First-party data marketing

By: Julie Link | In: Sweepstakes, sweepstakes company, sweepstakes management, sweepstakes marketing

First-Party Data Marketing Is Changing…And Sweepstakes Are Leading the Way

First-party data marketing has officially entered its main-character era. With cookies crumbling, platforms tightening access, and AI demanding better inputs, brands are realizing something fast: if you don’t own your data, you don’t own your marketing future.

And while many marketers are scrambling to duct-tape solutions together, the smartest brands are leaning into a tool that’s been quietly solving this problem for years, sweepstakes.

Yes, really.

The Data Panic Is Real (And Justified)

Marketers everywhere are feeling the pressure:

• Third-party cookies are disappearing

• Ad platforms are giving less visibility

• AI tools promise magic… but only if fed quality data

That’s where most strategies fall apart. AI can optimize, personalize, and predict—but it can’t invent insight out of thin air. Without reliable, permission-based customer information, even the most advanced tools are guessing.

This is why first-party data marketing isn’t a buzzword anymore, it’s a survival strategy.

Why AI Actually Makes Sweepstakes More Valuable

There’s a lot of noise right now about using AI for marketing. What’s missing from the conversation is this: AI is only as smart as the data it learns from.

Sweepstakes naturally generate:

• Verified email addresses

• Declared preferences

• Behavioral signals

• Explicit opt-ins

That combination is gold. Instead of scraping together anonymous clicks, brands get clean, usable insights that can fuel segmentation, personalization, and smarter automation.

According to research shared by Gartner, organizations that prioritize owned data sources outperform peers who rely heavily on third-party signals. That advantage compounds quickly when AI enters the picture.

Why Sweepstakes Beat Static Lead Forms Every Time

Let’s be honest, no one gets excited about filling out a generic “Sign up for updates” form.

Sweepstakes flip the script by offering:

• A clear value exchange

• A reason to engage now

• A frictionless entry experience

Instead of begging for data, you’re earning it.

This is why first-party data marketing strategies built around promotions consistently outperform traditional lead capture methods. They don’t just collect contacts, they create moments of engagement that customers actually remember.

For a deeper look at why owned data is becoming essential, this breakdown from HubSpot does a great job explaining the long-term value without the hype.

How Smart Brands Are Building AI-Ready Promotions

The most effective sweepstakes today aren’t just giveaways—they’re systems. High-performing brands are:

• Keeping entry forms short, then layering in progressive profiling

• Using automation to tag and segment entrants immediately

• Designing promotions that feed directly into CRM and email flows

This approach turns a single campaign into a long-term asset. Instead of chasing the next spike in traffic, you’re building a data foundation that supports everything else you do.

If you’re planning ahead for spring or summer campaigns, this is the moment to rethink how promotions fit into your broader first-party data marketing strategy.

Why This Matters Right Now

AI isn’t replacing marketers. It’s exposing weak strategies.

Brands that rely on borrowed data and rented audiences are already feeling the squeeze. Meanwhile, companies investing in owned engagement channels, like sweepstakes, are creating leverage that lasts.

And here’s the thing: this doesn’t require massive budgets or complex tech stacks. It requires a smarter approach to promotions and a partner who knows how to structure them correctly.

Ready to Turn Promotions Into a Data Engine?

At Sync Marketing, we don’t believe sweepstakes are just about entries or impressions. We build promotions that:

• Capture high-quality data

• Respect compliance requirements

• Integrate seamlessly with your marketing ecosystem

• Actually support your growth goals

If you want to see how this works in practice, check out our internal guide on building high-performing promotional campaigns (internal Sync Marketing link).

Or better yet, reach out. We’ll show you how to turn your next sweepstakes into a long-term advantage powered by first-party data marketing.

Because the future of marketing doesn’t belong to the loudest brand—it belongs to the smartest one.

International Sweepstakes and Contest Law

By: Julie Link | In: Marketing

Are you considering running a sweepstakes or contest in multiple countries? International sweepstakes and contest law can be overwhelming. These four steps will help get you prepared for a successful campaign.

1. Plan Ahead

Creating and Approving Rules: The lead time for running an international sweepstakes and contests is longer  because you need to allow for feedback and approvals from multiple jurisdictions. Sync Marketing creates the US version of the official rules first, then distributes the approved US rules to legal counsel  in each participating country. We receive their feedback and implement it into the final set of rules. This process can take a couple weeks based on the number of countries involved. Recently, Sync Marketing was the administrator for Rapyd’s Hack the Galaxy promotion, which ran in an astonishing 47 countries!

Translations: After the rules are approved, they will need to be translated in the language of the participating countries, which can take up to another week. 

Filing Fees: Keep in mind that you will need to bond and register the promotion in NY and FL one week prior to the campaign start date as well as follow the guidelines of each participating country based on the structure of the campaign

Creating official rules, translation and bonding and registering are all services that Sync Marketing provides.

2. Consider a multi-phase approach

If you are hesitating to dive in to a full-blown international campaign, maybe start with a toe dip. Some of our clients start with a North America and UK campaign as those can move forward more quickly. If successful, they will run another the following quarter to include additional markets. If you have the ability for a multi-phase approach, this would be a good concept for you.

3. Budget accordingly

Understandably, running a sweepstakes or contest in multiple countries comes with additional costs. Make sure to consider the legal, programming, filing, and translation costs involved for this larger initiative. Sync marketing frequently runs international campaigns and can provide a same day quote

4. Hire a sweepstakes agency

International sweepstakes and contest law can be overwhelming. That’s why it’s best practice to work with an agency that specializes in all aspects of international sweepstakes and contest law. At Sync Marketing, we can handle all aspects of your next international sweepstakes or contest, including the design, development, legal and prize fulfillment. High profile, international campaigns come with risks if not buttoned up from the start. Hiring a sweepstakes agency for your next international sweepstakes or contest will ensure you can proceed with piece of mind while leaving it to the experts.

International Sweepstakes and Contest Law

Five Types of Holiday Giveaways to Run

By: Julie Link | In: Marketing, Sweepstakes

The holiday season this year seems to have come around quicker than ever before. As brands prepare to execute their holiday plans, throwing in a last-minute holiday giveaway could possibly create your best ROI all season. Today, I will discuss five types of holiday giveaways to run. 

One – Days of Giving Sweepstakes: Keep up engagement with a day of giving sweepstakes this holiday season. Award a prize every day for an extended period. Allowing consumers to receive one entry a day will increase engagement with your brand. If you promote and/or run it on social, it will allow consumers to see other featured gift items and holiday sales you are promoting because they will be returning daily to enter. In addition, consumers feel as though they have a better chance at winning if more prizes are given away. Try going for the gold and offer a larger overarching grand prize to increase awareness about your giveaway.

Two – Social Sweepstakes: We are all guilty of scrolling and buying on Instagram. Take advantage of this “lazy” way of shopping by running a social giveaway. Ask entrants to follow, like and tag a friend for a chance to win. We would also recommend giving a prize to the friend who is tagged. Need some more tips? Check out this article from Social Media Examiner.

Three – Holiday Wishlist Sweepstakes: There are many fun ways to incorporate a Wishlist sweepstakes concept into your holiday plans. Try asking consumers if they would rather have A, B or C this holiday season. List items with comparable prices and if they win, let them choose which item they want to receive. This also provides you with consumer insight on which products are most popular. Check out this article about running a sweepstakes can help sell products online.

Four – Family-Friendly Contests: If your brand is geared towards children, try running a family-themed contest this holiday season. You could ask entrants to turn one of your shipping boxes into a race car and submit a photo or have a turkey drawing contest. The possibilities are endless, and the concept will help bring families together. 

Five – Photo Contests: Another theme that has endless possibilities. Thank silliest family holiday photos, best captured moment of the year, or even ask consumers to take a photo of their space that they need upgraded. Depending on your brand this is a great way to create a custom promotion specific to your brand that will produce engagement and fun. Need ideas on what to give away? Check out this article here.

It’s the season of giving, so give your consumers what they want – a holiday giveaway! Need more ideas on types of holiday giveaways to run? Contact Sync today for a free brainstorming call. 

Types of Holiday Giveaways

4 Reasons to Run a Contest Now

By: Julie Link | In: Ask Sync Marketing, Contests, Legal and Prize Fulfillment, Marketing, sweepstakes company, User Generated Content

The last 12 months have been unlike anything any of us have ever experienced. 2021 is the year for companies to give back to consumers more than ever before. One of the best ways to give back is through running contests. Today I will discuss 4 reasons to run a contest now. 

People want to feel connected

Now more than ever, people want to share their experiences as a way to connect. This is a great opportunity for brands to ask their customers to share their story for a chance to win something truly helpful to them. Crate and Barrel is currently asking engaged or recently married couples to share their story for a chance to win everything in their registry (up to $2,500). In addition, Crate and Barrel will make a $1,000 donation to Feeding America® on behalf of each couple.

Feel-Good Content

People are ready to start getting good news again! What better way than to run contests that help share good news and create positive change. Aerie is continuing their Changemakers initiative for a second year to celebrate consumers who are making a difference and reward them with the necessary funds to continue their work. 20 amazing applicants will win $20,000 towards their personal missions. This campaign spreads good vibes while celebrating the efforts of people making changes in their community.

Consumers are on their phones now more than ever

Since you already have a social team trying to drive awareness and followers, why not add a contest? It’s a win for you and a win for consumers.  A social contest is a great way to garner user-generated content and followers. With consumers on their phones now more than ever, having them upload content all while promoting your brand along the way is a no brainer. This also builds awareness for your brand, allows you to learn more about your consumer, and leaves them feeling seen and rewarded. As stated in outgrow.com, companies who run contests get an average of 17,500 new followers through a contest: 

Have some Fun

Did you see the Big Game this year? If so, you probably saw the commercial for Mountain Dew’s Major Melon Bottle Count contest. Viewers were asked to tweet out how many bottles of Mountain Dew appeared in the ad for a chance to win $1 million dollars. Within minutes, there were thousands of tweets. Not everyone has Pepsi’s budget, but you get the idea. Offering consumers a fun contest will get them excited, engaged and will leave them with a good taste in their mouth about your company or brand (pun intended). 

I hope these 4 reasons to run a contest now, were helpful. There are an assortments of ways to run a contest, and this year is the time. Let’s give back to our communities and let their voices be heard. Contact Sync today for help brainstorming your next campaign.

Including Sweepstakes in Your 2021 Marketing Budget

By: Julie Link | In: Ask Sync, Ask Sync Marketing, Best Practices, User Generated Content

So, 2020 just happened…Let’s try to quickly put it behind us and begin planning for all the positives 2021 will hopefully bring. With more certainty of a better year ahead, marketers can now put more of their focus on finalizing a marketing plan and budget for the new year. Today I will discuss three reasons why including sweepstakes in your 2021 marketing budget is a good idea. 

1. Effective ROI

With a turbulent 2020 in the rear-view mirror, you should look forward to what will give you the best return on your investment in 2021. Low cost, high reward campaigns are a great starting point. Sweepstakes are known for being an affordable yet effective marketing strategy. Sweepstakes and contests allow you to engage with your consumers, obtain new email subscribers, and leave them both feeling appreciated. 

“… marketers might prioritize ROI over other metrics and avoid high-risk options. Flexibility is key, and it’s time to reevaluate your marketing budget so that it actually meets your company’s needs.” – Hope Horner from Business2Business

2. Social Reach

Running a social media sweepstakes or contest can greatly increase your follower base, create buzz and produce usable UGC. And in a year people are using social media platforms to connect now more than ever, it’s a simple and effective way to build your base and connect with those already in your base. In the article, 23 Mindblowing Statistic on Giveaways and Contests in 2020, Outgrow mentioned that 34% of new consumers are acquired through social contests and brands gain an average of 17,500 new followers through organizing these campaigns on their page. 

For 2021, I would recommend running social media campaigns where you ask your consumers to tell their story. People want to share and want to connect, so give them a platform to do so. If you’re still in need of ideas for what type of social media sweepstakes to run, check out this Sync article where we discuss the top 5 social media sweepstakes ideas to engage consumers.

3. Consumer Loyalty

There’s never been a better time to reward your loyal and dedicated consumers than after a year where a majority of people’s budgets were stretched thin. If they have stuck with you, now’s the time to give back. When running a sweepstakes or contest, we always recommend giving away many smaller prizes and a larger overarching grand prize. The large prize will attract consumers and the smaller prizes will give back to more people. In addition, for 2021 we highly recommend surprise and delight offers to every consumer who participates. This is the time to give back and thank your consumers for hanging in there with you. Here, Clickz discusses why customer marketing is important for 2021. 

While we could list many more reasons as to why including sweepstakes in your 2021 marketing budget is a good idea, we feel that after a crazy year, simple is better. Connection is key…so connect, listen, and give back to your consumers.

5 Reasons to Run a Quiz with a Sweepstakes

By: Julie Link | In: Ask Sync Marketing, Marketing

Taking a personality quiz or participating in a poll is all the rage these days. Who doesn’t want to be told if you are an introvert who likes to cuddle up next to a fire or an extrovert who is always keeping busy? Quizzes are very popular, especially on social media sites, so it makes sense to take advantage of this marketing tool. While running a quiz on its own is a great marketing tool, in this article I outline why adding a sweepstakes component  has exponential benefits. Here are my 5 reasons to run a quiz with a sweepstakes.

1 Data Collection

You can learn so much about consumers and potential consumers when running a quiz. The information you receive from the quiz can be used for future marketing opportunities for your brand. And, you can target all of the new email subscribers you obtained through the sweepstakes and tailor your messaging to their specific likes. Second street also believe data collection is a benefit as they mention in this blog post.

2 Engagement

Quality engagement is so important when running a sweepstakes. If a consumer is willing to go to the effort to fill out a quiz, you know they have some curiosity for your brand. An effective add-on to any quiz with a sweepstakes is to offer a surprise and delight coupon after entry. This will lead to further engagement and traffic to your website, ideally leading to a sale.

3 Reach

As previously discussed in my post, “5 Ways to Increase Email Subscribers with a Sweepstakes,” people inherently want to share things about themselves to others. A quiz in no different. After you get your result, it’s common to want to share it with the world. This is an effective way to increase your reach when running a sweepstakes. You can even offer entrants extra entries for sharing their result with their friends on social media.

4 Reward

Make sure the prize is grand. At Sync Marketing, we always recommended including several smaller secondary prizes and a larger overarching grand prize. The smaller prizes give entrants the feeling that they have a better chance to win and the larger prize can be eye catching and tend to motivate people to participate. Whether it’s cash, a trip or a gift card for your site, make sure it’s worth the effort for your consumers to enter. As with all the reasons, great prizing is a fantastic way to increase the number of people who enter your sweepstakes and take your quiz. 

5 Fun!

Since quizzes and sweepstakes are so popular, offering them allows consumers to have a fun and positive association with your brand and/or products. Plus, the more memorable engagement you have with consumers, the higher chance they will return to your site again and hopefully purchase something while there.

In conclusion, running a quiz with a sweepstakes is a fun and effective way to gather consumer information, email opt-ins and create a positive interaction with current and potential consumers. Here is a current quiz Sync is running. For more information on Sync Marketing’s quiz with a sweepstakes feature, contact us today.

5 Ways to Increase Email Subscribers with a Sweepstakes

By: Julie Link | In: Best Practices, Contests, Marketing, Sweepstakes, sweepstakes company, User Generated Content

Sweepstakes are a cost-effective tool for increasing your email subscribers. It’s important to note that not all subscribers are created equal. You want people who are truly interested in your brand to sign up. While the number of email subscribers is important, it’s also more important that you obtain subscribers who are truly interested in engaging with your brand. Today I will discuss 5 ways to increase email subscribers with a sweepstakes.

Know Your Audience

Running a sweepstakes specific to your brand will increase engagement and build your email subscribers list with authentic and quality opt-ins. A recent example of this was a dog food company that ran a photo contest where they asked entrants to upload a photo of their dog dressed up in a Halloween costume. The fact that it was very specific to dog owners and thematic to a holiday, lead to quality engagement. It also created fantastic user-generated content as well as increased email subscribers.

Incentivize

Incentivizing entrants to share the opportunity for more chances to win is an effective and free way to promote your sweepstakes. While this could be a separate blog post all on it’s own, it’s important to consider a few factors if you want to incentivize entrants. People inherently want to share things that tell others more about them. That share could be from a quiz result, a charitable cause they hold dear, or anything else that evokes emotion. Try to tie one of these reasons for entrants to share into your sweepstakes concept. One example is to consider running a sweepstakes with a quiz component. People love sharing their results. And if it’s for an extra chance to win, this will increase tenfold. Here is an example of a quiz Sync recently completed for Aerie. 

Offer an Exclusive Opportunity

It’s often all about the prize. Offering an exclusive opportunity is a great way to get many quality entries. This could be a VIP experience at the Super Bowl, a meet-a-great at an awards show, or a red carpet experience at a movie premiere. Last year our client Paul Stewart offered exclusive prize packages. They partnered with a home rental company to give away weekend trips to different locations in New York and added on a custom fitting to their Paul Stewart store in New York.

Share Share Share

A great way to increase engagement and therefore increase the chance of signing up email subscribers is to offer multiple chances to win. Try offering weekly entry periods with an overarching grand prize. When an entrant first enters, give them the opportunity to opt-in. You can also offer them the chance to receive email reminders about the sweepstakes. Each week you will have an opportunity to tell them about that week’s prize, getting them to continuously engage with your brand.

Create a Landing Page

While running a social media sweepstakes is great to collect UGC, you won’t have the opportunity to collect email opt-ins. Therefore, we always suggest running a sweepstakes that has a dedicated landing page vs. a social sweepstakes. Whether potential email subscribers enter on your landing page or just get information about the sweepstakes, a landing page allows you to have a dedicated spot for consumers to get all of the information they need. It also increases traffic to your site. If you are running a social sweepstakes, you can still have a landing page with all of the information in one spot. On the landing page, give entrants the opportunity to opt-in directly on your page to get more information about the sweepstakes and other opportunities.

In conclusion, there are several effective ways to increase email subscribers with a sweepstakes. If you need some ideation help, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for some ideas! 

Retail Sweepstakes: How to drive consumers online with a retail sweepstakes

By: Julie Link | In: Marketing

This post is a continuation of my previous post about how to drive consumers in-store with a retail sweepstakes. Due to the current pandemic, retailers have had to shift most of their focus to online sales. Today, I will discuss how to help drive consumers online with a retail sweepstakes. Something retailers need to do now more than ever.

CTA:

At Sync, we always recommend a simple sweepstakes microsite to create the best ROI and traffic to your website. Big Commerce also discusses how simple online sweepstakes are a great way to drive traffic to your website. No hoops, just a simple entry form and a great prize. If you want to go a step further and prompt entrants to shop online, create a call to action after entry. Perhaps it’s a surprise and delight discount coupon good for 25% off a pair of jeans or a code for free shipping. 

Get Trending:

As we all know by now, social sweepstakes are a fantastic way to create user-generated content. In addition, it’s a great way to get trending via hashtag. People are home now more than ever and ready and willing to provide content. Some are begging for it! So why not create a contest that asks consumers to showcase their quarantine style? This is a great way to connect with your consumers and reward them in the process. The more the hashtag trends the more eyes you will have on your brand or products, which in turn will translate into more online sales.

E-gift Cards for the Win:

Prizing is key to drive consumers to enter for a chance to win. While we have discussed prizing many different times, if you are really focusing on online sales, provide e-gift cards as prizing. If budget allows, I would recommends giving away as many gift cards as possible and then having a larger overarching grand prize. We have found this makes a sweepstakes very enticing to enter. Consumers feel as though they have a real chance at winning and the larger grand prize is always appealing. 

With the holidays around the corner, now is the time to run a sweepstakes and drive online sales. Contact Sync today if you want to set up a brainstorming call.

Why Should I Run a Sweepstakes?

By: Julie Link | In: Marketing

Why should I run a sweepstakes? Running a sweepstakes (or contest) has a plethora of benefits ranging from increasing brand awareness to engaging new and current consumers. Let’s break down the main benefits to see if this marketing tactic is right for you and your brand or service.

Customer Acquisition: Are you looking to grow your email database? Sweepstakes are one of the simplest ways to do so. The sweepstakes should either have an auto opt-in or ask entrants if they want to opt-in. If you’re collecting entries in California, you will need to be aware of CCPA. You can learn more about that here. At the end of the campaign, Sync Marketing will securely send you the email opt-ins to use for future marketing outreach.

It’s Cost Effective: Sweepstakes are extremely affordable compared to other marketing strategies. Using a platform like TurnkeySweeps by Sync allows you to run a full-service sweepstakes at an affordable price. While brands can put money into ad campaigns on social media, a great way to get free advertising is to ask entrants to share the sweepstakes for extra entries. While sweepstakes are cost-effective and provide great ROI, this article gets into the specifics of the best solutions for running cost-effective sweepstakes.

It Boosts SEO: If you are giving away a big prize and your sweepstakes garners a lot of views, it can significantly increase your SEO. Go a step further and tie your sweepstakes to a hashtag for another significant boost. The Content Factory agrees that sweepstakes are good for SEO:

“When a popular website links to your company, your site’s search engine ranking is improved. Ditto for tweets and Facebook updates about the contest that link back to your website. When more people are finding your website when the search online, more people are buying your products.” – Content Factory

It Creates Positive Interactions with Consumers: This is probably the most important. Especially during these times, it’s important to have positive interaction with your consumers. By giving away either cash, an experience, or a gift card, your consumers will appreciate your generosity and will continue to engage with your brand. Contests are also a great way to have a positive interaction with your consumers. By creating a skill-based promotion to win a prize, they will feel connected and invested in your brand.

If you have any additional questions about if you should run a sweepstakes, contact Sync Marketing at info@syncmarketing.net. We will answer any questions, provide pricing, and examples. We look forward to hearing from you!

Engaging Consumers with Sweepstakes and Contests

By: Julie Link | In: Marketing

It’s not business as usual. Businesses are struggling to find ways to connect with their consumers while we are forced to “social distance” by staying home. So how do brands interact with consumers? How do they connect? A great way is engaging consumers with sweepstakes and contests.

Fashion brands are finding creative ways to engage with their consumers while they sit at home. PAPER Magazine discusses how Fashion Brands are taking advantage of their consumers staying home.

Fashion brands and designers are among those leading the way in getting everyone to participate and have fun thanks to recent contests popping up online. Below, see full details for some of the challenges you can get involved in now. – Papermag

Furniture and office supply brands can definitely jump in on the contest bandwagon. Are your consumers now working from home? Let them show a photo of how they are making it “work.” Qualifio speaks to creative ways brands can engage with their consumers by working from home.

You can also imagine a particular photo contest for the ones doing homework. Encourage them to share their home office space, homeworking memes or even the most awkward homeworking situations. Let them share their experiences with others and enjoy the moment! – Qualifio

All brands can figure out a creative way to engage consumers through sweepstakes or contests. Sweepstakes and contests are cost-effective ways to engage new and existing consumers, gather user-generated content and reward consumers. Kick Off Labs discusses why contests work in this article here.

If you’re thinking of running a cost-effective sweepstakes or contest in order to engage consumers, contact Sync Marketing today.

Engaging Consumers with Contests