Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
What is the Best Way to Do Online Contests and Giveaways?
With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching I was thinking of doing an online contest for our lingerie website for Valentine’s Day. But our website does not have the capability to use Rafflecopter which I love. And I don’t have a WordPress site for the lingerie, that was the one that was deleted by WordPress over a year now.
@lisapatb Wow… Debating?
Catching up on Social Media Lisa
Argh… I’ve missed a lot
— Mayura De Silva (@MayuraDeSilva) January 26, 2013
So what to do? I was thinking of several ways to do the giveaway. You can see above who really got me thinking about asking you, my readers today.
Several Ways to Hold Online Contests
- Pinterest – I have seen others doing Pinterest contests by having others pin things to their boards either from their site or to their Pinterest boards. Pinterest has instructions on their site now with great detail.
- Facebook – So many ways and which do you choose? Do you want more people to visit your website or more people to like your Facebook page itself? And how do you know if you are following the latest Facebook rules?
- Twitter – How would it work and what would it achieve? I haven’t seen many via Twitter myself.
- Raffelecopter – My favorite since they pick the winners randomly. But I do not have the capability to use it on our own site. That’s where others blogs come into play.
- Blogs – Choose another blog to do the contest and have to give them a prize too for having it. If it is within the lingerie / valentine niche and they have really good traffic this could be another way to do it. I have done these in the past with some success.
- Promoting them on contest sites like Raffle Dog, Giveaway Promote, Sleep Tight and many more.
Which Online Contests Methods Would You Use?
So I’m asking you, my readers today, which method have you used and really liked?
What do you suggest I use for this upcoming Valentine’s Day online contest?
Of course you will be able to enter too!
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About Lisa
Helping Others to Thrive Online Through Social Media, Blogging and SEO. What good is knowledge if you cannot share it with others?
20+ years experience in marketing/advertising with 3 years experience blogging, social media and SEO.
44 Responses to Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
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Sounds interesting Lisa!
Though I’ve never really tried any of these methods, nor any giveaways so far, I have visited some blogs who have them and have even got people asking me to have giveaways on my blog about which I am thinking – especially with Valentine’s just round the corner.
I would also vouch for Raffelecopter, but as you mentioned it’s not possible on your site, perhaps trying to have it on Facebook (if you have a good fan following and know the rules of course) might be good. Speaking of myself, I would prefer to have it on someone’s blog who has good traffic. Yes, giving them a prize might be one thing, though if you have a good friend, perhaps doing a guest post for them where you can share about this contest might be a good idea if they allow it and it’s within their rules.
Thanks for sharing, and wishing you the best with the contest too.
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Harleena Singh recently posted..Will You Stop Overeating
Thanks Harleena, I kind of like it in a blog myself too. Maybe I could combine that with a Pinterest contest? I hope to decide for February 1st. Thanks for your input today Harleena.
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
Hey Lisa,
Oh gosh… I had no idea
It was couple hours ago and here’s a post up here.
I can recall how you have used RaffelCopter last time and you know, it’s never easy to select contest winners, no?
It’s very easy to do that way, but I hope you will try something different this time. I’m pretty excited to see how you will organize it with the help of Social Media Lisa.
Especially I think Facebook or Pinterest would be GREAT
Well, Facebook has some rules to be aware of. Never seen Pinterest contests though Lisa. I think that’s much of a creative concept and you can get more traffic to your Pinterest business account which follows to your website. As lingeries not about text or instructions, visual appeal would be work out 
A win-win if it works well.
I agree with the last suggestion of Harleena too
It’s interesting if you have a friend with an audience who would love to enter for such a contest. Hmm… You have several options to think about Lisa 
Now your readers to rescue and hope more creative ideas will pops up here
Thanks for the mention here too dear
Cheers…
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Mayura recently posted..How to Schedule Your Posts in Blogger
Yes, you inspired me again Mayura and the calendar is ticking. I have a few days to decide and get it moving. I’m leaning towards Pinterest. I hope I will get enough feedback on this to make a decision by Tuesday and start the contest off for February. Thanks for the inspiration and input as always Mayura.
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
I don’t enter giveaways. I just don’t have time to enter this or that. Run from this blog or that. And my computer doesn’t like Rafflecopter. So instead of getting upset, I don’t bother. It’s a shame, because some of them look really neat!
Making Our Life Matter recently posted..Crockpot White Chili
Interesting, I did not myself until recently and actually won a few and then said why not? If it’s something I really wanted I would enter now. What does your computer not like about Rafflecopter? Interesting
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
Heyy Lisa…your idea sounds great…contest related to special days always a great hit but even they should have something different now a days because competition is great…:-);-)
Thanks Rahul, I sure hope I can pull it off
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
I wish I had the time and patience to get involved in a contest giveaway. I can barely write a post a week at times. Although I have nothing to offer in the way of feedback, I do appreciate your great posts on the latest trends and resources for the web.
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Lauren recently posted..Canadians Blamed for Blast of Frigid Air or is that Frigidaire?
LOL Lauren, I know I really need more time but I hope to whip this one up
I’ve done a few. And I’ll probably post about the results etc in comparison to others I’ve done. Now I’m killing 2 birds with 1 stone, maybe? Thanks for your compliment Lauren.
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
Woohoo!! You go girl! A lingerie giveaway! I’m all over that! However, I can’t really suggest any options as I just held my very first, matter of fact, it just ended. I used Rafflecopter and did like the way it ran however, I am debating how it chose my winners?
I’ve been involved in a couple twitter contests and imo, that was a lot of fun! Tweet away is easy cause it is my fav social network. I’m hoping you get some pretty good suggestions because I READY TO ENTER! 
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Bren recently posted..Would You Like Cheese With That Whine?
I think it adds up what you asked people to do for the contest and whoever did the most wins. Twitter – how would that work? I have seen giveaways for Twitter Chats or to sponsor one. Interesting. So many choices!
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
Oh you got that right! The couple I did via Twitter was like this. The host gave us the “tweet” line to tweet, adding their own @name to it and whomever tweeted it the most in the certain time frame, won. I think the one did two or three winners that way. It’s how I won the free bag of food for Titan that he’s currently on. Mind you, it’s a lot for the contestant to do, as well as the host. I can’t imagine how many time the host had to count up individual tweets per person. One would have to be very determined to win and I was!
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Bren recently posted..MGP Welcomes MailChimp
Thanks Bren for explaining that. Wish I knew how to develop an app for Twitter contests like Rafflecopter. Having to count them all sounds overwhelming.
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
Oh absolutely right about counting them!
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Bren recently posted..Testing MailChimp Integration
I think raffecopter is the favorite most people use that one I use that one myself. I did a pin party for my giveaway for the best picture during the holidays so I can see how that one would work. Great info
Kita recently posted..Valentines Fashion
Did that one end Kita? I have used in the past but it’s not available on the site I use for the retail sites
Still thinking on it.
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
Hi Lisa,
I’m using a sweepstake app which can be run stand alone or within Facebook.
My preferred method is within Facebok of course, for the viral effect.
If you need help with a sweepstake, I run them for others
It’s all done from our server so it does not matter for which site you are running it.
And it has the random winner selection feature too…
Ely
Thanks Ely, do you charge for these services too? I kinda like the idea of the standalone app. I didn’t even think about an app for a contest.
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
Hi Lisa,
Yes, I do
There are two ways to go about it: either I manage it for you (and do all the technical stuff) or you can get an account with the app and then you can run it by yourself.
Ely
Ely Shemer recently posted..Early Bird Access to Best Online Marketing Training Package
Hello Lisa, there must be some kind of online service you can use to host your contest, I don’t really know to much about this because I never ran any giveaways….Brenda might have a better idea. Good luck my friend
RobG recently posted..How Do Bloggers Start Their Day? Hey You, Wake Up.
Hi Rob, yes Rafflecopter is great, used it before on WordPress and Blogger but my Storesonline sites do not have that option or coding for it. I’m leaning towards Pinterest.
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
Sounds great Lisa let me know how it goes..
RobG recently posted..How Do Bloggers Start Their Day? Hey You, Wake Up.
Yes I sure hope to do a follow-up Rob, thanks!
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
Hi Lisa
Great idea!
Whenever I am here, I am completely stumped by your new ideas, Yesterday only while surfing I came to know about Pinterest’s contest but didn’t know how to apply. Now here I see the application, that is really awesome, you are ahead of many of us. Will keep an eye on this.
Thanks again for sharing.
Sapna
Sapna recently posted..Naive Blogger Meets a Minister to help Blogging Community – An Infographic
You are welcome Sapna, I’m going to research it more for the rules and check out their successful ones. Kinda exciting! I will definitively update on the results from the contest. I hope to launch it Feb 1st.
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
HI Lisa
One more thing, I want to add, you are OMNIPRESENT.
Thanks
Sapna recently posted..Naive Blogger Meets a Minister to help Blogging Community – An Infographic
OMG, I had to look this up, you give me too much credit Sapna!
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
i will be glad to check out for your entry! good luck and wish me luck, too but as far as I know, according to the rules, you can’t post your entry here (or anrwheye else, for that matter) before Jason puts it up on his site.
Rupali recently posted..Is it Time to Sell Your Structured Settlement?
Jason? I’m not following you Rupali.
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
Rafflecopter is great. One way to do Pinterest giveaways and still have a totally impartial winner chosen, would be to assign each participant a number – thirty-five participants = #s 1 through 35 – then use random.org to generate a random number, which becomes your winner.
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Ellen M. Gregg recently posted..Inspiration
Thanks Ellen, that’s interesting. I can’t wait to get going on this one and see how it all works out. I appreciate your input on this!
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
Hey Lisa,
I like the idea of having another blog host the give away for you and if you can’t find anyone, which I don’t think that’s likely, you can do one for Facebook like Harleena suggested. I’m not on Pinterest as much to give an opinion but it’s got me curious enough to get me there and search for one to see what it’s about. By the way, checked out your lingerie site and loved it, love the stuff you have on there
I haven’t had a contest myself but I heard Rafflecopter is the way to go if you do have one. I hope your contest works out! Have a great week.
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Corina Ramos recently posted..Coaching Tips For Sales Reps
Thanks Corina for the input on the contest and for liking the site
I’m hoping to decide by Thursday in which direction to go and get started. Have a wonderful new week Corina.
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Lisa recently posted..Online Contests – Which Contests Work Best?
This is an interesting idea. People really get fascinated with contests and promos especially now that another special occasion is approaching.
Hi Sarah, yes, I think it’s the thrill of the victory to some to enter contests. They just love to win something. And others could not be bothered
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Lisa recently posted..How Do Blog Comments Help Your Blog’s SEO?
Hi Lisa,
I do a few contest for small things on my site. I normally do it and say leave a comment. I know that people love contest and anything that is free. Lingerie is always a fun thing to win. Good luck with the method that you choose. Love your lingerie site. I hope you ship to APO addresses.
Hi Cynthia, I really have to move on it. I’m leaning towards a Pinterest and on the blog type of contest. We do in the US and Canada. We haven’t shipped overseas yet. So many tax and guidelines to learn before doing it.
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Lisa recently posted..How Do Blog Comments Help Your Blog’s SEO?
It is strange, We do have an American address but there is an extra step to shipping to us so a lot of people don’t want to feel out the forms. I am sure when shipping international it can be a little crazy.
I really hope to learn more about international shipping Cynthia one of these days.
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Lisa recently posted..How Do Blog Comments Help Your Blog’s SEO?
I haven’t ever done a contest Lisa so I’m not the best one to give my opinion on this one.
But, if you can’t use the program you want I would possible share with your readers that you’re having one and then point them in the direction of one of the other sites like Raffle Dog, Giveaway Promote, Sleep Tight, etc. I wouldn’t just stick with a social media site since you really want them visiting your blog/website. That would be my recommendation and I say go for it and best of luck. I know it will be a big hit.
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted..Thankful Thursday – Facebook, Debt, Plagiarism & Tech
Wow, I’m surprised Adrienne
You always surprise me with something. Yes, I was thinking of putting the contest info on our blog and have them pin images from the site with hashtags, share on Twitter and extra points for liking FB page and commenting on blog. Maybe I’ll keep it simpler. Must think what I would be willing to do for a $50 gift card 
Maybe have to ditch FB on this one. Or give them option of sharing pin via Twitter or FB. I will let you know how it goes 
Thanks for coming by today.
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Lisa recently posted..How Do Blog Comments Help Your Blog’s SEO?
Hi Lisa,
I have thought of doing a giveaway or contest myself, but it’s another one of those things I’ve procrastinated on. Justin Germino uses Rafflecopter alot, and I know he likes it.
I wish you good luck with the new giveaway! Let me know about it cause I will surely come to enter. Sally
sally brown recently posted..Being Grateful Is A Way Of Life
I love Rafflecopter but I can’t use it with our retail site yet. Thanks and I may post it on this blog on the sidebar. It’s live on the lingerie blog.
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Lisa recently posted..How Do Blog Comments Help Your Blog’s SEO?