It can be easy to see social media competitions as quick and easy solutions for your goals. They can be used to bulk up your contact database, drive engagement on your accounts, draw attention to a shiny new product or service and much more. And they practically promote themselves, right?
If it’s not well executed, no one will enter and you’ll be left looking like the snotty kid in the playground who doesn’t understand why no one wants to share his lollies. Here are a few reasons your social media competitions might be looking more reject bin than win.
There were no defined goals
Let’s compare your contest to the master of all quick-fixes: the Band-Aid. It’s effective at its job, but it doesn’t cover a wide area. Be the Band-Aid. Trying to achieve everything with one competition ends up either vague or needlessly complicated. Narrow your goals down next time – it’ll help form the delivery too.
The prize offer wasn’t on point
A 30% discount voucher for your online store might not be the drawcard you thought it would be. Your prize has to incorporate some of the following: sexy, valuable, unique, worth sharing a daggy promo post for. It’s easier if the prize is your own product, but for those with super exxy services (e.g. real estate) it’s fine to splash some cash or team up with another business.
The price wasn’t right
The competition requirements can’t outweigh the incentive. Keep it simple (asking for too much will turn off some users and can result in invalid entries) and try to stick to one social media platform, or a single form/app on another page. Contests requiring a single like or comment will attract a wider range of entrants, while detailed competitions (e.g. design a t-shirt) will undeniably mean fewer undedicated entries.
It used the wrong words
Stay positive and try to avoid acknowledging there’s a competition at all. Studies have shown that words like win, winner and winning work well (shocker, we know), while ‘contest’ and ‘sweepstakes’ are a no.
There wasn’t enough promotion
It’s a no-brainer. If no one knows about your competition they can’t enter it. Take the timeframe into consideration too. Limiting entry to a day or two can mean it’s over and done with before word has a chance to spread.
No idea where to start? Liquidity can help define your goals, design the contest, promote it effectively or find the perfect sponsor to align with. Check out just one example of our past social media competitions, or contact us today.