Want to boost engagement and grow your brand’s following? Running social media contests and giveaways is one of the simplest—and most fun—ways to do it. When done well, they can drive real results: more followers, more email signups, and more buzz around your business.
But there’s more to it than just posting "Tag a friend to win!" If you want your contest to feel professional, follow the rules, and actually grow your audience, you need a plan. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to run a contest or giveaway that gets noticed—and delivers results.
Understanding the Basics of Social Media Contests
Before diving into the details, let’s quickly cover what we mean by social media contests and giveaways. Contests are competitions where people enter to win based on certain criteria. Giveaways randomly pick a winner from people who follow simple entry rules (like following your account or leaving a comment).
Why Run Contests and Giveaways?
Contests and giveaways can help you:
- Reach new audiences — When participants share your contest, your brand reaches more people.
- Increase engagement — Contests encourage likes, comments, and shares.
- Grow your email list — Use contests to collect emails for future marketing.
- Create excitement — A great contest builds buzz and gets your community talking.
Planning Your Contest or Giveaway
Successful contests take planning. Here’s where to start:
Define Your Goals
What do you want from your contest?
- More social media followers?
- More engagement on your posts?
- Email leads?
- User-generated content?
Choose the Right Prize
Your prize should speak to your ideal audience. Tips:
- Pick something relevant to your brand.
- Avoid generic prizes—choose something your audience will love.
- Consider multiple smaller prizes to encourage more entries.
Pick the Right Platform
Think about where your audience hangs out. Popular options:
- Instagram — Great for visual contests.
- Facebook — Ideal for building community and running longer promotions.
- Twitter — Good for quick contests and hashtags.
Structuring Your Contest or Giveaway
Make your contest easy to enter and understand:
Set Clear Rules and Guidelines
- How to enter (like, comment, tag, share, etc.)
- Eligibility (age, location, etc.)
- Start and end dates
- When and how winners will be announced
Promote Your Contest
Spread the word to get more entries:
- Use eye-catching images or videos.
- Email your list to announce the contest.
- Work with influencers to reach new people.
- Run paid ads to expand your reach.
Legal Considerations
- Know the laws in your region about contests and giveaways.
- Include a disclaimer saying your contest isn’t sponsored or endorsed by the social platform.
- Follow privacy and data protection rules.
Keeping Participants Engaged
- Post regular updates to remind people about the contest.
- Encourage participants to share their entries and tag your account.
- Reply to comments to keep the energy going and build community.
Make Professional-looking Social Media Contests & Giveaways like these effortlessly in our powerful Socially Suite Dashboard.
Selecting and Announcing Winners
Pick Winners Fairly
Use tools like:
- Random.org — for random draws
- A judging panel — for skill-based contests
Announce Publicly
- Tag your winners in a post to celebrate them.
- Ask winners to share a photo with their prize, if they’re comfortable.
- Post a follow-up thank you message for everyone who entered.
What You Can Learn from Your Contest
- Check your engagement metrics (likes, comments, shares).
- See how many new followers you gained.
- Track email sign-ups or website visits.
- Ask for feedback to improve your next contest.
Wrapping It Up with Style
A great contest can do more than spark short-term engagement—it can help you build lasting relationships with your audience.
When you plan carefully, promote with intention, and follow through with transparency, you won’t just grow your following—you’ll build trust and a stronger community around your brand.
So why not start planning your next contest today? The right giveaway could be just what your business needs to reach new fans and turn them into loyal customers.
Did you know that our popular Socially Suite All-In-One Social Media Content & Marketing Membership has evergreen and seasonal contest features built right in?
Click below to learn more!
