{"id":441,"date":"2019-07-03T09:12:57","date_gmt":"2019-07-03T13:12:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/?p=441"},"modified":"2025-11-05T05:21:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T10:21:34","slug":"create-an-online-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/create-an-online-contest\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create an Online Contest (And Go Viral in 2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">To create an online contest, set a clear goal and pick a format your audience loves. Choose a prize that motivates action, define entry rules, promote it across channels, and track performance to measure engagement and growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve used this approach to help businesses launch new products, grow email lists, and turn followers into loyal customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide, I\u2019ll show you step by step how to create an online contest in WordPress, from setup to promotion and tracking, so your giveaway drives real growth, not just clicks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the term &#8216;contest&#8217; is often used for any online promotion, this guide focuses on creating a &#8216;giveaway&#8217; or sweepstakes. They are easier to set up with WordPress plugins and are also highly effective for growth, with some studies showing they can increase customer acquisition by up to 34%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Quick steps on how to run an online contest:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<ul><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#h-1-plan-your-budget-and-timeline\">Step 1: Plan Your Budget and Timeline<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#h-1-set-a-goal-for-your-online-contest\">Step 2: Set a Goal That Drives Results<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#h-2-choose-a-good-contest-prize\">Step 3: Pick a Prize People Actually Want<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#h-3-determine-the-contest-rules\">Step 4: Write Rules That Avoid Legal Trouble<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-step-4-choose-the-right-giveaway-tool\">Step 5: Build It Fast with a WordPress Plugin<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#h-5-promote-your-giveaway\">Step 6: Promote It Where Your Audience Hangs Out<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#h-6-pick-a-winner-for-your-giveaway\">Step 7: Announce Your Winner to Boost Credibility<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#h-8-track-your-results\">Step 8: Track What Worked (and What Didn\u2019t)<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ht-blocks-accordion wp-block-hb-accordion\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__section\" data-ht-blocks-accordion-block-state=\"closed\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__title\"><span>What Is an Online Contest or Giveaway?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__contentwrap\">An online contest or giveaway is a way to win prizes on the internet. Contests need skill, while giveaways are random. You can use them to get more people interested. To enter, users may need to follow, share, or sign up.<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__section\" data-ht-blocks-accordion-block-state=\"closed\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__title\"><span>What&#8217;s the Difference Between a Giveaway and Contest?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__contentwrap\">The main difference between a giveaway and a contest is how winners are chosen. In a giveaway, winners are picked randomly, so no special effort is needed. In a contest, people compete by showing skill or talent, and judges pick the best entry to win.<br><br>If you&#8217;re confused about the terminology, you can learn the difference between <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/sweepstakes-definition-vs-contest-vs-lottery\/\" title=\"Sweepstakes Definition Vs Contest Vs Lottery: What They Mean\">sweepstakes vs contest vs lottery<\/a> here.<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__section\" data-ht-blocks-accordion-block-state=\"closed\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__title\"><span>What Are The Benefits of Online Contests?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__contentwrap\">Online contests help grow your business by attracting more people, increasing engagement, and generating leads. They encourage sharing, bringing in new customers.<br><br>Contests also boost website visits, build customer loyalty, and provide useful content. You can learn from participants to improve your marketing and products.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-how-to-do-a-giveaway-in-wordpress-step-by-step\">How Do You Create an Online Contest in WordPress?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-responsive  embed-responsive-16by9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"embed-responsive-item\"   title=\"How to Run an Online Giveaway for Beginners\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3AqQ2EZ28uE?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-plan-your-budget-and-timeline\">Step 1: Plan Your Budget and Timeline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you dive into goals and prizes, it\u2019s smart to quickly outline your budget and timeline. A clear plan here ensures your contest is both affordable and effective, preventing unexpected costs and keeping your audience engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your contest budget doesn&#8217;t need to be complicated, but you should account for these key costs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Prize:<\/strong>&nbsp;The total value of what you&#8217;re giving away.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advertising:<\/strong>&nbsp;Any budget for paid ads on social media or search engines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Contest Tool:<\/strong>&nbsp;The cost of the plugin you&#8217;ll use, like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/\" title=\"\">RafflePress<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing the right duration is crucial. A contest that\u2019s too long can lose momentum, while one that&#8217;s too short might not get enough entries. Here&#8217;s a simple rule of thumb:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>For simple giveaways (like, share, or subscribe):<\/strong>&nbsp;1\u20132 weeks is perfect. This creates urgency and encourages immediate action.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>For skill-based contests (photo or video submissions):<\/strong>&nbsp;Allow 3\u20134 weeks. This gives participants enough time to create and submit quality entries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-set-a-goal-for-your-online-contest\">Step 2: Set a Goal That Drives Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before launching your giveaway, take a moment to set clear goals. A well-defined goal will guide your entire strategy and help you measure success. Make sure your goals align with your overall business and marketing plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most businesses aim for these common <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-create-giveaway-goals\/\" title=\"How to Set SMART Goals for Your Next Giveaway Campaign\">giveaway goals<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bring more visitors to their website<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create excitement around their brand<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grow their email subscriber list<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Build stronger customer relationships<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Boost their product sales<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get more social media engagement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collect customer photos and videos<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Learn which products customers love most<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if your primary goal is to &#8216;Get more social media engagement,&#8217; you&#8217;ll want to choose entry actions in your giveaway tool like &#8216;Visit our Facebook Page&#8217; or &#8216;Follow us on Twitter&#8217; and give them a higher point value to encourage users to complete them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having a clear goal helps you design your giveaway the right way and choose the best methods to promote it. It also makes it easier to track your results and see if your giveaway was successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re not sure what type of giveaway to run, here are <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/contest-ideas-for-customers\/\">25 winning giveaway ideas<\/a> to help you decide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-ht-blocks-messages wp-block-hb-message wp-block-hb-message--noicon is-style-info\"><strong>Real Example<\/strong><br><br><a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-smash-balloon-grew-email-list-with-rafflepress\/\">Smash Balloon<\/a> used RafflePress to run their contest and grew their email list by 3,584 subscribers. They didn\u2019t need a developer or custom code, just a clear goal and the RafflePress plugin.<br><br><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-smash-balloon-grew-email-list-with-rafflepress\/\">How Smash Balloon Grew Their Email List with RafflePress<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-choose-a-good-contest-prize\">Step 3: Pick a Prize People Actually Want<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>People love getting free stuff, but they won&#8217;t try to enter your giveaway if the prize isn&#8217;t good. If you want a viral giveaway, choose a high-quality grand prize that will attract many people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the most popular giveaway prize ideas include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Money<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gift cards or gift certificates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Free products\/services<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s a list of exciting <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/contest-prize-ideas\/\" title=\"146 Proven Giveaway Prize Ideas for Viral Giveaways\">giveaway prize ideas<\/a> to help you decide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;ll want to ensure that your contest prize is relevant to your target audience and your brand. For instance, Supreme House Fitness offered a fitness package to the lucky winners of their social giveaway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"372\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/product-giveaway-example.jpg\" alt=\"Supreme House Fitness offered a fitness package as a contest prize to engage fitness-focused followers\" class=\"wp-image-445\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/product-giveaway-example.jpg 558w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/product-giveaway-example-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/product-giveaway-example-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing a prize that you know your target audience would love will help you attract more contest entries from your ideal customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-determine-the-contest-rules\">Step 4: Write Rules That Avoid Legal Trouble<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Every successful giveaway needs clear, simple rules. Your rules protect both you and your participants while keeping things fair for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s also good to know that the legal rules for a skill-based contest can be more complex than for a random giveaway. Since this guide focuses on giveaways, the process is much more straightforward!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s what your giveaway rules should cover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Prize details and how they&#8217;ll be delivered<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Who can enter (age limits, location restrictions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to enter (entry methods and requirements)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contest dates (start and end times)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How winners will be chosen and notified<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Entry limits (one per person, daily entries, etc.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also important to check the promotion guidelines for any social media platforms where you\u2019ll be sharing your contest. Sites like Facebook and Instagram have their own specific rules for running giveaways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make your rules easy to find and understand. For example, The Stem UK clearly states in their contest post when their giveaway ends, how they&#8217;ll pick and contact winners, and who can join.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"559\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/determine-your-giveaway-rules.jpg\" alt=\"Example of giveaway rules announcement showing how to clearly communicate contest deadlines and winner selection.\" class=\"wp-image-3288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/determine-your-giveaway-rules.jpg 559w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/determine-your-giveaway-rules-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/determine-your-giveaway-rules-50x32.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to save time? Most contest tools like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rafflepress.com\" title=\"RafflePress - WordPress Giveaway Plugin\">RafflePress<\/a> include a rules template you can customize for your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Want help with the legal side? Use this guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-write-giveaway-rules\/\">write giveaway rules like a pro<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-step-4-choose-the-right-giveaway-tool\">Step 5: Build It Fast with a WordPress Plugin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You have several options for running your online contest. Some businesses use social media platforms, others prefer web-based contest tools, and many choose <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/best-wordpress-plugins\/\" title=\"28 Best WordPress Plugins to Grow Your Business in 2025\">popular WordPress plugins<\/a> to host contests on their own websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/social-media-contest-ideas\/\" title=\"17 Social Media Contest &amp; Giveaway Ideas for 2025\">social media contests<\/a> are popular, they give you less control over your contest and data. Third-party contest websites can work well, but they often include their own branding and keep your valuable participant information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s why I recommend running contests on your own website. You&#8217;ll have full control over:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How your contest looks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What data you collect<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Entry methods and rules<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your contest&#8217;s branding<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where to display your contest<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you use WordPress, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rafflepress.com\" title=\"RafflePress - WordPress Giveaway Plugin\">RafflePress<\/a> is an easy and cost-effective solution for running an online contest. It seamlessly integrates with your existing branding and lets you maintain ownership of everything you create.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"559\" height=\"301\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/rafflepress-best-giveaway-plugin.jpg\" alt=\"RafflePress dashboard for building a contest directly inside WordPress.\" class=\"wp-image-1321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/rafflepress-best-giveaway-plugin.jpg 559w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/rafflepress-best-giveaway-plugin-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/rafflepress-best-giveaway-plugin-50x27.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It gives you everything you need to accomplish your contest goals, whether to grow your email list, increase website traffic, or boost social media followers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s a detailed guide on how to create an online contest with RafflePress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-1-create-a-new-giveaway\">Create a New Contest<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>First, you&#8217;ll need to download the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rafflepress.com\" title=\"RafflePress - WordPress Giveaway Plugin\">RafflePress plugin<\/a>. Here&#8217;s a step-by-step guide on<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/beginners-guide\/step-by-step-guide-to-install-a-wordpress-plugin-for-beginners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"How to Install a WordPress Plugin\"> installing WordPress plugins<\/a> if you need help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After installing and activating the plugin, hover over the RafflePress icon and click <strong>Add New<\/strong> to create a contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"314\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/how-to-do-a-giveaway-with-rafflepress.png\" alt=\"Click \u201cAdd New\u201d in RafflePress to create a new online contest in WordPress.\" class=\"wp-image-447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/how-to-do-a-giveaway-with-rafflepress.png 558w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/how-to-do-a-giveaway-with-rafflepress-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/how-to-do-a-giveaway-with-rafflepress-50x28.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-2-name-your-giveaway-and-choose-a-template\">Name Your Giveaway and Choose a Template<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you click <strong>Add New<\/strong>, the plugin will take you to a new screen where you&#8217;ll name your giveaway and choose a contest entry form template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"521\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/choose-template-to-create-online-contest.png\" alt=\"Choose a RafflePress template based on your contest goal, such as growing your email list or followers.\" class=\"wp-image-448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/choose-template-to-create-online-contest.png 558w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/choose-template-to-create-online-contest-300x280.png 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/choose-template-to-create-online-contest-50x47.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>First, type in a name for your giveaway in the text field at the top of the screen. Choose any name for your giveaway. For instance, if your contest prize is an iPad, you can name your giveaway \u201ciPad Giveaway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, choose your <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/giveaway-templates\/\" title=\"Giveaway Templates\">giveaway template<\/a>. RafflePress offers several pre-made contest entry form templates designed to reach particular giveaway goals, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Grow Your Email List<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-create-a-viral-refer-a-friend-giveaway\/\" title=\"How to Create a Refer a Friend Giveaway\">Refer-a-Friend<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pre-launch Campaign<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grow Your Facebook Page and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For this tutorial, we&#8217;ll choose the Classic contest entry form template. This template allows you to create any type of giveaway contest using the easy RafflePress builder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose the Classic Giveaway template by hovering over it and clicking <strong>Use This Template<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"468\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/use-classic-giveaway-contest-template.png\" alt=\"Select the Classic Giveaway Template in RafflePress to build a flexible online contest.\" class=\"wp-image-449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/use-classic-giveaway-contest-template.png 558w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/use-classic-giveaway-contest-template-300x252.png 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/use-classic-giveaway-contest-template-50x42.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-3-set-the-giveaway-prize-details\">Set the Giveaway Prize Details<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>After selecting the Classic Giveaway template, you&#8217;ll be taken to the RafflePress giveaway builder. The first step to building your online giveaway is to set the giveaway prize details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, click on the pencil icon under the <strong>Giveaway Prize Details<\/strong> section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"436\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/enter-contest-prize-details.png\" alt=\"Click the pencil icon to add your giveaway prize name, image, and description.\" class=\"wp-image-450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/enter-contest-prize-details.png 558w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/enter-contest-prize-details-300x234.png 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/enter-contest-prize-details-50x39.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Here, you can choose the name of your prize, for example, \u201ciPad Giveaway,\u201d and write a brief description of the prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also upload an image of your prize by clicking the <strong>Select Image<\/strong> button below the description box. You can then choose an image from your media library or upload an image from your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you&#8217;re happy with your prize name, description, and image, click on the <strong>Done Editing<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"438\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/enter-contest-prize-details-2.png\" alt=\"Example of entering the prize title and uploading an image for a contest in RafflePress.\" class=\"wp-image-451\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/enter-contest-prize-details-2.png 558w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/enter-contest-prize-details-2-300x235.png 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/enter-contest-prize-details-2-50x39.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can click the <strong>+ Add Another Prize<\/strong> button if you have multiple prizes to add more to your contest form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also set the date and the time your giveaway will start and end and choose your timezone underneath the <strong>Start and End Time<\/strong> section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Click the <strong>Save<\/strong> button to save the changes. Remember to save your work periodically throughout the process of building your contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"456\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/save-your-giveaway-contest.jpg\" alt=\"Reminder to save your giveaway contest settings and progress regularly in RafflePress.\" class=\"wp-image-452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/save-your-giveaway-contest.jpg 558w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/save-your-giveaway-contest-300x245.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/save-your-giveaway-contest-50x41.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-4-choose-your-raffle-entry-methods\">Choose Your Raffle Entry Methods<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>RafflePress is one of the best contest apps for learning how to run a giveaway because you can give users multiple ways to enter your contest. These actions will also help you reach your goals for your viral contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, you can allow users to receive one contest entry for signing up for your email list, a second entry for visiting your Facebook Page, a third entry for following you on Pinterest or LinkedIn, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most users will take all the actions they can because it gives them more chances to win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, click on the <strong>Actions<\/strong> tab to select how users can participate in your online competition. The entry methods are grouped by goal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Get More Subscribers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get More Social Engagement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get More Traffic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Just click on any action you&#8217;d like to add to your giveaway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"475\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/choose-raffle-entry-methods.jpg\" alt=\"Select contest entry actions like joining an email list or visiting social media pages.\" class=\"wp-image-454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/choose-raffle-entry-methods.jpg 558w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/choose-raffle-entry-methods-300x255.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/choose-raffle-entry-methods-50x43.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you&#8217;ve chosen an action, you can set the entry options. These settings include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The title<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Value (how many entries the action will be worth)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the action is mandatory<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A field to add your URL<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you add many entry methods, ensure that the most important actions are worth more entries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"477\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/enter-giveaway-entry-options.jpg\" alt=\"Customize how many entries users get for each contest action and make key steps mandatory.\" class=\"wp-image-455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/enter-giveaway-entry-options.jpg 558w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/enter-giveaway-entry-options-300x256.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/enter-giveaway-entry-options-50x43.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Click the <strong>Save<\/strong> button to save your changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Repeat the process for any other actions you want to add to your contest; you can add as many as you want. For instance, you can also add a Join an Email Newsletter action to boost subscribers, including an opt-in confirmation checkbox and integration with your <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/best-free-email-marketing-tools-services\/\" title=\"10+ Best Free Email Marketing Tools &amp; Services for Small Businesses\">email marketing service<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can easily rearrange actions for your contest by dragging and dropping on the left side or delete actions by clicking the trash can icon on the right side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"272\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/reorder-or-delete-contest-entry-methods.jpg\" alt=\"Reorder or remove contest entry actions in RafflePress using the drag-and-drop interface.\" class=\"wp-image-456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/reorder-or-delete-contest-entry-methods.jpg 558w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/reorder-or-delete-contest-entry-methods-300x146.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/reorder-or-delete-contest-entry-methods-50x24.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-5-design-your-contest\">Design Your Online Giveaway Contest<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, you can customize the look of your online giveaway in the <strong>Design<\/strong> tab. You can choose from 2 different layouts (display image, then header, or header, then image) and several fonts and button colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"482\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/customize-online-contest-design.jpg\" alt=\"Customize your giveaway\u2019s layout, fonts, and colors to match your website branding.\" class=\"wp-image-457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/customize-online-contest-design.jpg 558w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/customize-online-contest-design-300x259.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/customize-online-contest-design-50x43.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re creating a stand-alone page for your contest, you can also choose the page color background and a background image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hit the Save button once your contest looks precisely the way you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-6-configure-contest-settings\">Configure Your Contest Settings<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The Settings tab has six sections: General, Giveaway Rules, Email Verification, Success Tracking, Success Redirect, and Social Logins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most important settings you&#8217;ll need to configure is the giveaway rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>RafflePress makes it easy to get started. You can use the <strong>Rules Generator Template<\/strong> to quickly get a head start on creating your contest rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clicking this button will allow you to type in the sponsor name, email, address, eligible locations, the minimum age to enter, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"444\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/generate-contest-rules.gif\" alt=\"Use the Rules Generator Template in RafflePress to quickly create legally compliant giveaway rules.\" class=\"wp-image-458\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can check out our documentation for details on all the <a class=\"heroickb_exit_link\" href=\"?hkb-redirect&#038;nonce=e828ec90e9&#038;check=5qgnn&#038;redirect=https%3A%2F%2Frafflepress.com%2Fdocs%2Fgiveaway-settings%2F&#038;otype=unknown&#038;oid=0&#038;source=block-content\" title=\"RafflePress Giveaway Settings\">RafflePress settings<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After configuring your settings, click <strong>Save<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-7-publish-your-online-contest\">Publish Your Online Contest<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Now you know how to run a giveaway, it&#8217;s time to make your contest live! RafflePress makes launching a giveaway easy. Just click on the <strong>Publish<\/strong> tab at the top of the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You have 3 publishing options for your contest:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>RafflePress WordPress Block<\/strong> &#8211; Embed the giveaway widget in your WordPress post or page (new WordPress block editor).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>WordPress Shortcode<\/strong> &#8211; Embed the giveaway in the classic WordPress editor, sidebar widgets, or inside your WordPress theme.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Giveaway Landing Page<\/strong> &#8211; Create a distraction-free landing page on your website for your giveaway.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A dedicated landing page for your contest is an excellent option for getting more contest entries. Since there&#8217;s nothing else on the page to distract users, they&#8217;ll be more likely to sign up for your contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, let&#8217;s choose the <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/giveaway-landing-page-examples\/\" title=\"Giveaway Landing Page Examples\">giveaway landing page<\/a> option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Click the <strong>View Page<\/strong> button to see your contest landing page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is an example of a giveaway landing page we created on our test website:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/giveaway-contest.jpg\" alt=\"Example of a standalone giveaway landing page built with RafflePress.\" class=\"wp-image-460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/giveaway-contest.jpg 558w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/giveaway-contest-300x249.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/giveaway-contest-50x42.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Voila! You now have a fantastic landing page for your giveaway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-promote-your-giveaway\">Step 6: Promote It Where Your Audience Hangs Out<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can&#8217;t just sit around and wait for people to enter your giveaway. You need to promote your giveaway to help spread the word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the easiest ways is to share it on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also ask people to tag a friend in the comments section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The key to helping your giveaway &#8220;go viral&#8221; is to encourage sharing. Features like RafflePress\u2019s built-in &#8220;Refer-a-Friend&#8221; entry method are perfect for this, as they reward participants for spreading the word to their friends, creating the potential for exponential growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, see this <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-run-an-instagram-giveaway\/\" title=\"How to Run an Instagram Giveaway\">Instagram giveaway<\/a> post from Brimhall Farmers Market&#8217;s Instagram Account. Their Instagram post includes a photo of the grand prize to let users know what they can win and #giveaway to widen their reach on social networks and Instagram feeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"359\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/instagram-giveaway-example.jpg\" alt=\"Brimhall Farmers Market promoted their contest on Instagram using a prize photo and the hashtag #giveaway.\" class=\"wp-image-461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/instagram-giveaway-example.jpg 558w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/instagram-giveaway-example-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/instagram-giveaway-example-50x32.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also promote your contest by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Paid Advertising:<\/strong>&nbsp;Target ads on social media or search engines to reach people specifically interested in your prize or niche.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Email Marketing:<\/strong>&nbsp;Blast the giveaway to your existing subscriber list if it aligns with their interests.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Website Promotion:<\/strong>&nbsp;Make it prominent on your homepage with banners or pop-ups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Giveaway Directories:<\/strong>&nbsp;Submit your contest to dedicated directories to gain extra exposure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hashtags:<\/strong> Create and use unique giveaway hashtags to increase the giveaway&#8217;s visibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Influencer Marketing: <\/strong>Contact relevant bloggers and influencers to mention your giveaway.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sharing: <\/strong>Encouraging users to tag friends in the comments\/<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Start promoting your contest weeks before it goes live to get tons of traffic and entries on day 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Need help getting the word out? Check out these <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/contest-promotion-ideas\/\">contest promotion ideas<\/a> that really work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-ht-blocks-messages wp-block-hb-message wp-block-hb-message--noicon is-style-info\"><strong>Real Example<\/strong><br><br>WPForms used RafflePress to host and promote their giveaway, which helped them add 11,000+ members to their Facebook group. The viral sharing features inside RafflePress made it easy for fans to invite others.<br><br><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-wpforms-grew-facebook-group-with-rafflepress\/\">How WPForms Got 11K+ Facebook Group Members with RafflePress<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-pick-a-winner-for-your-giveaway\">Step 7: Announce Your Winner to Boost Credibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When your contest ends, it\u2019s time to pick a winner and share the results. With RafflePress, you can randomly select winners with just a few clicks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just head to <strong>RafflePress \u00bb Giveaways<\/strong>, click <strong>Needs Winners<\/strong>, and hit <strong>Pick Winner<\/strong>. You can email the winner directly from your dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"559\" height=\"369\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/pick-verified-giveaway-winner.png\" alt=\"Pick a verified giveaway winner with one click inside the RafflePress dashboard.\" class=\"wp-image-4629\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/pick-verified-giveaway-winner.png 559w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/pick-verified-giveaway-winner-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/pick-verified-giveaway-winner-50x33.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once chosen, <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-announce-a-giveaway-winner\/\" title=\"How to Announce a Giveaway Winner (9 Examples and Templates)\">announce your winner<\/a> on your website, email, and social media. This gives your contest a strong finish and keeps everyone feeling good about participating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"559\" height=\"501\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/giveaway-winner-announcement-facebook.png\" alt=\"Example of a Facebook giveaway winner announcement with image and thank you message.\" class=\"wp-image-3289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/giveaway-winner-announcement-facebook.png 559w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/giveaway-winner-announcement-facebook-300x269.png 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/giveaway-winner-announcement-facebook-50x45.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip:<\/strong> Offer a discount code to non-winners to turn entries into future customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-track-your-results\">Step 8: Track What Worked (and What Didn\u2019t)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once your giveaway ends, take a few minutes to see how it performed. RafflePress includes built-in reports that show you which entry methods worked best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"559\" height=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/rafflepress-entries-report.png\" alt=\"Track giveaway performance with RafflePress entries report to see which actions performed best.\" class=\"wp-image-4666\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/rafflepress-entries-report.png 559w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/rafflepress-entries-report-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/rafflepress-entries-report-50x25.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.monsterinsights.com\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"MonsterInsights - WordPress Analytics Plugin\">MonsterInsights<\/a>, you can also track pageviews, traffic sources, and conversions right from your WordPress dashboard. This helps you see where your traffic came from and what actions users took.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"353\" src=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/monsterinsights-ga-wordpress.png\" alt=\"Monitor contest pageviews, traffic, and conversions using MonsterInsights in WordPress.\" class=\"wp-image-466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/monsterinsights-ga-wordpress.png 558w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/monsterinsights-ga-wordpress-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/monsterinsights-ga-wordpress-50x32.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can track traffic and conversions with <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-add-google-analytics-to-wordpress\/\">Google Analytics<\/a> and even send entrants to a custom <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-set-up-a-thank-you-page-in-wordpress\/\">thank you page<\/a> after they enter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use these insights from your <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/contest-metrics\/\" title=\"6 Contest Metrics That Matter (and How I Track Them)\">giveaway metrics<\/a> to improve your next contest. For example, if Instagram entries performed better than Facebook, focus your next promotion there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-ht-blocks-messages wp-block-hb-message wp-block-hb-message--noicon is-style-info\"><strong>Real Example<br><\/strong><br>SeedProd 3X\u2019d their product launch sales using a timed giveaway built with RafflePress. They used the contest timer and viral refer-a-friend entry actions to drive urgency and shares.<br><br><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-seedprod-3x-sales-with-rafflepress\/\">How SeedProd 3X Their Sales with RafflePress<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-frequently-asked-questions\">FAQs on How to Run an Online Contest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ht-blocks-accordion wp-block-hb-accordion\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__section\" data-ht-blocks-accordion-block-state=\"closed\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__title\"><span>How long should an online contest run?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__contentwrap\">Most online contests run for 1\u20134 weeks. You want to give people enough time to enter but not so much that they forget about it. A 2-week window usually works best for engagement and urgency.<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__section\" data-ht-blocks-accordion-block-state=\"closed\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__title\"><span>What are some common mistakes to avoid when running a giveaway?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__contentwrap\">Some common mistakes to avoid when you run a contest include not clearly defining the rules or entry requirements, not promoting the giveaway enough, not following up with the winner promptly, and not complying with legal requirements.<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__section\" data-ht-blocks-accordion-block-state=\"closed\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__title\"><span>Can I run a giveaway if I don&#8217;t have a large following?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__contentwrap\">Yes, you can run a giveaway even if you don&#8217;t have a large following. A giveaway can be an effective way to attract new followers and increase engagement on your social media channels.<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__section\" data-ht-blocks-accordion-block-state=\"closed\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__title\"><span>How can I ensure my giveaway is fair and transparent?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__contentwrap\">To ensure that your giveaway is fair and transparent, you should clearly define the rules and entry requirements, use a tool to select the winner at random and follow up with the winner promptly. It&#8217;s also a good idea to announce the winner publicly and provide a way for entrants to contact you with any questions or concerns.<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__section\" data-ht-blocks-accordion-block-state=\"closed\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__title\"><span>What is the easiest way to create an online contest?<\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__contentwrap\">The easiest way to create an online contest is with a WordPress plugin like <a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/\">RafflePress<\/a>. It includes drag-and-drop tools, built-in templates, automatic rules, and entry tracking\u2014no coding required. You can set up a contest in under 30 minutes and start collecting entries right away.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-creating-an-online-contest-is-easy-with-rafflepress\">Start Your WordPress Contest Today<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you know how to do a giveaway, get out there and start your contest marketing. Creating an online giveaway will bring your target audience joy, and your company will see benefits such as more traffic, increased brand awareness, and lots of engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/pricing\/\" style=\"background-color:#f3460e\">Get Started with RafflePress<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>You might also find these <strong>social media contest guides<\/strong> helpful:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-run-a-giveaway-on-facebook\/\" title=\"How to Do a Giveaway on Faceebook\">How to do a giveaway on Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-run-a-pinterest-contest\/\" title=\"How to Run a Pinterest Contest\">How to run a Pinterest contest<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-run-a-social-media-photo-contest\/\" title=\"How to Run a Social Media Photo Contest\">How to run a social media photo contest<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-do-a-giveaway-on-youtube\/\" title=\"How to Do a YouTube Giveaway\">How to do a YouTube video contest<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-run-an-instagram-giveaway\/\" title=\"How to run an Instagram contest\">How to run an Instagram contest<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/how-to-run-a-facebook-flash-giveaway\/\" title=\"How to Run a Facebook Flash Giveaway\">How to run a Facebook flash giveaway<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you liked this article, please subscribe to our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCPtN7xV_892Pa6AcoOYzbAg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"YouTube - RafflePress\">YouTube Channel<\/a>\u00a0for RafflePress video tutorials. You can also find us on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rafflepress\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"Twitter - RafflePress\">Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/rafflepress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"Facebook - RafflePress\">Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to create an online contest in WordPress step-by-step. Grow your audience, collect leads, and boost engagement\u2014no coding needed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":4025,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"limit_modified_date":"1","last_modified_date":"2025-11-05T05:21:34","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[10,12,17,11,13],"class_list":["post-441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tutorials","tag-contest-prizes","tag-contest-promotion","tag-landing-pages","tag-running-a-successful-contest","tag-social-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=441"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16374,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441\/revisions\/16374"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}