Promoting on Your Website
- Create a page on your site where all of your contests can be found.
- Have a specific link to this contesting page in the homepage navigation.
- Add run-of-site or -section banner ads linking to the contest.
- Place a contesting widget on your homepage.
- Promote the contest in the features section of your homepage.
- Use a sliding billboard, expanding pencil, or peel-away ad during key times during the contest (such as when it first launches, when voting has begun, or right before the last chance the enter).
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Promoting via Core Media
- Place traditional advertising in print.
- If the contest is bundled with a special section, be sure to promote within that section.
- Create a :15 spot to be played on air.
- Have your talent mention the contest on air.
- Create a follow-up story about the contest winner and prize (especially if the prize was provided by your sponsors).
Promoting on Social Media
- Post a link to the campaign on your Facebook page and/or your sponsor’s Facebook page, and include an image and call-to-action for best results.
- Pin the post to the top of your page.
- Create a contests tab and make it visible on your page.
- Consider creating a Facebook page just for contests.
- Tweet about the campaign from your company account or contesting account.
- Include a shortlink to the contest page in all tweets, as well as any relevant @ mentions such as the venue that the concert will be held at for a ticket giveaway, or the name of the business that is sponsoring or giving the prize.
- If it makes sense for your contest, create a unique #hashtag so users can find all of the tweets related to your contest.
I've got your passes to see @HunterHayes in our Wolf Acoustic Doghouse @HardRockSeattle! Enter here http://t.co/m59KxtXU @DeAnnaLeeWolf
— 100.7 The Wolf (@SeattleWolf) February 11, 2013
Other Social Media
- Post images to Instagram with a shortlink to the campaign.
- Pin your campaign image to your Pinterest page.
- …and so on for any other social media accounts you use.
Promoting via Email
- Send an email to all past contest players announcing the new contest.
- Send an email to your entire promotional database gathered from opt-ins announcing the contest.
- Send reminder emails right before the submission period ends, right before voting begins, and after the contest to thank players for participating and announcing the winners.
- Send an offer or coupon from your sponsor, if possible.
- Encourage your sponsor to promote to their database as well.
Promoting at Live Events
If your company takes part in a live event such as a bridal event, home show, or kids expo and are running a related campaign, the following promotional tactics can also be used:
- Have information about your contest available at your booth.
- Allow people to enter the contest on-site via an iPad, or have a professional photographer onsite with a step and repeat background for your media company.
- Print cards with contest information and a shortlink for people to take home.
- If it’s an option, you can also create signage for your sponsors to display at their locations, including a QR code or re-direct so people can easily enter the contest.
