Marketing to Millennials with a Sweepstakes

By: Julie Link | In: Advertising, Best Practices, Contests, Facebook, Instagram, Marketing, Sweepstakes, User Generated Content

Marketing to millennials can be a challenge. They are currently the largest living generation and that’s a lot of people to target with many different personalities and habits. So, if you are a brand, how do you get their attention and stand out among all the messaging sent their way? Surprisingly, marketing to millennials with a sweepstakes or contest is an extremely effective method. Below I will break down a few reasons why this method works.

They Love to Share

Millennials love to share with anyone and everyone who will like, retweet or view their messaging. Whether it’s Instagramming a photo of their lunch, snapchatting a reunion with their best friend, or tweeting their opinion on the election, sharing is their impulse reaction. Why not take advantage of that constant need to share by inviting millennials to share their talents by snapchatting a video for their chance to win a prize.

Here’s an excerpt from an article on Marketingland.com on the subject:

“I didn’t expect that my daughter and her friends were looking for coupons but was a little surprised that they were willing to actively engage with the brand and even enter into a traditional sweepstakes (albeit via sharing a picture).” For the full article, click here. 

They Love to Engage

This is the next step that organically occurs after asking millennials to share. They in turn engage with your brand. When running a sweepstakes or contest, think about engaging with millennials rather than focusing on selling your product or service. Have your prospective customer tell a story with your hashtag. The more you engage with them by having them organically spread content about your brand, the better your content and relationship with that millennial will be. American Eagle’s latest #WeAllCan campaign is a great example of this.

They Love to Reach People

The natural step of sharing a photo on Instagram and an opinion on Twitter is to reach the masses. Prizing is an important component when running a sweepstakes geared towards millennials. Make sure that the prizing is something that will resonate with them. If your prize is an experience trip, have your winner share their experience through social media by using the campaign hashtag. Get them excited by telling them the winner’s experience on their trip will be featured on your social media channels. This is a great way to spark the interest of millennials. Knowing their experiences will be shared with thousands to millions of people is reason enough to enter for them.

If you’re interested in marketing to millennials with a sweepstakes, reach out to us today for a quote.

Looking for the Best Sweepstakes Platform

By: Julie Link | In: Best Practices, Contests, Facebook, Legal and Prize Fulfillment, Sweepstakes, sweepstakes company, Turnkey Sweepstakes

When looking for the best sweepstakes platform, it’s important to consider a few things before picking one from the first company you see. I get it. You want to run a sweepstakes fast and affordably, but that doesn’t mean you have to skimp on quality. Today I will discuss what to look for when choosing a sweepstakes company and platform.

Does the company offering the sweepstakes platform also offer legal services?
Chances are, if you’re using a sweepstakes app company, they don’t offer robust legal services to support your campaign. Make sure you are hiring an agency who also specializes in promotion law, not just in building apps. Why? Because the company providing the legal support will take on the liability in the official rules and will act as the administrator of the promotion.

Did you know that Facebook has changed their policies three times in the last two years regarding allowing social shares for extra entries in a sweepstakes? Our legal team has direct connections at each social network to make sure we’re constantly getting the latest updates on new policy changes directly from their legal teams. When you hire an agency that specializes in promotion law, you know that all the components provided with the sweepstakes platform will be legally compliant.

Do they also run custom campaigns?
If a sweepstakes company creates more than just turnkey apps, chances are they also know a lot about sweepstakes. If a sweepstakes company also runs custom campaigns, then there is a good chance that they can run instant win games, partnership promotions and video contests. This will reassure you that the sweepstakes company you’re using understands the latest trends and best type of promotion to run for you to receive the best ROI.

Can you quickly and easily reach someone at the company?
Some of these sweepstakes platforms are “do-it-yourself” apps that don’t allow for customer support. There are so many aspects to consider when running a sweepstakes from the official rules, winner release forms, bonding and registering to winner selection. It’s imperative to hire a sweepstakes company that provides a designated project manager to oversee and run your promotion.

If you’re looking for a fast, affordable, and effective sweepstakes platform, check out TurnkeySweeps™ by Sync and contact us today for a customized same day quote.

Sweepstakes Platform

Finding the Perfect Sweepstakes Company

By: Jennifer French | In: Best Practices, Contests, Marketing, Sweepstakes, sweepstakes company

Not all sweepstakes companies are the same. They come in all shapes and sizes and offer different services, platforms and pricing. This article will touch upon finding the perfect sweepstakes company for your next promotion.

Identify your goals

The very first thing you need to do to determine the type of campaign you want to run is to consider your goals. Do you want to capture consumers’ email addresses? If so, then a turnkey sweepstakes on a microsite would meet your goals and give you exceptional ROI. Or, do you want to gather user-generated content? If this is the case, then an Instagram sweepstakes would be the right route to go because you will receive UGC and build your follower base. Determining your goals will help you in finding the perfect sweepstakes company because you need to first know if the company offers these specific services.

Budget

This is a key factor to consider when finding the perfect sweepstakes company because it will determine the type of promotion you are able to run and will narrow down the sweepstakes company based on their capabilities. If you are looking for a quiz or gaming element, you should make sure the sweepstakes company offers these types of platforms and clearly outlines pricing. If you have a smaller budget, but want the benefits of a sweepstakes, then a turnkey sweepstakes might be right for you.

Timing

Do you need your promotion to launch within a tight turnaround? Not all agencies are able to accommodate quick timing and require long lead times. Consider using TurnkeySweeps by Sync for your next promotion. Your sweepstakes can launch within one week of receiving approved creative. For more information, check out our latest blog article on the subject.

Legal Expertise

This is a very important factor when finding the perfect sweepstakes company. You should make sure that the agency’s legal team specializes in promotion law and stays up-to-date on all of the latest actions and changes in the field. Need more convincing? Here is an article on tips for hiring an agency for your legal and prize fulfillment needs.

Customer Service

If you are looking for one-on-one personal service, you should consider working with a boutique agency. At a minimum, you should always work with a sweepstakes agency that thinks of themselves as an extension of your team and holds your services to the highest standards.

Campaign Metrics

Campaign metrics are some of the most important aspects of a sweepstakes as they are the true indicator of whether you’re getting a return on your investment. When finding the perfect sweepstakes company it’s important to look for these services on their website. Some sweepstakes companies, including Sync Marketing, will provide campaign metrics as often as the client prefers. Or if the client wants access at any time, we offer a 24/7 password protected website to view metrics at a moments notice.

We hope these few tips will help you when finding the perfect sweepstakes company for your promotion. Consider contacting Sync for all of your upcoming sweepstakes needs.

Finding the Perfect Sweepstakes Company

Sweepstakes vs. Contests; What Produces the Best ROI?

By: Sync Marketing | In: Best Practices, Contests, Sweepstakes

ROI is definitely a major consideration when running sweepstakes vs. contests… but did you know that the majority of people don’t know the difference between sweepstakes vs. contests and think that the words are interchangeable. In most cases, companies are looking to run a “sweepstakes,” but are referring to it as a “contest.” Here is a good reference to differentiate between the two. Below I will take it a step further and discuss Sweepstakes vs. Contests: What produces the Best ROI?

So for those who are not familiar with the acronym, ROI is Return On Investment, which is a major factor when running any type of marketing campaign. Although I would love to be able to tell you which of the two would give you the best ROI, there are a lot of factors to consider. For arguments sake, let’s treat this as a boxing match, the main event; Sweepstakes vs. Contests.

In this corner, Sweepstakes. Here are the stats:

• Obtain large quantities of entries; Entering a sweepstakes is typically easy breezy, so that’s why the entry count is typically higher than with a contest.
• Inexpensively promote your product or service; You can run sweepstakes with very little investment, but make sure that your budget covers the legal components as well as the design. Here is a good reference to the importance of legal guidance on a sweepstakes. Even more affordable sweepstakes options can be found in the form of a social media sweepstakes or turnkey sweepstakes.
• Collect consumer data; A sweepstakes is a great vehicle to collect basic consumer data, preferences, and email opt-ins, but be careful, the more information you require from an entrant, the greater the chance of losing them before entry.

Here are a few tips to improve your ROI when running an online sweepstakes: https://www.syncmarketing.net/ask-sync-marketing-maximize-roi-running-online-sweepstakes/

In this corner, Contests. Here are the stats:

• Gain quality entries vs. quantity; People who enter contests are asked to take an extra step vs. entering a sweepstakes so you are getting people who are really interested in your product and/or the prize you are offering.
• Gather user-generated content; Your contest can require people to upload a photo which shows them enjoying your product. You can’t ask for better promotion than organic promotion.
• Reach people who are interested in your company; When a contest entrant opt-ins in to receive emails, you typically have a better email open rate than by someone who provided their email address thorough a sweepstakes.
• Create PR Buzz; Contests seem to excite the media a bit more than a basic sweepstakes because it’s a challenge and people love a good challenge.

Here are a few tips on running a successful contest: https://www.syncmarketing.net/ask-sync-marketing-questions-running-successful-contest/#.V2L0MI-cHyQ

In the end, you need to be your own “referee” when deciding on running sweepstakes vs. contests. They really are in different weight classes so to speak. Ultimately your goals (and budget) will determine which one you run and a sweepstakes administrator can help you decide. The results will show if your ROI was strong for you. For any questions, contact Sync Marketing at 323-596-7962.

Sweepstakes vs. Contests

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.

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

Questions about Running a Successful Contest

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

So you’ve decided to add running a sweepstakes or contest to your marketing plans this year, but you are not really sure where to start or which one will work best for you to reach your goals. Below are a few questions about running a successful contest from fellow marketers.

What are the benefits of running a contest?

We are always upfront when someone comes to us who is considering running a contest. The truth is, in most cases, you will not receive as many entries as you would if you chose to run a sweepstakes. The reason being is that with a contest, you are typically asking people to complete an extra step beyond just filling out a simple entry form. When running a contest for example, you might ask people to upload a photo or video of themselves completing a particular outlined task, or to write an essay, or even name your new product. If you want to run a buzz-worthy campaign, make sure you are reaching your true customers and collect fun user-generated content, a contest is the way to go. A contest will provide you with much more QUALITY entries. Here is a helpful article touching on the differences between sweepstakes and contests.

Are there any legal parameters to consider when running a contest?

Yes, and they change frequently, especially on social media platforms. That is why we always recommend that you consult an expert like Sync Marketing, when putting together any contest or sweepstakes. One of the most crucial elements is to make sure that you clearly outline the contest criteria and judging parameters in the official rules.  Here is an article that was written to give advice for contest entrants that might help give you additional insight.

Does one contest theme attract more entries than another?

Theme is certainly one of the factors for consumers when deciding if they want to enter a contest. Although it isn’t the only thing that might pique their interest. You will almost guarantee that you will have a good amount of entries if the contest is offering a new or fun twist or has a “cool” factor, but we find that prizing is what really drives entries. If you offer a fun experiential prize, or something that the consumer can’t obtain on their own, they will take the extra steps to enter. Another great option is build a contest around a philanthropic cause that is close to your company’s heart. Here is a case study of a contest campaign that Walmart and some of its vendors partnered together to run to a contest to support the cause to fight world hunger.

If done right, contests are a fun way to create positive interaction with your consumers and possibly create some exciting buzz for your company online and beyond. If you have any additional questions about running a successful contest contact us today at 323-596-7962 or info@syncmarketing.net.

Sync Marketing – The Sweepstakes and Contest Experts

Retail Sweepstakes: How to drive consumers in-store with a retail sweepstakes

By: Julie Link | In: Contests, Instagram, Marketing, Sweepstakes, User Generated Content

Are you a retailer whose goal is to create a promotion that drives in-store traffic and sales? If so, running an online sweepstakes is a great way to not only collect consumer data, but to also drive consumers in-store. Today, I will discuss how to drive consumers in-store with a retail sweepstakes.

Instagram Sweepstakes

Running an Instagram sweepstakes provides many benefits for brands. These include gathering user-generated content, increasing their social reach, and interacting with consumers. If you’re a retailer, it can provide even more. One example is when launching a new brand of products. By encouraging consumers to come into your store and take a photo with the new merchandise with the campaign hashtag, you not only have the opportunity to drive in-store traffic and increase your Instagram reach, but it also allows you to obtain user-generated content for your brand.

Sync Marketing has extensive experience running Instagram sweepstakes. Check out our work page to see some examples of Instagram sweepstakes that succeeded in driving in-store traffic and increasing sales. Most specifically, is our Claire’s Show Us Your Minions Style Contest. One this to keep in mind is that because some entrants may not have access to visit a store to participate in the sweepstakes, you will need to provide an alternate means of entry. This can be done either online or a by offering a mail-in option. Both are services that Sync Marketing offers.

Secret Code Sweepstakes

Another way for retailers to drive in-store traffic when running an online sweepstakes is to direct consumers in-store to obtain a secret code word. They will need to go to the counter to ask a store associate, and then will be asked to go online or text-in the secret code for their chance to win. In this situation, we think an SMS (text-to win) campaign is extremely effective. As with the Instagram sweepstakes example, you will need to offer an alternate means of entry.

Exclusive Coupon Offer

Another effective idea is to offer an exclusive in-store only discount to all those who enter your online sweepstakes. This is where retail sweepstakes can really stand out from other traditional forms of media. We recommend that for these types of promotions, you run a sweepstakes with a large grand prize and an easy entry method. After consumers enter, you can have the in-store discount coupon code appear on the thank you page and in a follow up email. This will ensure that the entrant is able to easily access the coupon after closing the webpage. Typically, this discount offer is most effective when it appears as a surprise and delight offer. It’s also a great way to encourage consumers to visit your store who may have not planned to visit and/or shop otherwise. We have seen a recent upswing of retailers adding this element to their retail sweepstakes.

If you’re a retailer and are considering running a retail sweepstakes, reach out to Sync Marketing. We can put together a results-driven sweepstakes to drive in-store traffic and sales. 

Retail Sweepstakes

How Long Should I run a Sweepstakes?

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

How long should I run a sweepstakes? Once a client determines the benefits of adding a sweepstakes or contest to their marketing plan, this if often the most common question they ask. There are a few important factors when determining the length of time that your sweepstakes or contest should run, so let’s get started.

1. What type of prize are you providing? If you want to provide smaller weekly prizes and a large grand prize, then running your sweepstakes or contest for a month to six weeks is a good amount of time. This way, consumers feel like they may have a chance to win a weekly prize and you will receive many entries because there is a large grand prize tied to the promotion.

2. What is your goal? If your goal is to create hype for a new product or service, then a really exciting short term sweepstakes before the launch of the product or service is the way to go. This way there are a couple weeks of build up (the sweepstakes), then the grand prize is selected on the day the product or service is launched leading to good PR opportunities along the way. The same goes for seasonal sweepstakes. If it’s a Valentine’s day sweepstakes, try to launch it towards the end of January so there is some build up. Then, close the sweepstakes a week before Valentine’s day so that hopefully the winner receives their prize in time for the big day.

3. Who is your target demographic? If you’re running a summer sweepstakes and your prize is a cruise, you want to obtain many email opt-ins, and are gearing it to an older demo, a longer sweepstakes should do the trick. If you’re targeting millennials or younger and are running a user- generated Instagram sweepstakes where you ask entrants to upload photos, then the shorter the better.

To sum it up, most sweepstakes run between 2-6 week, with four weeks being the sweet spot. This allows consumers to get excited and not feel like it’s so long that they don’t have a chance. There are always exceptions to this rule, so if you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Sync Marketing’s Year In Review – 2015

By: Sync Marketing | In: Contests, Marketing, Sweepstakes

Just like that, another year has come and gone. However, last year seemed to pass faster than most. Perhaps a good reason for this was how busy Sync Marketing was throughout the year. Below is a recap of our best moments of 2015.

Judged in the 2015 Chief Marketer Pro Awards

In 2014 we were honored to take home Silver at the 2014 Pro Awards for our work on the Dodge Dart – Win a Dart. Date a Winner. Sweepstakes. In 2015 we saw another side of the awards when co-founder, Julie Link, was given the opportunity to judge the entries.

“It was an honor to be asked to be a judge in the 2015 Chief Marketer Pro Awards. It allowed me to gain a great perspective on the unique and creative work that other agencies are putting out there.” – Julie Link

Valued Clients Old & New

We were honored to continue our relationships with our clients in 2015 and create work for them that delivered great ROI. We were also fortunate to bring in many new clients in 2015, a 111% percent client gain from 2014. Some of our most recently obtained clients are American Eagle Outfitters and Crate & Barrel. Crate & Barrel’s latest sweepstakes with Sync can be found here.

2016 Chief Marketer Top Shop

We were humbled to be named among an exceptional group of agencies for the Chief Marketer 2016 PROMO Top Shops. The Top Shops is a listing of the Top 100 U.S. Promotional Marketing Agencies selected by the editors of Chief Marketer. It will be a goal of ours to continue to a part of this list every year.

Sync is NWBOC Certified

In 2015, Sync Marketing was also certified as a business owned and controlled by a woman by the National Women Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC), the first national certifier of Women Business Enterprises. The goal of the certification program is to streamline the certification process and increase the ability of women business owners to compete for contracts at a national level. To find out what Sync Marketing co-founder, Jennifer French said about the certification, click here.

We thank all of our clients, family and friends for their support and/or business. We hope to continue to offer our clients creative work, exceptional customer service and successful campaigns throughout 2016 and beyond.