Running a contest on social media is a great way to get more followers, increasing your reach which consequently gives you an increasing audience. It’s also a great way to get more people to share. When people are given the chance of winning something, whether it is small or big, they are more likely to share it with their friends and family. In order to run your contest successfully, here are 6 key steps you will want to follow.
Identify your goal
If you want to improve your social media presence and grow your brand, the most important rule to follow is this: set a goal. A concrete goal. This will force you to think about what you want from your social media activity. With a solid strategy, you can easily transform a mediocre following into a successful one. And remember – consistency is key! The contest will get eyes on your social media, but you have to keep putting content out there and keep them engaged.
Choose a platform
Each platform has its own unique features and benefits. However, not every social media platform is worth using for your contest and goals. Choosing one platform will help to funnel traffic and results to one place. Instagram is a great place to start if you are not interested in boosting your contest post. Facebook can benefit you if you are interested in spending a few dollars on getting your contest out there. Wherever your goal is targeted, focus your contest there.
Select a prize
Pick the prize that excites your audience. This could be a big challenge, but pick something that aligns with your brand. Consider providing a free service, giving away a product, or sending your winner an engraved item with your logo. Get creative with your prize and branding. A social media giveaway doesn't need to be complex, select a prize that will really drive people to participate.
Establish the contest rules
The most important rule for social media contests is to establish a time limit and a method for entry. Don’t make it too complicated. You should not have any more than 3 steps to enter the contest. If you make it too difficult people won’t be driven to participate. Your instructions will vary based on your campaign goal.
If your goal is to increase reach engagement, here are some simple steps you can require.
1. Share this post
2. Follow our page
3. Tag a friend
Monitor Contest
Monitoring social media for giveaways and contests can be a challenge. Keep track of the people who complete the requirements to enter.
Announce winners
Once you have a winner, announce it in a big way! I recommend going live. This is a great way to get a lot of traction and perform better on the platform algorithm. If you have a prize that people are excited about, they will tune in to see if they won.
Like any good recipe, social media is made of ingredients. You need a base recipe: followers, engagement, and topic interest. The more time you put into your social media marketing, the better your results will be. Building the base of your recipe by launching a raffle or contest will benefit your business with great returns!