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22 apr

Reasons to Hire a Sweepstakes Agency for Your Next Campaign

By: Jennifer French | In: Best Practices, Contests, Legal and Prize Fulfillment, Marketing, Sweepstakes

If you’ve never run a sweepstakes or contest before and you are considering adding one to your marketing plans in the near future, it is important that you do your homework on the subject before you begin the process.  There are many things to first identify when planning a sweepstakes. Budget, timing, target audience, goals, etc., (see tips for running a successful sweepstakes), are just a few. You will also need to figure out how the overall process works, and for that, we recommend working with an agency that specializes specifically in sweepstakes and contests.  Here are a few important reasons why you should hire a sweepstakes agency for your next campaign.

Strategy

With anything, you need to start with a plan. Consulting an agency to help you determine how to build the best promotion to meet your goals, all while staying within your budget, is a great place to begin. With these goals in mind, a sweepstakes agency can present a plan for the overall concept of the campaign and determine the best platform to showcase your promotion. Some of these types of campaigns could include; social media, sweepstakes microsite, or an iFrame on your company’s website. They can also brainstorm creative and cutting edge concepts offering you a one-of-a-kind sweepstakes.

Management

There are a lot of moving parts to think about when running an online sweepstakes. Working with an agency who has experience with the process who can take on the management of the promotion is imperative for busy marketing teams.  Not only do they have the expertise, but they are dedicated to the project and will make sure that it is running successfully so that you can focus on other tasks at hand.

Design

A lot of companies have internal creative teams, but do not have teams that specialize specifically in sweepstakes creative. It’s imperative to know how best to design a mobile-optimized sweepstakes. Understanding this ensures that the functionality and flow works from a consumer standpoint. In addition, when you hire a sweepstakes agency, they will be able to design all of the supporting creative such as web banners, in-store POP and social media.  It’s a one stop shop for your promotion, which will save you time and money in the long run.

Programming

In your research you may have come across a sweepstakes app that can build a basic entry form and capture online entries at a low cost.  If that is your only goal, then this could be a valid option for you. If you want to have any customization to your promotion, you will need to hire a sweepstakes agency for programming.  An agency’s programming team can add an instant win component, award extra entries for completing tasks such as sharing on social media, or even collect photo and video uploads.  The sky’s the limit on the possibilities.  They are also able to collect and deliver email and mobile opt-ins. This is typically a big reason companies run sweepstakes. Lastly, if budget is an issue, reach out to us about Turnkey Sweepstakes by Sync Marketing.

Legal Compliance

This is probably one of the most important reasons to consult a sweepstakes agency.  Most companies have in house legal counsel that has a general background in the field of their company’s specialty (i.e. retail, manufacturing, automotive, etc.). With a sweepstakes agency, the legal team specializes in promotion law and stays up-to-date on all of the changes in the field.  If you hire a sweepstakes agency, not only will they create the necessary official rules, affidavits of eligibility and release forms for you, but they will review all of your supporting marketing materials to ensure legal compliance.  Here’s a recent article which outlines Sync Marketing’s legal services.

Prize Procurement and Fulfillment

Does your marketing team have time to select, notify and verify all of the sweepstakes winners?  And after that is complete, do they have time to arrange winner travel, ship out prizing, and/or file tax documentation to the IRS?  If the answer is no, then you should definitely hire a sweepstakes agency.  Not only will they provide these types of services, they will also make sure that all of this is done in compliance with the official rules.  Speaking of prizing, here is an informative article on types of prizing you should consider for a sweepstakes.

Analytics and Reporting

How do you know if your sweepstakes was a success?  The analytics. When you use the services of a sweepstakes agency, they will work with you before the campaign begins to identify the types of metrics you are looking to receive. In addition these metrics can be provided as often as necessary or on a 24/7 password protected website. Without metrics, you cannot clearly determine your ROI.

Running an online sweepstakes is a cost effective way to reach and reward your consumers and promote your company and brand. As we have outlined here, without the proper guidance, mistakes can be made along the way.  We hope the information provided today gave you some better insight on why you should hire a sweepstakes agency for your next campaign. While you’re at it, consider reaching out to Sync Marketing for your next sweepstakes campaign.  Contact us today! Jennifer@syncmarketing.net or 323-596-7962.

Hire a Sweepstakes Agency like Sync Marketing for your next campaign.

 


05 apr

Sweepstakes Legal Services

By: Sync Marketing | In: Best Practices, Contests, Instagram, Legal and Prize Fulfillment, Marketing

If you’re looking for a sweepstakes law company to handle the legal needs for your upcoming project, Sync Marketing has got you covered. We specialize in all aspects of planning, implementing and managing sweepstakes and contest campaigns, although we consider the sweepstakes legal services to be the most important piece of the puzzle. Our legal team specializes in promotion law and are experts in the field. It’s important that when running a sweepstakes that you can trust your sweepstakes administrator to provide accurate and current official rules. This helps to minimize any risk that may come with running a sweepstakes or contest.

The official rules is the most important legal document that you will create for your promotion, but did you know that there is a lot more that goes into making sure you’re running a legally-complaint promotion than the official rules? Not only do we thoroughly go through the concept of the sweepstakes or contest with you and provide creative ideas to ensure you achieve your campaign goals, but we also make sure the promotion is in line with today’s legal standards. In addition, we will review all of your promotional materials to make sure they include all of the necessary legal language. We provide this service to ensure that your sweepstakes is meeting the legal guidelines on all levels. 

Below is a comprehensive list of the sweepstakes legal services we provide at Sync Marketing to help you build a legally-compliant sweepstakes or contest campaign:

  • legal counsel
  • official rules creation and review
  • abbreviated rules
  • legal disclaimers
  • winner affidavit of eligibility and release forms
  • travel companion forms
  • trademark search of campaign title
  • patent negotiations
  • partnership negotiations
  • client indemnification
  • letter of opinion
  • fraud mitigation of promotion offers
  • fraud mitigation of consumer entrants
  • bond and register campaign per state and federal guidelines
  • legal compliance review of all promotional materials and social media posts
  • contest criteria
  • contest judging
  • background checks
  • insurance coverage of prizing
  • file all required winner lists

If you’re on the fence and about hiring an sweepstakes administrator for sweepstakes legal services, check out this article that provides reasons as to why you should.  We hope to have now convinced you to not only hire a marketing agency that specializes in sweepstakes law, but to considering hiring Sync Marketing. Whether it’s an Instant-Win Sweepstakes, an Instagram promotion or video contest, Sync Marketing will cover all of your legal needs and make it a seamless process to build and launch your next sweepstakes. Contact us today at inquiries@syncmarketing.net or 323-596-7962 to receive a quote.

Sweepstakes Legal Services provided by Sync Marketing