Running Sweepstakes and Contests on Social Media Channels

By: Sync Marketing | In: Ask Sync, Ask Sync Marketing, Best Practices, Contests, Facebook, Instagram, Marketing, Sweepstakes, Twitter, User Generated Content

This month’s Ask Sync Marketing is all about social media. We are address common questions relating to running sweepstakes and contests on social media channels.

Is one social platform more effective than another when running a sweepstakes or contest?

This really depends on the goals of your campaign and your target demographic. Ask yourself, “Do you want to gather user generated content?” “Do you want to appeal to a younger demographic?” If so, Instagram would be a good medium to choose. This way, you will gain UGC by capturing their uploaded photo. In addition, you will hopefully in turn get them to follow your page in the process. Here is an example of a winning social media campaign that we created. It was even highlighted in Chief Marketer. Lastly, here is an article on the benefits of running an Instagram sweepstakes.

Next we need to cover the ever popular Twitter. When running a sweepstakes Twitter, you will find that it’s an effective way to increase your odds of getting word out about your sweepstakes your mass demographic. It will also help increase your followers. However, if your goal is to encourage consumers to opt-in to your email subscription list, you may consider running a sweepstakes on Facebook. Running a sweepstakes on Facebook will allow you to collect user information and collect opt-ins. While Facebook is for all ages, if your demo skews older, this might be the best social media platform for your campaign. Regardless of the platform you choose, it is important that your entrants have access to the official rules.

Do I have to include a Hashtag in my social sweepstakes or contest?

If your only method of entry is via Twitter or Instagram for example, a hashtag will need to be included in order to identify your entries. For example, if you are running a sweepstakes where you are asking entrants to upload a photo of their pet in a Halloween costume, you might consider asking them to include the hashtag, #Halloweenpetparadesweepstakes with their upload. By doing this, you will be able to recognize all of your entries into the sweepstakes.

One thing to keep in mind is that you will need to make sure to clearly outline that your entrants’ Instagram, Twitter and/or Pinterest profiles must not be set to private during the sweepstakes entry and selection period. It’s also extremely important to add the term, “sweepstakes” or “contest” to the end of your promotion’s hashtag. This is a recent required ruling made by the FTC. It needs to be included in order to help consumers identify that others are posting as part of a sweepstakes. You can learn more about the rule change here.

Am I able to let my customers enter on more than one social platform?

Certainly! As long as it is clearly outlined in the official rules, you can give entrants more than one way to enter. We also recommend that you make it very clear to entrants if they are allowed only one entry total in the sweepstakes. Or, if they are able to earn one entry per method.

The next time you consider running sweepstakes and contests on social media channels, feel free to reach out to Sync. Our expert team will guide you on the best platform to use to achieve your goals. In addition, our legal team stays up-to-date on all of the changes to the rules of social. If you would to some example of Sync’s social media campaign’s check out or work page, here.

Sweepstakes and Contests on Social Media Channels

And the Winner Is… An Insider’s Guide to Entering Contests

By: Jennifer French | In: Best Practices, Contests, Television

On the heels of the Prime Time Emmy Awards, television’s greatest contest so to speak, I thought it fitting to touch upon the art of entering (and hopefully winning) a contest. So what exactly is a contest you may ask? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, one definition is, “to try to win (something).” This is true, but this definition doesn’t touch about the ART of trying to win this said contest.  I’m going to offer you an insider’s guide to entering contests as well as provide some tips to help make sure you have the best chance to win any contest that you may choose to enter.

Before we get into the nitty gritty, I think it’s important for you to first know the difference between entering a sweepstakes vs. a contest. A sweepstakes is a game of chance in which consumers are asked to provide basic information about themselves to be entered into a prize drawing. Most importantly, potential winners are selected in a random drawing. On the other hand, a contest is a game of skill, where entrants are asked to complete a measurable task that is judged and scored. For more information on this, click here.

Now on to the show…

Know the contest criteria – This is the number one most important thing to consider when you enter a contest. First and foremost, you need to know what you are required to submit to have a valid entry. For example, a contest could ask you to upload a photo of yourself at the most exciting location you’ve traveled to as part of your entry. Sounds simple enough, right? But what you may have neglected to notice is that it also said that the photo cannot contain any company logos, and you have on your best Nike jersey.  Disqualified! Information is your friend. Be sure you have all of the facts before you take the time to enter.

Understand the judging criteria – Because a contest is a game of skill, each entry will be judged on a set criteria. So, building on the photo entry above, this contest is judging entrants on three categories: 50% on location, 25% on creativity, and 25% on uniqueness. So, if you submit a shot of yourself in your backyard, I’m guessing you might not rank very high with the judges. However, had you read the criteria, you might have considered showing that picture that you took of yourself diving off of a sailboat in Fiji. Be sure that you chose to submit the best photo that you can to get the best score possible.

Know your audience – Judges are only human after all, so ask yourself when entering, who is running the sweepstakes? If it’s a young, hip energy drink company, the judges might think that a picture of you bungee jumping off of the Grand Canyon is creative and unique vs. you feeding a giraffe at the San Diego Zoo. However, the giraffe picture might work for a pet supply store running a contest. Play to your audience.

So back to the Emmy’s. When you are watching the winners being announced this weekend, think of the steps these actors needed to take to compete for their prizes. Just like you, they first need to know in which category they would be eligible to compete (criteria), submit their best work, and play to the judges. Check out all of the nominees here.