Running a giveaway isn’t just about announcing “enter here and you might win.” If you want strong participation, meaningful leads, and buzz around your brand, you’ll need more than luck—you’ll need strategy. Below are six proven tactics to help your sweepstakes stand out, gain traction, and deliver real value.
1. Choose the Right Prize & Keep Entry Simple
Prize relevance matters. Giving away something flashy isn’t enough if it doesn’t resonate with your target audience. A prize should feel exciting and connected to your brand or offering. As one example puts it: a clothing boutique giving away a “year’s wardrobe” wins over giving away a generic iPad because it aligns with the audience’s desires.
Reduce friction in entry. Require only what you really need (often just an email address + maybe a name). Big entry forms or demanding apps/logins can scare off participants. One stat: ~67% of users might abandon a sweepstakes if it requires Facebook login.
Why it matters: You increase the number of eligible entries, which in turn boosts visibility, shares, and potential viral spread.
2. Make Sharing & Referrals Easy (Bonus Entries Work)
One of the strongest levers: reward participants for sharing your sweepstakes.
- Give bonus entries for each referral or share.
- Use social mechanics: “Tag a friend,” “Share this post,” or “Get an extra entry if a friend enters.”
- Align the prize with social attractiveness: people want to share things that reflect well on them.
What this does: It turns each entrant into a mini-marketer for your sweepstakes. As they share, new entrants see the promotion and join as well—amplifying reach at low cost.
3. Leverage Influencers, Bloggers & Partners Early
Before you hit “go,” set up a network of promotional channels that will push the sweepstakes for you. Some tactics:
- Identify bloggers/influencers in your niche, and invite them to share or partner in your giveaway.
- Co-run the sweepstakes with a complementary brand (same audience but non-competing). That doubles your exposure.
- Offer a preview or exclusive link to these partners so their traffic funnels back into your sweepstakes site.
Why this helps: You don’t rely solely on your own followers. Partners bring new audiences—often with high intent.
4. Launch With a Plan & Optimize Mid-Campaign
Launching a sweepstakes is more than flipping a switch.
- Set clear, measurable goals before launch (“We want 1,000 new email leads” or “Increase Instagram followers by 20%”).
- On launch day: activate your pre-planned channels (blog posts, email blasts, ads, partner posts).
- Monitor performance metrics (entries per day, share rate, traffic sources). If one channel under-performs, adjust.
- Timing matters: a duration of 4–8 weeks often hits a sweet spot—long enough to build momentum, short enough to keep interest.
Result: The sweepstakes gains traction early and stays visible, rather than fading into obscurity.
5. Promote Widely—but Target Wisely
While you want lots of entries, you also want useful entries (people who may engage further with your brand).
- Use your existing email list and social followers first—these are already somewhat familiar with you.
- Submit your sweepstakes to directories or listing sites to boost visibility—but be aware these may pull in low-quality leads (people only interested in “free stuff”).
- Use paid ads strategically: target audiences who match your ideal customer profile so entries aren’t just “wide” but “right.”
Balance matters: You want reach and relevance.
6. After the Sweepstakes, Follow Up & Build Trust
Winning entries is just the start—what you do after counts a lot.
- Announce the winner publicly and quickly to maintain credibility.
- Send a thank-you email to everyone who entered, maybe with a small consolation (coupon, discount) to increase goodwill.
- Segment your new leads by how and when they entered, so you can deliver relevant follow-up content rather than generic blasts.
- Ask winners for photos/videos with the prize (social proof for next promotion). Ensure you fulfill prizes promptly and communicate clearly.
Outcome: You turn a giveaway one-off into a deeper relationship with your audience.
Wrap-Up: Make Your Sweepstakes Work For You
A successful sweepstakes isn’t just about who wins. It’s about designing an experience that:
- grabs attention
- encourages sharing
- aligns with your brand
- grows your audience
- sets the stage for future engagement
Use the six tactics above as your framework. By doing so, you’ll give your sweepstakes a strong chance of going viral and delivering value beyond the prize itself.