Sweepstakes prizes come intuitively to some marketers. To other marketers, they do things that are just plain bad marketing. I noticed this recently on April 1st. Let me explain. On April 1st many companies post clever tongue-in-cheek announcements about new products and services. All across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram I saw everything from bad breath…
About Carolyn Wilman
What Would You Do If Your Contest Went Viral?
If your creative social media contest gets larger than you’ve anticipated what do you do? Learn and address any issues before you have them.
What You Don’t Know Will Kill Your Sweepstakes
How do you learn what you don’t know? Listen. Listen to your colleagues, peers, mentors, etc. and more importantly, listen to your prospects, customers and clients. Why would I be stating the obvious? December is Sweepstakes Season. Sweepstakes Season is the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas (sometimes New Year’s) where every company, big and small,…
Create A Successful Holiday Giveaway in 5 Easy Steps
Although Holiday Sweepstakes Season has already begun, it’s not too late to create seasonal giveaways. Optimally, you should be planning all your marketing activities, including giveaways, on an annual basis, but there should also always be space for spontaneity and impulsive creativity. READ: Consistency is Key When Planning Social Media Contests Nothing is more fun…
Are Promotional Game Sweepstakes Rigged?
Maybe. And it’s not the entrants cheating either. I have blogged extensively on: What Marketers Should Incorporate into their Contests to Prevent Cheating, and How to Spot Cheaters in their Sweepstakes. This time it was the marketers … How an Ex-Cop Rigged McDonald’s Monopoly Game and Stole Millions Jerome Jacobson and his network of mobsters,…
How to Run an Instagram Contest: The Six Elements Needed for Success
The very thought of how to run an Instagram contest should lead you directly to the 5 W’s and how. Who do you want to target the sweepstakes towards? What are you going to giveaway? Where will you host the sweepstakes? When should you be holding it? Why are you hosting a contest? How are…
Has Facebook Killed Social Media Sweepstakes?
In January, Facebook made a massive announcement many social media marketers dubbed Facebook Zero. The algorithm changes were so large and far-reaching, I had an amazing number of colleagues, and not just those in the marketing realm, discussing the changes and how to best manage and mitigate them. These are a few of the links…
How to Prevent “Prize Pigs” from Entering and Winning Your Sweepstakes
Although I have previously written about the different aspects of how entrants cheat to win a sweepstakes, how to prevent it, and how to turn your biggest fans into brand ambassadors and influencers, it seemed time to reiterate, review and update the topic as social channels and platforms continue to evolve. Be sure to read:…
Could an Axe Murderer Claim the Grand Prize in Your Sweepstakes?
YES! Wait? What?! Unless you vet potential grand prize winners or all potential winners for that matter, you have no idea who your products, services, brand or company is aligning itself with. I am not kidding. It is especially important to vet potential winners if you plan to use them in future marketing campaigns. Cringe-Worthy…
What No One Tells You About Running a Sweepstakes
When I was 18, my dad gave me my first business book. He said, “If I can teach you at 18 what I learned at 36 you will be way ahead of me.” He was right, but what he didn’t anticipate was the speed at which business and marketing would change. It’s no longer enough…
Has Your Social Media Contest Been Hijacked?
What happens if your contest has been hijacked? Learn how to you turn the contest back into a positive event for your customers. This is where your social channels are your greatest asset as you have an immediate connection with your community. I have discussed why Voting Contests Are a Bad Idea and how to…
How to Stop Cheating in Social Media Contests
As long as there have been sweepstakes, there have been cheaters. Digital sweepstakes and certainly social media sweepstakes have only opened up the floodgates for unethical entrants to hijack the prizes. To make matters worse, many small businesses and agencies are grossly unaware of these sweepstakes pitfalls. I originally touched on this topic in my…
How to Blend Social Media Contests with Offline Events
My first business professor in college said, “Marketing is marketing is marketing”. That has always stuck with me because I knew what the underlying message was. No matter what the vehicle: print, television, social media, etc., how you connect and engage with prospects and customers is always the same. Social media is the new flashy…
Why People Are Afraid to Enter Your Sweepstakes
The most popular question asked at any social gathering when meeting someone new is, “What do you do?” in reference to what one does to earn a living. It’s fun telling people I am the Contest Queen as everyone has a winning story. The discussion is always lively as I explain how it’s both a…
Why Voting Contests Are Always a Bad Idea
Unless it’s a blind vote with the top entries selected by the sponsor, voting contests are the WORST type you can hold. I have seen flame wars across all social channels, specifically Facebook, and it gets very ugly. Is your Community Manager ready to deal with a negative marketing campaign? On the surface, voting contests…
Where Do “Professional Sweepers” Come From?
One question I frequently get when presenting my services to prospects is, “How can we stop ‘professional’ sweepers entering?” I hate that question, because: I do not earn my living winning. It is not my profession. I consult for a living. I enter giveaways as a hobby. Marketers don’t understand they are the ones that…
Do You Have a Back-End Social Media Marketing Plan?
Back-end marketing is the marketing activity least done by companies, and it’s one of the most important. When I meet someone new and they find out what I do for a hobby, I usually get peppered with questions. One of the most frequently asked questions is, “No one really wins, do they?” Why do you…
How to Avoid Social Media Backlash in Contests
I wish I had a nickle for every email, post, message or tweet I get about some company, agency or sponsor not following their own contest rules. Sadly it’s so common, I’d be rich. What is worse, those same companies sometimes disqualify entrants without merit. Both of these actions have the potential to light a…
Why Social Media Contests Must ALWAYS Have Official Rules
My #1 tip for entrants is: ALWAYS READ THE RULES. Why? If you don’t read the official rules, you can inadvertently disqualify yourself. My #1 tip for marketers is similar: ALWAYS HAVE OFFICIAL RULES. Why? If you do not have official rules, you are opening yourself up to all types of legal, ethical, moral, and…