Working a web based contest is among the quickest methods to drive visitors to your website, enhance engagement, and develop your electronic mail listing. Contests and giveaways show you how to join along with your viewers in a approach that feels enjoyable slightly than promotional. With the suitable technique, a web based contest can generate lots of and even hundreds of latest leads. You possibly can construct a bigger, extra engaged viewers for your enterprise and begin driving extra gross sales straight away.
On-line contests could sound like plenty of work, particularly for busy small enterprise house owners and entrepreneurs. I’m right here to let you know that it’s a lot simpler than you assume, particularly when you might have the suitable instruments for the job.
On this article, I’ll focus on the advantages of giveaways and supply a step-by-step information to operating a profitable on-line contest. I’ll particularly present you the way an easy-to-use contest software like RafflePress will help you attain your enterprise’s objectives.
Desk of Contents
What Are the Advantages of Working an On-line Contest?
Questioning if operating a web based contest or giveaway is definitely worth the effort? Let’s take a better have a look at among the advantages:
Enhance Web site Site visitors
Working a web based contest is a straightforward strategy to drive extra visitors to your web site by means of referrals and social shares. RafflePress, the software we’re utilizing on this tutorial, has built-in viral sharing that permits you to reward customers with bonus entries for referring a good friend or sharing your giveaway on social media.
Develop Your E mail Listing
You possibly can simply develop your electronic mail listing with a web based contest or giveaway by requiring customers to enroll as a way to get entries. Simply be sure to maintain them engaged all through the competition and past with compelling electronic mail copy.
Increase Your Social Media Followers
Working a contest can shortly enhance your social media followers. Supply bonus entries to your giveaway in trade for follows, and your variety of social media followers will explode.
Generate Focused Leads
A viral giveaway will improve model recognition and put your enterprise and merchandise in entrance of extra eyes. This won’t solely show you how to generate certified leads but in addition improve gross sales!
See how KnivesShipFree.com boosted their income by greater than $10,000 utilizing giveaways.
Now that you simply perceive the advantages, let’s discover easy methods to run a web based contest.
Run an On-line Contest (Step-by-Step)
1. Set a Purpose for Your On-line Contest or Giveaway
Earlier than doing anything, ask your self what you need to get out of your on-line contest or giveaway. It is advisable to set a purpose.
Listed below are some widespread objectives:
- Generate gross sales
- Increase model consciousness
- Enhance person engagement
- Drive visitors to your web site
- Get extra electronic mail subscribers
- Collect user-generated content material
- Get extra social media followers
- Create a buzz round a brand new services or products
Choose a purpose that aligns along with your general enterprise and advertising targets. It’s quite a bit simpler to run a profitable on-line contest when you’ve chosen a purpose, and also you’ll be extra likelu to get the outcomes you need.
2. Select the Proper Contest Prize
If you’d like your contest to create buzz and entice plenty of entries, you want an attractive prize that appeals to your target market.
The most well-liked contest prizes embody present certificates, free services or products, or money. Try this listing of contest prize concepts for those who need assistance selecting.
A very powerful components for selecting prizes are your target market and your model. Select prizes which might be related to the viewers you’re making an attempt to achieve, and also you’ll entice these folks to your contest.
3. Plan out the Contest Guidelines
That is most likely the step the place most would-be contest creators quit on their contest and stroll away.
Have you ever ever checked out contest entry guidelines? These issues are stuffed with jargon and lawyer-speak.
Let’s break it down so it’s not so intimidating.
Listed below are the issues that it’s essential determine about your contest:
- Who can enter? Are there age limits or location limits to your contest?
- When can folks enter the competition? When does the competition begin and finish?
- How can folks enter to win? How usually can they enter?
- Will you be drawing winners randomly, utilizing a vote, one other methodology?
When answering these questions and planning out your contest guidelines, maintain your objectives in thoughts. For instance, if you wish to get extra user-generated content material, you must require entrants to submit their very own pictures, testimonials, or different content material.
Essential Word: For those who’re operating a contest on social media, be sure to’re following that platform’s tips and insurance policies. Fb, for example, has pretty strict contest guidelines. For extra particulars, take a look at 8 Fb Giveaway Guidelines: Full Information for Companies.
4. Create an On-line Contest With RafflePress
RafflePress is a robust and easy-to-use WordPress giveaway plugin. Its drag-and-drop builder makes it ridiculously simple to create a shocking contest touchdown web page or giveaway widget very quickly.
With RafflePress and its spectacular listing of options, you’ll be able to simply improve social media follows, drive web site visitors, and develop your electronic mail listing. And, there’s even a free RafflePress Lite plugin obtainable within the WordPress plugin repository!
For this tutorial, we’re utilizing the Professional model of the plugin so you’ll be able to totally perceive all of RafflePress’s superb capabilities.
For extra info, take a look at this useful evaluate of RafflePress.
Step 1. Create a New Giveaway
To get began with RafflePress you’ll must obtain, set up, and activate the RafflePress plugin. When you’ve activated the plugin, RafflePress will present up in your WordPress dashboard.
To create a brand new giveaway, hover over the RafflePress icon within the WordPress dashboard and click on Add New.
Step 2. Title Your Giveaway and Select a Template
When you click on Add New, you’ll be taken to a brand new display screen the place you’ll be able to title your giveaway and select a template. The title is only for you, so use one thing that is smart to you. It received’t be seen by customers.
Subsequent, select a contest template from one of many wonderful designs supplied by RafflePress to make constructing your contest even simpler.
For this tutorial, we’ll use the Basic Giveaway template, however you’ll be able to select a template primarily based in your objectives: Develop Your E mail Listing, Pre-Launch Marketing campaign, Develop Your Instagram Following, and extra.
To pick a template, simply hover over it along with your mouse and click on Use This Template.
Step 3. Set the Giveaway Prize Particulars
After selecting a template, you’ll be taken to the RafflePress giveaway builder.
Click on on the pencil icon within the Giveaway Prize Particulars part so as to add your prize and any particulars about it you need to embody.
To make your prize extra interesting, make sure you add a picture by clicking the Choose Picture button. You possibly can select a picture out of your media library or add a brand new one out of your laptop.
Once you’re completed modifying the prize particulars, click on on the Performed Modifying button.
Acquired extra prizes so as to add? Merely click on on the +Add One other Prize button.
Set the time span to your contest within the Begin and Finish Time part beneath the Giveaway Prize Particulars.
Once you’re completed, click on the Save button within the high proper nook of the builder. You should definitely save usually as you’re creating your giveaway.
Step 4. Select Your Contest Entry Actions
RafflePress presents a number of methods for customers to your contest, and you’ll add as many entry actions as you need.
To arrange your contest entry actions, click on on the Actions tab and click on on any entry methodology you need to add. The entry actions are sorted into 3 teams primarily based on totally different objectives: Get Extra Subscribers, Get Extra Social Engagement, and Get Extra Site visitors.
You possibly can even add extra weight to sure entry actions to make these actions price extra entries. So, if you wish to develop your electronic mail listing above all else, you can also make electronic mail signup price extra contest entries.
Once you’re completed including your entry actions, Save your giveaway.
Step 5. Design Your Contest
Now it’s time to customise the design of your giveaway.
Go to the Design tab.
You possibly can select from a number of totally different layouts, set a background picture or colour to your touchdown pages, and decide button colours and fonts.
After you have your giveaway wanting the best way you need, click on Save.
Step 6. Configure Contest Settings
Click on on the Settings tab to configure your contest guidelines.
Don’t panic. RafflePress makes it very easy to create guidelines to your contest. Use the RafflePress Guidelines Generator to create contest guidelines shortly.
Begin by clicking the +Generate Guidelines button. This may carry up a window the place you’ll be able to enter your contest particulars like sponsor contact information, eligible areas, and minimal age.
Then, click on Generate Guidelines, and the software creates primary contest guidelines for you!
Additionally within the Settings tab, you’ll be able to arrange electronic mail verification, success monitoring, success redirect, social logins, and extra.
Step 7. Publish Your Contest
You’ve created your on-line contest, so now it’s time to let it free on the world.
Click on on the Publish tab to see the three publishing choices:
- Giveaway Touchdown Web page: This feature permits you to create a distraction-free giveaway touchdown web page in your web site.
- RafflePress WordPress Block: With this feature, you’ll be able to embed the giveaway widget in a WordPress publish or web page within the WordPress block editor.
- WordPress Shortcode: Utilizing a WordPress shortcode, you’ll be able to embed your giveaway within the traditional WordPress editor, sidebar widgets, or inside your WordPress theme.
Whichever methodology you select, your contest shall be dwell and able to go!
5. Promote Your Contest or Giveaway
You’ve put plenty of work into constructing a contest you may be pleased with, so now it’s time to point out it off and get some entries.
Listed below are among the finest, and best, methods to advertise your on-line contest:
- Share it on Fb, Instagram, X (previously Twitter), TikTok, and many others.
- Submit it to on-line sweepstakes and contest directories
- Announce it in your electronic mail e-newsletter
You must begin selling your giveaway earlier than it even goes dwell. This may create a buzz across the contest and show you how to get a ton of entries from day 1.
6. Choose a Winner
RafflePress makes it very easy to select a winner to your giveaway.
The best and most truthful approach to decide on a giveaway winner is by random draw. When your contest is over, go to RafflePress » Giveaways and click on on the Wants Winners hyperlink subsequent to your marketing campaign.
You’ll be capable of see all the individuals who entered your contest and what number of entries they’ve. To select a random winner, merely click on the Choose Winner button, select your choices, then click on Select Winners Now.
Your fortunate contest winner shall be highlighted.
E mail your contest winner to share the comfortable information by clicking E mail Winner.
7. Observe up With Contest Entrants
After you’ve contacted the winner, it’s vital to let all the opposite entrants know the standing of the competition. Retaining your contest entrants knowledgeable won’t solely improve your credibility, nevertheless it permits you to interact with them and construct relationships.
Ship an electronic mail e-newsletter to announce your contest winner and thank everybody for becoming a member of within the enjoyable. You should definitely invite them to take part once more.
Social media can also be a straightforward strategy to announce your contest winner and the prize they received. Social posts can maintain folks speaking about your contest and model for some time longer.
RafflePress Makes it Straightforward to Create an On-line Contest
As you’ll be able to see, RafflePress presents a ton of options that can assist you create essentially the most profitable giveaways.
With RafflePress, you get entry to pre-built contest templates, 1-click entry and fraud safety, social media integrations, and viral sharing (refer-a-friend). And, RafflePress integrates with all the most effective electronic mail advertising providers and CRMs to streamline your advertising efforts.
With a profitable contest, you’ll be driving extra visitors to your web site. Subsequent, it’s essential convert these guests into subscribers and prospects.
With OptinMonster, you’ll be able to goal your contest entrants with particular presents and promotions, utilizing our popups, floating bars, and different onsite campaigns.
Need to study extra? Try How Does OptinMonster Work? 3 Highly effective Use Instances.
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