Are you fully leveraging the potential that sweepstakes marketing has for your business? No marketing activity should be created and executed on-the-fly. Especially if you want it to help you reach specific social media marketing goals. Not that you can’t, or shouldn’t, pivot quickly to react to trending topics and capture the online wave if…
Social Media Contests
Are Online Sweepstakes Part of Your Marketing Tool Belt? Here’s Why They Should Be.
My approach to marketing has always been similar to that of a contractor. I see myself with a virtual tool belt holding a myriad of tools I can utilize based upon the job at hand. Many times it’s a combination of tools that gets the job done. One of my all-time favorite tools are online…
The 5 Most Skipped Steps When Running a Sweepstakes
Are you thinking of running a sweepstakes? When I was 20, my dad gave me a tape set by Jack Canfield. Jack started the talk by stating almost all of what he was about to teach that day, the audience most likely already knew. They had probably already been to many similar motivational, inspiration and…
Are You Dragging Your Pivot Foot When Creating Online Sweepstakes?
I live on the outskirts of Toronto, Canada, and the past months I got to experience first-hand a literal explosion of Raptors themed ads, promotions, and online sweepstakes as everyone tries to create an online sweepstakes. I am sure other cities have experienced the onslaught of vivacity, but not mine. Almost every brand I follow…
Coupons or Discounts Are Not Sweepstakes Prizes
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…
How to Prevent “Prize Pigs” from Entering and Winning Your Sweepstakes
Although I have previously written about the different aspects of how entrants such as prize pigs 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….
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…
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 FOR SOCIAL MEDIA CONTESTS. Why? If you do not have official rules, you are opening yourself up to all types of…
6 Benefits of Running Social Media Contests
If you spend quite a number of hours on Facebook, Twitter or any social networking sites, I’m sure you’ve stumbled-upon social media contests before. I love seeing how businesses are using contest to promote their business, especially brands that I’m already a fan of. I participate in most of them and it turns out that…
6 Twitter and Social Media Contest Ideas Worth Exploring
A Twitter contest is a great way to increase engagement, increase followers as well as increase product awareness. How many times have you seen businesses organizing a “RT to win” or a “Follow to win” contest? Running a contest in Twitter can be really simple and clean and, without a doubt, Twitter is a great…