Be a WINNER with Contest Marketing - Create Contest Marketing campaigns that Zing!

Contest marketing campaigns have become increasingly popular in recent years. They are an effective way to engage with your audience and create buzz around your brand. However, creating a successful contest marketing campaign requires careful planning and execution. In this blog post, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to plan and execute a contest marketing campaign, the importance of setting clear goals and objectives for the campaign and offer tips on choosing the right type of contest, selecting the right prizes, and promoting the contest effectively.

How to plan and execute a contest marketing campaign

Define your goals and objectives
What do you hope to achieve through this campaign? Do you want to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or increase social media engagement? Clearly defining your goals and objectives will help you create a contest that aligns with your business goals.
Choose the right type of contest
There are many different types of contests you can run, from sweepstakes to photo contests to trivia quizzes. Choose a contest that aligns with your brand and the goals you defined in step one. For example, if you want to increase engagement on social media, a photo contest might be a good fit.
Promote the contest effectively
Promotion is key to the success of your contest marketing campaign. Use a mix of social media, email marketing, and paid advertising to promote your contest. Make sure to highlight the prize and the benefits of entering the contest.
Select the right prizes
Choosing the right prizes is crucial to the success of your contest. Make sure the prize is something your target audience would want to win. Our Research has shown that more opportunities to win more prizes piques entrant interest , rather than ONE BIG PRIZE.

Image source: Contest Marketing, a whitepaper by Contest Guys

Set clear goals and objectives for the campaign

Setting clear goals and objectives for your contest marketing campaign is essential to its success. It helps you stay focused and ensures that your campaign aligns with your overall business goals. According to a 2019 study by Hubspot, businesses that set goals are 429% more likely to report success than those that don’t.

Choose the right type of contest, select the right prizes, and promote the contest effectively

Choosing the right type of contest, selecting the right prizes, and promoting the contest effectively are all important factors in the success of your contest marketing campaign. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Choose a contest that aligns with your brand and the goals you defined in step one.
Choose a prize that your target audience would want to win. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should be something that your audience values.
Use a mix of social media, email marketing, and paid advertising to promote your contest. Make sure to highlight the prize and the benefits of entering the contest.

Additional tips for running a successful contest marketing campaign

Make it easy to enter. The easier it is for people to enter your contest; the more people will participate.
Offer multiple ways to enter. You can offer, website form, proof of purchase, video entry, entry box or other options. This will give people more opportunities to win and make your contest more exciting.
Promote your contest early and often. The more people who know about your contest, the more entries you’ll get.
Run your contest for a limited time. This will create a sense of urgency and encourage people to enter early.
Choose a random winner. This will ensure that the contest is fair and that everyone has an equal chance of winning.
Announce the winner publicly. This will help to generate excitement and buzz around your contest.
Thank all participants. Even if they didn’t win, participants will appreciate being thanked for their time and effort.

In conclusion, creating a successful contest marketing campaign requires careful planning and execution. By following the steps outlined in this blog post and keeping in mind the tips we’ve provided, you can create a contest that engages your audience, generates leads, and aligns with your overall business goals.