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Social media contests are aÌýproven strategy forÌýgrowing engagement onÌýyour business’s owned social channels. Nice! The real challenge isÌýpicking theÌýright contest toÌýmotivate your audience toÌýparticipate. AÌýsweepstake? AÌýphoto contest? Maybe aÌýsimple “Repost toÌýWin” giveaway would doÌýtheÌýtrick. And what would spark interest onÌýInstagram? IsÌýthere aÌýcontest type that performs better onÌýFacebook?

ToÌýanswer these questions, weÌýrounded upÌý25Ìýcontest promotion ideas forÌýonline businesses. With theÌýright preparation, you’ll beÌýable toÌýshake upÌýyour audience andÌýget more engaged eyes toÌýyour store. But before weÌýdive into those ideas, let’s goÌýover some basics forÌýrunning aÌýsuccessful contest.

How toÌýRun aÌýSuccessful Online Contest

Here are aÌýfew things toÌýconsider before you launch your contest. These three steps will help you craft aÌýmore profitable contest with results you can learn from andÌýperfect over time.

AÌýtarget goal ofÌýsocial media contests

Going into theÌýonline contest, you need toÌýhave aÌýclear benchmark forÌýsuccess soÌýyou can gauge whether orÌýnot theÌýcontest went well. Your goal might beÌýsomething like:

• 10% more Facebook likes
• XXÌýnew followers onÌýInstagram
• XXÌýnew email subscribers

Set this goal before theÌýcontest begins soÌýyou can build theÌýcontest around itÌývia entry format, submission, etc.

Prize andÌýwinner selection process

Outline what your prize will beÌý(and make sure it’s something your contest participants will beÌýexcited about) before theÌýcontest begins. Limited edition items, gift cards, orÌýaÌýlarge collection ofÌýproducts work well, asÌýthese have high value toÌýentrants.

Then, outline how theÌýprize winner will beÌýchosen. IfÌýyour contest isÌýaÌýsweepstakes, sites like Ìý´Ç°ù Ìýcan help ensure you’re choosing aÌýcompletely random winner (and can help keep your contest fair).

Promoting aÌýbusiness

Think about how you’ll spread theÌýword about your contest once it’s live. Social media andÌýemail will help you reach your existing following, but how can you reach beyond your normal crowd? Some contests have sharing aspects built inÌýbut consider additional promotional aspects, such as:

• Partnering with influencers
• Running Facebook ads
• Partnering with local businesses

Once you have these three basic steps outlined, you can start getting more specific about theÌýcontest itself. Here are some ideas forÌýcontests you might try this year with your online store.

25ÌýSocial Media Contest Ideas toÌýPromote Your Online Business

1.ÌýPhoto caption contest ideas

Have participants create aÌýcreative orÌýfunny caption forÌýaÌýphoto you post, andÌýthen pick your favorite asÌýtheÌýwinner. Ideally, theÌýphoto will relate back toÌýyour store orÌýproducts toÌýkeep theÌýcontest relevant. Pro tip: you can ask toÌýcaption short videos forÌýyour contest asÌýwell.

2.ÌýVideo contest ideas

Leverage user-generated content byÌýhaving participants create aÌýshort video asÌýaÌýcontest entry. The video might showcase aÌýperson using your product, sharing why they deserve toÌýwin your contest, orÌýtalking about why they love your brand. These stories can beÌýgreat ways toÌýget testimonialsÌýfor your brand while incentivizing contest participants.

3.ÌýEssay contest ideas

Ask participants toÌýwrite anÌýessay about why they admire your company and/or products. You’ll find some great customer stories andÌýquotes within these essays you can leverage later, too.

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Sweepstakes work well forÌýgetting new people toÌýopt-in toÌýyour email list, like/follow/share your social media accounts, orÌýcheck out items from your store andÌýcomment onÌýaÌýparticular blog post. Oftentimes, participants can earn more entries theÌýmore actions like these they complete. From there, aÌýrandom winner orÌýtheÌýone with theÌýmost votes isÌýselected atÌýtheÌýcontest’s end.

5.ÌýShare your best tips contest

Let users share how they use your products with aÌýcontest geared toward participants sharing their best tips. This isÌýaÌýfun andÌýeasy way forÌýyour audience toÌýlearn hacks andÌýtips about using your productsÌý— andÌýcreates aÌýdialogue onÌýsocial media. Ask participants toÌýshare their best tip forÌýusing your products, then choose theÌýtop liked tip orÌýaÌýrandom winner.

6.ÌýSelfie contest ideas

Let users enter your contest byÌýtaking aÌý“selfie” with your product. This helps add real-life context toÌýwhat you’re sellingÌý— andÌýshows that you already have lots ofÌýcustomers who love your products. From here, you can randomly select aÌýwinner orÌýlet your audience vote onÌýtheir favorite selfie.

7.ÌýInstagram contests ideas

AnÌýonline competition ideas that always works. Create aÌýcontest that encourages people toÌýshare photos featuring your product orÌýbusiness onÌýInstagramÌýwith aÌýcustom hashtag, andÌýdraw weekly orÌýmonthly winners. This helps build brand awareness andÌýshows your product being loved byÌýhappy customers.

Instagram contest ideas can vary depending onÌýtheÌýcontent you want your participants toÌýpost. For example, you can ask your followers toÌýpost anÌýInstagram story with aÌýproduct review, create aÌýpost using your business’s , share their story inÌýcomments, orÌýrepost aÌýphoto ofÌýyour product. Pro tip: Remind participants that ifÌýtheir profiles are private, you won’t beÌýable toÌýsee their entries.

AÌýscavenger hunt isÌýanother great option forÌýInstagram. For example, come upÌýwith several puzzles orÌýtasks that are posted onÌýStories and/or inÌýyour feed. For example: “Answer aÌýquestion onÌýStories,” orÌý“Find [insert #]Ìýdifferences onÌýtwo similar pictures.” Participants need toÌýcomplete each task toÌýenter, andÌýtheÌýfirst follower toÌýcomplete all tasks isÌýcrowned theÌýwinner.

8.ÌýShare aÌýphoto contest

This more generic photo-sharing contest that encourages contest participants toÌýshare aÌýphoto asÌýanÌýentry. ItÌýcould beÌýaÌýphoto ofÌýtheir favorite outfit featuring anÌýitem from your store, orÌýaÌýphoto ofÌýyour pets enjoying their favorite treats. The idea isÌýtoÌýfeature theÌýproduct…but with theÌýuser’s personal twist. Encourage participants toÌýbeÌýasÌýcreative asÌýpossible, andÌýyou can repurpose that user-generated content later toÌýpost onÌýyour social channels.

9.ÌýFacebook contest ideas

Almost anyÌýtype ofÌýcontest can beÌýmodified toÌýfit anyÌýsocial media platform. However, some contest ideas may beÌýbetter suited forÌýFacebook. Here are some good Facebook contest ideas:

• AÌýQ&A contest: publish aÌýpost with aÌýquestion andÌýtheÌýfirst person toÌýcomment with theÌýcorrect answer wins. This works great forÌýfast, one-day contests.
• Vote forÌýaÌýProduct: Let your followers vote forÌýtheir favorite product orÌýyour next new product, then choose aÌýwinner atÌýrandom from theÌýfollowers who voted. This type ofÌýcontest earns double points because itÌýalso provides you with valuable dataÌý— like what product toÌý´Ç°ùder, what toÌýcreate next, orÌýwhat toÌýinvest in.
• Take aÌýQuiz andÌýShare Your Result: forÌýthis contest, you’ll need toÌýcome upÌýwith aÌýquiz (try anyÌýquiz maker online), andÌýthen choose aÌýwinner from those who share their results onÌýtheir Facebook page.

You can also use Facebook features toÌýincrease engagement onÌýyour page during your contest. For example, ifÌýyou want toÌýincrease audience size forÌýyour next Facebook Live, use that Live session toÌýannounce theÌýwinner ofÌýaÌýcontest. Keep that inÌýmind when considering Facebook contest ideas.

10. Drawing/painting contest ideas

Encourage your audience toÌýget artsy with aÌýdrawing orÌýpainting contest. Have them create anÌýartistic representation ofÌýtheir favorite product from your store, andÌýthen open upÌývoting toÌýsee which one your audience likes best.

You can also partner with artists andÌýask them toÌýchoose aÌýwinner based onÌýtheir skills. And you can even have two winners toÌýencourage more participation: one based onÌýskills andÌýexecution andÌýanother based onÌýtheÌýnumber ofÌýlikes/shares.

11. Cutest pet contest

Ideal forÌýpet-centric online stores, cutest pet contest are aÌýgreat way toÌýget participants toÌýshare photos ofÌýtheir furry friends andÌýtoÌýencourage voting, sharing, andÌýpromotion ofÌýyour store. Plus, it’s aÌýsimple way toÌýlearn more about your animal customers!

12. Recipe contest ideas

Especially around theÌýholidays, aÌýrecipe contest isÌýaÌýgreat way toÌýget people sharing their favorite foods andÌýtips forÌýdishes. IfÌýyou have aÌýfood-related online store, see ifÌýyou can tie theÌýrecipe contest into your products andÌýencourage entrants toÌýcreate something new with your products.

Pro tip: you can create recipe contests during theÌýholidays tied toÌýpopular seasonal dishes orÌýflavors.

13. Fill inÌýtheÌýblank contest

AdÌýlibs andÌýfill inÌýtheÌýblank contests can help drive people toÌýyour online store byÌýtesting people’s knowledge. Ask aÌýquestion like: “The 51ÊÓƵ blog first posted onÌýÌý________ date?” toÌýmake people search out theÌýanswer within your website. You can randomly select aÌýcorrect answer orÌýgive itÌýtoÌýtheÌýfirst correct response.

14. Trivia contest ideas

Test your audience’s knowledge with trivia questions about your brand. Again, you can drive store visits byÌýasking highly specific questions about your brand’s history, your products, orÌýbyÌýusing snippets ofÌýproduct photos.

15. Product-a-day giveaway

“Repost” andÌý“Tag aÌýFriend” giveaways are pretty common these days. IfÌýyou want toÌýattract more participation, try something different with aÌýmore tempting reward. For example, aÌýweek-long, product-a-day giveaway. Each day, you can award aÌýsurprise product toÌýaÌýrandom contest participant who shares your Facebook status orÌýcomments onÌýaÌýparticular post.

16. Name aÌýnew product contest

Let your audience get involved with naming your products byÌýchallenging them toÌýname aÌýnew product you’re releasing. Encourage puns, aÌýplay onÌýwords, orÌýaÌýdeep knowledge ofÌýyour brand. You can let people vote onÌýtheÌýname they like best, orÌýyou can self-select theÌýname you think isÌýbest.

17. Curated PinterestÌýboard contest

IfÌýyour audience isÌýone ofÌýavid PinterestÌýusers, leverage this social network andÌýcreate aÌýcontest around it. ToÌýenter your contest, participants can create aÌýcurated Pinterest board featuring products from your store andÌýother related pins forÌýaÌýtheme you designate, like “fall weddings” orÌý“bikini weather.”

18. Build aÌýlookbook contest

Challenge your participants you create aÌýlookbookÌýaround your products. This might even become aÌýmarketing asset you feature forÌýyour store. Just remember: This isÌýaÌýbig undertaking, soÌýbeÌýsure theÌýprize isÌý±è°ù´Ç±è´Ç°ù³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô²¹³Ù±ð–i³Ù needs toÌýbeÌýworth it!

19. Mother’s day story contest

Have people share aÌýstory about their moms inÌýhonor ofÌýMother’s Day, andÌýtalk about why they think their Mom deserves aÌýprize package onÌýher special day. Then, randomly select aÌýwinner from theÌýsubmissions.

20. Father’s day story contest

Same asÌýMother’s ¶Ù²¹²â–b³Ü³Ù with dads. Encourage people toÌýcelebrate their families andÌýtell stories about their loved ones. This isÌýaÌýgreat way toÌýearn organic shares onÌýsocial media!

21. Win anÌýafternoon/session with anÌýinfluencer contest

IfÌýyou’re partnering with anÌýinfluencer forÌýaÌýcontest, your prize might beÌýanÌýin-person session with that influencer forÌýwhatever his orÌýher specialty may be. Maybe it’s aÌýdecorating session, aÌýmakeover, aÌýcloset °ù±ð±¹²¹³¾±è–y´Ç³Ü name it. AÌýchance toÌýget one-on-one time with anÌýexpert influencer can drive participation inÌýaÌýbig way.

Bloggers andÌýentrepreneurs Elsie andÌýEmma from did this successfully: Their contest included aÌýgrand prize that was anÌýin-person decorating session where they helped one lucky winner re-style aÌýroom inÌýtheir home (in person!)

22. Win aÌýgift card contest

Rather than designating aÌýspecific item forÌýyour contest, add some mass appeal byÌýmaking your prize aÌýgift card. This can attract more participation, asÌýitÌýlets theÌýwinner select whatever heÌý´Ç°ùÌýshe wants.

23. Vote forÌýyour favorite item contest

Find out which items your audience really likes byÌýcreating aÌýcontest inÌýwhich people vote forÌýtheir favorite items from your store. AtÌýtheÌýsame time, anyone who participates isÌýentered toÌýwin inÌýaÌýrandom prize drawing. Think ofÌýitÌýasÌýaÌýtype ofÌýinteractive user survey!

24. Holiday decorating contest

Get inÌýtheÌýholiday spirit byÌýencouraging contest participants toÌýdecorate holiday itemsÌý— but with aÌýbranded twist. Entries might beÌýcarved orÌýpainted Jack-O-Lanterns with your logo, cookies iced with your products, orÌýugly Christmas sweaters that bear your brand name.

25. Create aÌýjingle contest

³Ò´ÇÌýold-school andÌýcreate aÌýcontest where participants have toÌýcreate aÌýjingle forÌýyour brand. You’ll get some free ²¹»å±¹±ð°ù³Ù¾±²õ¾±²Ô²µâ€“a²Ô»å you might find your next marketing hire!

What’s Next: Use Contests toÌýPromote Your Online Store

IfÌýaÌýcontest sounds like aÌýgood fit forÌýyour online store, here are theÌýnext steps you need toÌýtake toÌýget theÌýball rolling.

1. Choose 1-3Ìýonline contests ideas that you want toÌýrun throughout theÌýnext 12Ìýmonths toÌýdrive sales.
2. Outline your target goals forÌýtheÌýcontests (whether it’s toÌýdrive sales, toÌýgrow your audience, orÌýotherwise.)
3. Outline your prizes forÌýyour contests, andÌýget aÌýplan inÌýplace forÌýhow you’ll select your winner.
4. Get aÌýstrategy inÌýplace forÌýmarketing your contests, andÌýstart pulling together theÌýpieces (and potential partners you’ll need) toÌýmake them successful.

With some planning andÌýstrategy inÌýplace, you can implement aÌýfew smart contests throughout theÌýyear toÌýboost your online sales andÌýgrow your audience inÌýaÌýway you could never have dreamed before.

Just remember: Don’t overdo it, andÌýmake your contests worthwhile forÌýtheÌýparticipants. They shouldn’t bankrupt your business, but they shouldn’t beÌýunderwhelming forÌýtheÌýaudience, either. Introducing two orÌýthree new virtual competition ideas during theÌýyear isÌýaÌýgood way toÌýget started andÌýcan keep your promotional budget inÌýcheck.

Your turn: What’s theÌýmost successful contest you’ve ever run? We’d love toÌýhear about it!

Ìý

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