Knowing how to organize contests on Instagram is a great way to increase engagement and followers. But before getting started, there are a few things to keep in mind.
How to Run Contests on Instagram?
First of all, what are your goals for the contest?
1. Define the Type of Contest
Do you want to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, or promote a new product?
Once you know your goals, you can choose a contest that aligns with them.
2. Prize
Secondly, what kind of prize will you offer?
The prize should be something that interests your target audience. It could be a gift card, a free product, or a discount on your services.
3. Promotion
Thirdly, how will you promote the contest? You can promote it with Instagram ads, on social media channels, or through email marketing. Make sure to create a catchy hashtag and include it in all your posts.
4. Rules
Finally, what are the rules of the contest? Will it be a caption contest, photo contest, or video contest? Will participants need to follow your account or use your hashtag to enter? Once all details are set, it’s time to start promoting your contest!
Tips for Running a Successful Instagram Contest
In today’s world, where everyone is connected to social media, running a contest on Instagram is an excellent way to boost your brand engagement while also gathering valuable information from your followers.
- The prize should be attractive to your target audience and related to your brand. It makes no sense to offer an iPhone if you sell shoes.
- Create a strong image for the contest: The image you use should be eye-catching and attractive to grab users’ attention.
- Use effective hashtags: Hashtags are very important for contest visibility and help reach a broader audience.
- Be creative: Creativity is key to a successful contest. Don’t copy what others do—be original.
- Lastly, but importantly, make sure to comply with all Instagram rules and regulations. Otherwise, your contest could be canceled or, worse, you could be banned from the platform.
Types of Contests You Can Organize on Instagram
There are several types of contests brands can run on Instagram:
The first type is a “like to win” contest.
Participants like a specific photo or video to enter a giveaway for a prize.
Another type of contest is “caption this.”
Brands post a photo or video and ask participants to provide a caption for a chance to win. This is a great way to get people involved with your content and be creative.
A third type of contest is “tag a friend.”
Participants tag a friend in the comments of a post to enter a giveaway and win a prize. This is a good way to promote your brand to new people.
Finally, a fourth type of contest is a “hashtag contest.”
Brands create a specific hashtag and ask participants to use it in their posts. This is a great way to track all posts related to your contest and see who’s participating.
You Can Also Run a Raffle
An Instagram user can run a raffle using the platform’s drawing function. To do this, create a post on your Instagram profile outlining the rules of the raffle.
There are some things to keep in mind when running a raffle on Instagram:
- It can be a local or global lottery draw, or anything with a specific date/time that generates random numbers to pick a winner. Example: National lottery at 8 PM on August 10, last 2 numbers win the prize.
- A raffle with 100 numbers in advance can be a good way to constantly promote content related to your brand, using the raffle for strong organic promotion.
Use a Raffle Tool
To make the process easier and avoid issues, it’s recommended to use a raffle tool. This allows you to randomly select winners and notify them automatically.
Follow up properly: After running the raffle, ensure that winners receive their prize and are satisfied. Take this opportunity to interact with them and boost engagement.
If you need help successfully managing your social media, you can rely on our digital communication agency.
