standing out from the crowd. A well-designed graphic can quickly tell people what’s happening, why they should care, and how to join – all in a few seconds.

If you don’t have a budget for expensive design tools, don’t worry, Canva is free to use.

It’s a super easy tool with tons of templates for social media posts, flyers, and more. Even if you’ve never picked up a paintbrush, you can create professional-looking visuals in minutes.

Your visuals should be both attractive and informative. Use them to clearly show the prize, how to enter, and any important dates. Add a catchy call-to-action like “Enter Now!” to encourage people to take the plunge.

And don’t forget to include any necessary disclaimers or rules, even if it’s just a quick mention.

6. Utilize social media effectively

Social media is a goldmine for promoting contests. But don’t just post and pray. You need a strategy to make your contest go viral.

Start by choosing the right social media platforms for your contest. Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are go-to options but don’t overlook platforms like TikTok, LinkedIn, or Pinterest, especially if your target audience spends time there.

Each platform has its own strengths; for instance, Instagram’s visual nature is perfect for showcasing prizes, while Twitter’s retweet feature can amplify your contest’s reach.

To maximize engagement, create a content calendar that outlines a mix of posts, stories, and videos. Use countdown timers, behind-the-scenes content, and sneak peeks of the prizes to build anticipation.

Another key strategy is to interact with your audience. Respond to comments, like entries, and share participant content when appropriate. This not only builds community but also keeps your contest top-of-mind for your followers.

7. Collaborate with Influencers

Influencer collaborations are a powerful way to amplify your contest, reaching audiences that might not otherwise encounter your brand. The key is to choose the right influencers who align with your brand values and have a genuine connection with their followers.

Start by identifying influencers whose audience matches your target demographic.

Micro-influencers, those with smaller but highly engaged audiences, can often deliver better results than big-name influencers because of their closer connection to their followers.

When partnering with influencers, work together to craft content that feels authentic and resonates with their audience. Allow them to put their own spin on promoting your contest.

For example, you can get an influencer to share their excitement about the prize, create an unboxing video, or show how they use the product or service being offered.

You might also need to consider offering exclusive benefits to the influencer’s audience, such as bonus entries or special access to the contest to make the partnership feel more exclusive and valuable.

For example, if you’re running a fashion giveaway, partnering with a fashion influencer to showcase how they’d style the prize can create a compelling narrative that drives entries.

8. Utilize Email Marketing

Contest-related email campaigns get a 5.5% higher open rate than the typical open rate for most email marketing campaigns. Isn’t that amazing?

Kick things off with an announcement email that clearly outlines the contest details—what the prize is, how to enter, and when the contest ends.

Use a catchy subject line to grab attention right away; something like “Win Big! Enter Our Exclusive Giveaway Now!” can create an immediate sense of excitement.

To keep the momentum going, send reminder emails throughout the contest period.

And don’t forget to add a little bit of personalization to your email marketing campaign because it can make your emails even more effective.

Use the recipient’s name, segment your list based on engagement, and tailor your messaging to resonate with different audience groups.

For instance, you might send a different email to loyal customers compared to new subscribers, offering them additional entry methods or exclusive insights about the prize.

9. Leverage Paid Advertising

Paid advertising can give your contest the extra push it needs to reach a broader audience, especially if organic reach is limited.

But it’s not just about spending money on ads. In fact, The key to effective paid promotion is to target your ads strategically so they appear in front of people who are most likely to participate.

Start with social media ads, which are highly effective for contest promotion. Facebook and Instagram ads allow you to target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors, making it easy to hone in on your ideal participants.

Google Ads is another great option, especially if you’re looking to capture search traffic. If someone is searching for “giveaway contests 2024” or similar terms, your contest ad can appear at the top of the search results, drawing in highly motivated participants.

Consider using retargeting ads as well, which are shown to people who have already interacted with your brand or visited your contest page but haven’t yet entered. These ads serve as gentle reminders, encouraging potential participants to come back and complete their entries.

Conclusion

Hosting a viral contest or giveaway can increase your brand’s awareness and engagement, but success requires careful planning. Set clear goals, select the appropriate platform, and create engaging content that resonates with your target audience.

Remember, clear regulations, appealing images, and a simple entry process are essential. Increase your reach by employing social media, interacting with influencers, utilizing email marketing, and investigating paid advertising.

Finally, do not miss analyzing the results. Learning from each contest allows you to improve your plan for greater results the next time. Viral contests are about more than simply getting fast results; they’re about making genuine connections and leaving a lasting impression on your audience.

Are you ready to make your next contest or giveaway viral? Let’s hear how you plan to do it!