3 Tips to Host a Giveaway That Grows Business

tips hosting a giveaway business promotion social media sweepstakes contest

It's a veritable psychological phenomenon that we love free things as much as we do. After all, we get a rush of joy from accepting gifts and don't hold free things to the same standards as we hold priced things.

So, while giving things away for free sounds like a terrible business model, it will do gangbusters for your brand awareness and social media campaigns! But how do you do a giveaway right?

Well, you've come to the right place. We're here to break down the main tips for how to do a giveaway that will grow your business! But enough talk, let's jump right in!


1. Determine the Goals of a Giveaway

Before you start your giveaway extravaganza, it's important to think about what you want the main result of the giveaway to look like. For example, a giveaway designed to reward current fans and keep them loyal looks very different than a giveaway designed to entice new fans to drop by. 

You'll also want to cater your giveaway to the platform you want to unveil it on. If it involves a massive block of text, debuting it on short-form social media sites like Snapchat or Instagram isn't your best bet.


2. Johnny, Tell Them What They've Won

Once you have your goals in place, it's time to think about exactly what you're giving away. Try to think of something that both applies to your brand and appeals to the audience you are trying to court. For example, if you're a rock music magazine, raffling off a guitar autographed by Eddie Van Halen himself is a killer prize choice.

Make sure to consider the value of bundles as well. Throwing small, inexpensive items like branded lanyards or pencils makes your giveaway seem more valuable because more stuff gets raffled off, even if that stuff leans towards the cheaper side.

Finally, think about finding a prize that matches the level of work people have to put in to enter a contest. For example, if people only need to like your post to win a yacht, you're likely not going to get the level of engagement with your brand worth giving away a yacht.

On a similar note, the details of the contest will want to get ironed out at this stage too. That way you know how the prize is getting drawn, what the age of entry is, etc.


3. Spread the Word

Once you've got that into place, it's time to get the word out. Using contest host sites like Gleam is a great way to get a built-in audience, and any giveaway should be all over your company's social media accounts.

Make sure to design a nice "landing page" for your giveaway too. If it's too bare bones or off-putting, you run the risk of consumers thinking it's a scam and veering far away.

Finally, make sure to not hop on other posts not related to your company to promote the giveaway. This comes across as suspicious and desperate.


Spin that Wheel On A Great Giveaway

Congratulations on hosting a giveaway for your company! Now that you know the top tips to host a giveaway that will help your business, you're ready to get one together and watch your approval ratings soar! 

Giveaways, contests, and sweepstakes are always worth considering to promote your business online and offline. They are guaranteed to generate great buzz and engagement that can help your company crush the competition.

For more tips on how to keep your company's reputation top-notch, check out the rest of the posts on our blog!

Now, we need to go check our email. That new iPhone will be ours!

Official Bootstrap Business Blog Newest Posts From Mike Schiemer Partners And News Outlets