{"id":44273,"date":"2022-12-28T07:30:52","date_gmt":"2022-12-28T15:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/?p=44273"},"modified":"2025-07-01T06:46:59","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T13:46:59","slug":"social-media-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Social media contest and giveaway ideas that work"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Are you looking for ways to increase your social media followers? Or are you looking for a creative way to promote new products and services? If the answer to either question is yes, you should consider running a social media contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contests are a great way to get people excited about your brand, and they can be a lot of fun for participants as well. In fact, research shows that contests can be up to three times more effective than regular posts at generating engagement on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this blog post, we&#8217;ll show you how to properly run a social media contest. We\u2019ll also share nine ideas for contests and giveaways you can use in your <a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/how-to-create-the-next-great-social-media-campaign\/\">social media campaigns<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"be-cta\"><a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/resources\/guides\/the-ultimate-social-media-marketing-guide-for-local-businesses\/\">[Free Guide] The ultimate social media marketing guide for local businesses<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/resources\/guides\/the-ultimate-social-media-marketing-guide-for-local-businesses\/\">Download Now<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-a-social-media-contest\" data-level=\"2\">What is a social media contest?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-a-social-media-giveaway\" data-level=\"2\">What is a social media giveaway?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-why-social-media-contests-and-giveaways-work\" data-level=\"2\">Why social media contests and giveaways work<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-to-run-a-social-media-contest\" data-level=\"2\">How to run a social media contest<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-define-your-goals-and-decide-on-a-prize\" data-level=\"3\">Define your goals and decide on a prize<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-choose-the-right-platform\" data-level=\"3\">Choose the right platform<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-set-the-rules-and-be-compliant\" data-level=\"3\">Set the rules and be compliant<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-create-reasonable-timelines\" data-level=\"3\">Create reasonable timelines<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-promote-your-social-media-contest\" data-level=\"3\">Promote your social media contest<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-track-the-data-and-evaluate-the-results\" data-level=\"3\">Track the data and evaluate the results<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-top-social-media-contest-ideas\" data-level=\"2\">Top social media contest ideas<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-1-best-caption-for-photo-or-video\" data-level=\"3\">1. Best caption for photo or video<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-2-trivia-contest\" data-level=\"3\">2. Trivia contest<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-3-submit-a-short-form-video\" data-level=\"3\">3. Submit a short-form video<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-4-follow-or-comment-to-win\" data-level=\"3\">4. Follow or comment to win<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-5-digital-scavenger-hunts\" data-level=\"3\">5. Digital scavenger hunts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-popular-social-media-giveaway-ideas\" data-level=\"2\">Popular social media giveaway ideas<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-6-a-trip-to-a-dream-destination\" data-level=\"3\">6. A trip to a dream destination<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-7-mystery-box\" data-level=\"3\">7. Mystery box<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-8-reward-loyal-customers\" data-level=\"3\">8. Reward loyal customers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-9-follower-milestone-giveaway\" data-level=\"3\">9. Follower milestone giveaway<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-frequently-asked-questions-about-social-media-contests\" data-level=\"2\">Frequently asked questions about social media contests<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-publish-posts-faster-with-birdeye-social\" data-level=\"2\">Publish posts faster with Birdeye Social<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-social-media-contest\">What is a social media contest?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A social media contest works by having your followers enter into a competition with the chance of winning a prize. Prizes can range from something small, like a discount code, to something greater, like a free vacation. A creative social media contest gives followers a chance to engage with a brand in a fun, interactive way. Plus, followers who participate in contests often share them with their own social networks, increasing visibility considerably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-social-media-giveaway\">What is a social media giveaway?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Social media giveaways are an easy way to engage with followers and raise brand awareness. Participants typically enter giveaways by liking, commenting, or sharing the post on social media. Essentially, you\u2019re offering followers something of value in exchange for an action benefiting the business\u2019s social media presence. Winners are then selected at random. This is the key differentiator between a giveaway and a contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-social-media-contests-and-giveaways-work\">Why social media contests and giveaways work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Social media contests and giveaways can be used by businesses of all sizes. They work for all <a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/prioritizing-social-media-platforms\/\">social media platforms<\/a> and are cost-effective to create and run. By offering followers free stuff you can <a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/create-a-social-media-content-strategy\/\">increase engagement with your content<\/a>, build your follower count, and drive more organic traffic to your website. Plus, contests and giveaways are a low-commitment, high-reward scenario for businesses. One click on social media can make your brand visible to thousands of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-run-a-social-media-contest\">How to run a social media contest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Running a social media contest can quickly generate interest in your brand. But before you post any type of contest, you\u2019ll need to hammer out all the details to make sure it runs smoothly. Here are some tips to help your campaign succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-define-your-goals-and-decide-on-a-prize\">Define your goals and decide on a prize<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s important to have a clear understanding of what your goals are and how the contest will help you achieve those goals. Some goals around a contest can be <a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/use-social-media-boost-brand-awareness-5-valuable-tips\/\">increasing brand awareness<\/a> or improving your overall engagement. Next, think about a prize that will help you achieve those goals. For example, if you&#8217;re looking to promote a new product or service, offering it as a prize might be the way to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-choose-the-right-platform\">Choose the right platform<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to choosing the right social media platform for your contest, there are several important factors to consider. First, determine which social networks your target audience is most active on. If your audience doesn\u2019t exist on a specific network, then it won\u2019t be worthwhile to launch a contest there as it won\u2019t have the desired reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll also need to understand the different features available on each platform and how they can be used to create a successful contest. For example, if you\u2019re looking to run a photo or video contest, then <a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/how-to-gain-followers-on-instagram\/\">Instagram<\/a> may be your best option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, look at how a social media platform can help maximize the visibility of your contest. Does the platform lend itself to more organic traffic, or is it better suited for promotion using sponsored ads? These are important considerations, as it can determine the best platform(s) for your contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-set-the-rules-and-be-compliant\">Set the rules and be compliant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll need to set official rules for your social media contest that are fair and easily understood by all entrants. Transparency is key here, so be sure to include any eligibility restrictions, how winners will be chosen, and when the contest will end within the contest post. Also, check the guidelines of the social media platform where the contest is happening to make sure the contest is compliant with any laws and regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"757\" src=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-1@1x-3-1024x757.jpg\" alt=\"Social media post example of contest rules.\" class=\"wp-image-44275\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-1@1x-3-1024x757.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-1@1x-3-300x222.jpg 300w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-1@1x-3-768x568.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-1@1x-3-810x599.jpg 810w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-1@1x-3-1140x843.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-1@1x-3.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-create-reasonable-timelines\">Create reasonable timelines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When setting the timeline for the contest, make sure you give your audience enough time to participate but not too much that it loses interest and falls off the radar. On average, a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortstack.com\/blog\/how-long-should-a-social-media-contest-last\/#:~:text=If%20you're%20not%20sure,contest%20format%2C%20and%20budget%20constraints\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"> social media contest should last about 2 weeks<\/a>. Also, be sure to make the deadline for when you\u2019ll announce the winner abundantly clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-promote-your-social-media-contest\">Promote your social media contest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the contest is ready to go, it\u2019s time to start promoting it. There are several strategies you can use to promote your social media contest successfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Showcase the prize<\/strong> \u2013 Use eye-catching visuals of the prize in the post. This will naturally draw users in and help your contest stand out.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use hashtags<\/strong> \u2013 Take advantage of relevant hashtags on social media, particularly on Twitter and Instagram. Hashtags can help you reach anyone interested in that topic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Start an email campaign<\/strong> \u2013 Another way to promote your social media contest is through email marketing. Your emails should include clear instructions on how to enter the contest, as well as a link back to the specific post for your contest.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ask for shares<\/strong> \u2013 Encourage people to share the contest with their friends and followers to boost visibility. The more eyes on your contest, the higher chance of participation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Paid ads can help<\/strong> \u2013 If you have the budget, you might want to promote your contest using paid ads. This can help create greater reach and stir up interest faster, and can even help you target specific demographics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-track-the-data-and-evaluate-the-results\">Track the data and evaluate the results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Always track the performance of your contests. When your contest is complete, make sure to also evaluate the results. How many participants did you have? Did you meet your goals? Some of the <a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-metrics\/\">key metrics to help you determine your success<\/a> include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Engagement rate (e.g., likes, comments, shares)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Follower growth rate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click-through rate (CTR)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conversion rate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Impressions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Look at the data to determine what worked with your social media contest and how you can improve it for next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-top-social-media-contest-ideas\">Top social media contest ideas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Coming up with ideas for social media contests can be tricky. Here are five you can use to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-best-caption-for-photo-or-video\">1. Best caption for photo or video<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the best ideas for a social media contest is a photo or video caption contest. This kind of contest requires minimal effort. All you need to do is select a photo or video and ask your audience to come up with a creative caption. Pick a funny photo or video to give your audience more incentive to come up with something entertaining. If you need a help crafting engaging captions, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/social-media-tools\/ai-caption-generator-social-media\/\">Birdeye&#8217;s social media caption generator<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"795\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-8@1x-795x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Social media post example of a best caption contest.\" class=\"wp-image-44285\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-8@1x-795x1024.jpg 795w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-8@1x-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-8@1x-768x989.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-8@1x-1192x1536.jpg 1192w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-8@1x-810x1044.jpg 810w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-8@1x-1140x1469.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-8@1x.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 795px) 100vw, 795px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-trivia-contest\">2. Trivia contest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A trivia contest is always a fun way to generate buzz for your brand. In order for it to work, you\u2019ll need to create interesting questions that are relevant to your target audience. The <a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-questions\/\">questions<\/a> shouldn\u2019t be too easy to answer, but they should be interesting enough to encourage people to participate in the contest. If you&#8217;re struggling with question ideas, you can always tap into pop culture, current affairs, or childhood nostalgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"920\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-2@1x-2-920x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Social media post example of a trivia contest.\" class=\"wp-image-44276\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-2@1x-2-920x1024.jpg 920w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-2@1x-2-270x300.jpg 270w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-2@1x-2-768x854.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-2@1x-2-810x901.jpg 810w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-2@1x-2-1140x1268.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-2@1x-2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 920px) 100vw, 920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-submit-a-short-form-video\">3. Submit a short-form video<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To run a video contest, you&#8217;ll need to decide on a theme for the competition. You could ask your followers to &#8220;Show us how you use our product&#8221; or &#8220;Share your most creative take on our service.&#8221; You should include an example in the post to help followers better understand what you are looking for and spark their creativity. Also, don\u2019t forget to mention the desired length of time in the post. This will make sure that the entries are consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"875\" height=\"863\" src=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-3@1x-1.jpg\" alt=\"Social media post example of a video contest.\" class=\"wp-image-44277\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-3@1x-1.jpg 875w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-3@1x-1-300x296.jpg 300w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-3@1x-1-768x757.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-3@1x-1-810x799.jpg 810w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 875px) 100vw, 875px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-follow-or-comment-to-win\">4. Follow or comment to win<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A &#8216;follow or comment to win&#8217; contest is an effective way to build your social media presence faster. In this type of contest, you&#8217;ll ask participants to follow your business profile on the designated platform or leave a comment on a specific post. If they do so, they\u2019ll be entered into a drawing for prizes. You could even live stream the drawing to reveal the winners to drive more engagement to your social channels. The winners can then direct message your account to claim their prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-4@1x-1-960x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Social media post example of a follower or comment to win contest.\" class=\"wp-image-44278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-4@1x-1-960x1024.jpg 960w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-4@1x-1-281x300.jpg 281w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-4@1x-1-768x819.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-4@1x-1-810x864.jpg 810w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-4@1x-1-1140x1216.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-4@1x-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-digital-scavenger-hunts\">5. Digital scavenger hunts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Digital scavenger hunts are one of the most exciting social media contests. To get started, choose the items that need to be gathered during the contest. Next, create a post for each item. This will make it <a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-management\/\">easier to manage<\/a> the contest and track progress. Participants of the contest then need to complete each task in order to progress through the scavenger hunt.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should give the scavenger hunt a theme tied to a product or special event. For example, your scavenger hunt could be about finding items related to a specific holiday to promote an upcoming sale. This is a creative social media contest that can help get more traffic to your stores or website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-5@1x-620x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Social media contest example of a digital scavenger hunt.\" class=\"wp-image-44279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-5@1x-620x1024.jpg 620w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-5@1x-182x300.jpg 182w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-5@1x-768x1268.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-5@1x-930x1536.jpg 930w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-5@1x-810x1338.jpg 810w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-5@1x-1140x1883.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-5@1x.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-popular-social-media-giveaway-ideas\">Popular social media giveaway ideas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Giveaways can be just as effective as contests. In fact, the name &#8216;giveaway&#8217; implies that everyone has an equal chance of winning, which can attract more participants. Some popular social media giveaway ideas include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-a-trip-to-a-dream-destination\">6. A trip to a dream destination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>An exciting giveaway like this can definitely draw more eyes to your brand. Admittedly, this kind of giveaway requires a higher budget, but if you can swing such an expensive prize, you can certainly expect an increase in engagement and followers. All you\u2019ll need to do is pick a desirable destination and ask participants to enter the contest by completing a task like sharing the post or opt-in to a <a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/business-text-messaging-for-marketing\/\">text messaging<\/a> list. The prize could be airfare and a hotel stay in that particular location. This type of giveaway works for businesses in the travel industry or if you&#8217;re looking for a quick way to increase your social media presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"828\" src=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-6@1x-1024x828.jpg\" alt=\"Social media contest example of a vacation giveaway.\" class=\"wp-image-44281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-6@1x-1024x828.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-6@1x-300x243.jpg 300w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-6@1x-768x621.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-6@1x-810x655.jpg 810w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-6@1x-1140x922.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-6@1x.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-mystery-box\">7. Mystery box<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Mystery box giveaways are also popular with social media users. As the name suggests, the prizes in these boxes remain a surprise until the winner is announced. However, you can drop subtle hints in the post\u2019s message. You can use this type of giveaway to launch new products or create more awareness for an existing product. Just make sure the prize is worthwhile or it could put off followers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-7@1x-760x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Social media contest example of a mystery box giveaway.\" class=\"wp-image-44282\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-7@1x-760x1024.jpg 760w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-7@1x-223x300.jpg 223w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-7@1x-768x1034.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-7@1x-1141x1536.jpg 1141w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-7@1x-810x1091.jpg 810w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-7@1x-1140x1535.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-7@1x.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-reward-loyal-customers\">8. Reward loyal customers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You could offer exclusive rewards to customers who have been following your business for a while. These types of social media giveaways don&#8217;t require participants to do anything other than follow your page and be loyal to your brand. You can either pick random followers or award points for engagement activities like commenting, reposting, and likes. This shows your followers that you appreciate their loyalty, as well as shows potential customers that you value your customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"509\" src=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-10@1x-1024x509.jpg\" alt=\"Social media contest example of a loyal customer giveaway.\" class=\"wp-image-44289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-10@1x-1024x509.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-10@1x-300x149.jpg 300w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-10@1x-768x381.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-10@1x-810x402.jpg 810w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-10@1x-1140x566.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-10@1x.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-9-follower-milestone-giveaway\">9. Follower milestone giveaway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A follower milestone giveaway is a good way for businesses to reward their current followers and gain new ones. The basic concept of this type of social media giveaway is that the business sets a certain number of followers as a milestone, such as 100, 500, 1,000, 10,000, etc. You\u2019ll want to build awareness and excitement for the milestone by promoting it ahead of time. Once the milestone is reached, publish the giveaway post and ask followers to celebrate by leaving a comment with the first 10-20 comments winning the prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-9@1x-760x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Social media contest example of a milestone giveaway.\" class=\"wp-image-44287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-9@1x-760x1024.jpg 760w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-9@1x-223x300.jpg 223w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-9@1x-768x1034.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-9@1x-1141x1536.jpg 1141w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-9@1x-810x1091.jpg 810w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-9@1x-1140x1535.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blog-image-9@1x.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions-about-social-media-contests\">Frequently asked questions about social media contests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1671042348644\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are social media contests?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Social media contests are activities that businesses ask followers to participate in. Typically, the winner is awarded a prize. Contests are a fun and interactive way to raise brand awareness.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1671042366375\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How effective is a social media contest for business?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">They can help increase followers, build loyalty, and drive traffic to your website or stores. However, it&#8217;s important to have a plan before launching a contest to give it the best chance for success.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1671042387325\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are some best practices for running a social media contest?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Make sure the prize is desirable, make the entry process easy, and make sure the contest is well-promoted. Also, make sure your contest attracts the type of followers you want for your business.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1671042409559\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How do I make my social media contest compliant with the law?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Make sure you\u2019re compliant with the terms and conditions for each platform and you aren\u2019t collecting personal information without consent. Also, be sure to include the official rules in the post.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1671042432108\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How do you pick a social media contest winner?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You can pick a contest winner based on the entry\u2019s creativity, speed of submission, or at random. Whichever you decide, be sure to include this information in the contest rules so there\u2019s no confusion.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1671644478521\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How do you run a social media photo contest?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">To start, decide on a theme for the contest. Then create the rules and post them along with the announcement of the contest. After the contest ends, announce the winner and thank the participants.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1671644489613\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How do you promote a contest on social media?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Start by promoting the contest before it beginnings to help generate buzz. Once it\u2019s live, you should post reminders, highlight posts from current participants, and use hashtags to extend its reach.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-publish-posts-faster-with-birdeye-social\">Publish posts faster with Birdeye Social<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Having multiple social media accounts lets you reach more customers but publishing content to each can be challenging. With <a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/social-media-management-software\/\">Birdeye Social<\/a>, you can connect the most popular networks such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google, and YouTube to a single inbox. This will let you publish your content in bulk saving time and energy. <a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/https:\/\/birdeye.com\/free-demo\/\">Watch our demo<\/a> now and learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/resources\/guides\/2023-social-media-toolkit\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023-social-media-toolkit-banner.jpg\" alt=\"2023 social media toolkit\" class=\"wp-image-45188\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code be-related-topics-hub\"><code>\n        <p>This blog post is part of our <a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-management\/\">Social Media Management<\/a> Guide <\/p>\n      <span style=\"background-color: initial;\">            <\/span>\n<ul style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"><ul style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-engagement\/\">How to use social media engagement for more leads<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<ul style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-advertising\/\">The complete guide to navigating social media advertising<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<ul style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-strategy\/\">Reinforce your brand value with a social media strategy<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<ul style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-listening\/\">Social listening: Why it matters, how to get started, plus tips<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<ul style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-manager\/\">Why your business needs a social media manager<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<ul style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-metrics\/\">13 Social media metrics you should be tracking<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<ul style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-analytics\/\">Social media analytics: Definition, types, and importance<\/a><span style=\"background-color: initial;\">    <\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/code><\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you looking for ways to increase your social media followers? Or are you looking for a creative way to promote new products and services? If the answer to either question is yes, you should consider running a social media contest. Contests are a great way to get people excited about your brand, and they [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":45342,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-media-management"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.5 (Yoast SEO v26.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>9 Social media contest and giveaway ideas that work | Birdeye<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A social media contest is a great way to engage with your followers. In our blog, we\u2019ll show you 9 ideas to get started. \u2713 Learn today.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44273\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"9 Social media contest and giveaway ideas that work\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A social media contest is a great way to engage with your followers. In our blog, we\u2019ll show you 9 ideas to get started. \u2713 Learn today.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"#1 Agentic Marketing Platform for Multi-Location Brands\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BirdeyeReviews\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-12-28T15:30:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-01T13:46:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Social_media_contests_featured.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"628\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Birdeye Staff Writer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Birdeye_\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Birdeye_\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Birdeye Staff Writer\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Birdeye Staff Writer\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ab941e653f98ae931ba03a4e36eeaedb\"},\"headline\":\"9 Social media contest and giveaway ideas that work\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-12-28T15:30:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-01T13:46:59+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/\"},\"wordCount\":2466,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Social_media_contests_featured.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Social Media Management\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#respond\"]}],\"accessibilityFeature\":[\"tableOfContents\"]},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/\",\"name\":\"9 Social media contest and giveaway ideas that work | Birdeye\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Social_media_contests_featured.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-12-28T15:30:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-01T13:46:59+00:00\",\"description\":\"A social media contest is a great way to engage with your followers. In our blog, we\u2019ll show you 9 ideas to get started. \u2713 Learn today.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042348644\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042366375\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042387325\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042409559\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042432108\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671644478521\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671644489613\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Social_media_contests_featured.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Social_media_contests_featured.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":628,\"caption\":\"A person enjoying participating in a social media contest on their tablet.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Social Media Management\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/category\/social-media-management\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"9 Social media contest and giveaway ideas that work\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"#1 Agentic Marketing Platform for Multi-Location Brands\",\"description\":\"Scale your enterprise marketing with Birdeye. Our Agentic AI allows multi-location brands to consolidate reputation tools and unlock massive team efficiency while AI handles execution across 100+ to 10,000+ locations. Watch our agents respond to reviews, publish social posts, engage leads via chat, and surface actionable insights\u2014autonomously, at scale.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Birdeye\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/birdeyelogo_2016_dark.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/birdeyelogo_2016_dark.png\",\"width\":376,\"height\":200,\"caption\":\"Birdeye\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BirdeyeReviews\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/Birdeye_\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wearebirdeye\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/2837064\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/birdeye\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ab941e653f98ae931ba03a4e36eeaedb\",\"name\":\"Birdeye Staff Writer\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b02d4f734e2626458e163885fb0eefb2537d88d979a27d2551696e9d9d675f80?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b02d4f734e2626458e163885fb0eefb2537d88d979a27d2551696e9d9d675f80?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Birdeye Staff Writer\"},\"description\":\"Birdeye's Staff Writers are dedicated to delivering insightful content on reputation management, customer engagement, and digital marketing trends. They turn complex digital marketing concepts into digestible, actionable content and help businesses leverage Birdeye's all-in-one platform for growth and success.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/author\/birdeye-staff-writer\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042348644\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042348644\",\"name\":\"What are social media contests?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Social media contests are activities that businesses ask followers to participate in. Typically, the winner is awarded a prize. Contests are a fun and interactive way to raise brand awareness.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042366375\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042366375\",\"name\":\"How effective is a social media contest for business?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"They can help increase followers, build loyalty, and drive traffic to your website or stores. However, it's important to have a plan before launching a contest to give it the best chance for success.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042387325\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042387325\",\"name\":\"What are some best practices for running a social media contest?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Make sure the prize is desirable, make the entry process easy, and make sure the contest is well-promoted. Also, make sure your contest attracts the type of followers you want for your business.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042409559\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042409559\",\"name\":\"How do I make my social media contest compliant with the law?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Make sure you\u2019re compliant with the terms and conditions for each platform and you aren\u2019t collecting personal information without consent. Also, be sure to include the official rules in the post.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042432108\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042432108\",\"name\":\"How do you pick a social media contest winner?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"You can pick a contest winner based on the entry\u2019s creativity, speed of submission, or at random. Whichever you decide, be sure to include this information in the contest rules so there\u2019s no confusion.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671644478521\",\"position\":6,\"url\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671644478521\",\"name\":\"How do you run a social media photo contest?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"To start, decide on a theme for the contest. Then create the rules and post them along with the announcement of the contest. After the contest ends, announce the winner and thank the participants.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671644489613\",\"position\":7,\"url\":\"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671644489613\",\"name\":\"How do you promote a contest on social media?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Start by promoting the contest before it beginnings to help generate buzz. Once it\u2019s live, you should post reminders, highlight posts from current participants, and use hashtags to extend its reach.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"9 Social media contest and giveaway ideas that work | Birdeye","description":"A social media contest is a great way to engage with your followers. In our blog, we\u2019ll show you 9 ideas to get started. \u2713 Learn today.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44273\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"9 Social media contest and giveaway ideas that work","og_description":"A social media contest is a great way to engage with your followers. In our blog, we\u2019ll show you 9 ideas to get started. \u2713 Learn today.","og_url":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/","og_site_name":"#1 Agentic Marketing Platform for Multi-Location Brands","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BirdeyeReviews\/","article_published_time":"2022-12-28T15:30:52+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-07-01T13:46:59+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":628,"url":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Social_media_contests_featured.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Birdeye Staff Writer","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@Birdeye_","twitter_site":"@Birdeye_","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Birdeye Staff Writer","Est. reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/"},"author":{"name":"Birdeye Staff Writer","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ab941e653f98ae931ba03a4e36eeaedb"},"headline":"9 Social media contest and giveaway ideas that work","datePublished":"2022-12-28T15:30:52+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-01T13:46:59+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/"},"wordCount":2466,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Social_media_contests_featured.jpg","articleSection":["Social Media Management"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#respond"]}],"accessibilityFeature":["tableOfContents"]},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/","url":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/","name":"9 Social media contest and giveaway ideas that work | Birdeye","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Social_media_contests_featured.jpg","datePublished":"2022-12-28T15:30:52+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-01T13:46:59+00:00","description":"A social media contest is a great way to engage with your followers. In our blog, we\u2019ll show you 9 ideas to get started. \u2713 Learn today.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042348644"},{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042366375"},{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042387325"},{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042409559"},{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042432108"},{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671644478521"},{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671644489613"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Social_media_contests_featured.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Social_media_contests_featured.jpg","width":1200,"height":628,"caption":"A person enjoying participating in a social media contest on their tablet."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/birdeye.com"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Social Media Management","item":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/category\/social-media-management\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"9 Social media contest and giveaway ideas that work"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/","name":"#1 Agentic Marketing Platform for Multi-Location Brands","description":"Scale your enterprise marketing with Birdeye. Our Agentic AI allows multi-location brands to consolidate reputation tools and unlock massive team efficiency while AI handles execution across 100+ to 10,000+ locations. Watch our agents respond to reviews, publish social posts, engage leads via chat, and surface actionable insights\u2014autonomously, at scale.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Birdeye","url":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/birdeyelogo_2016_dark.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/birdeyelogo_2016_dark.png","width":376,"height":200,"caption":"Birdeye"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BirdeyeReviews\/","https:\/\/x.com\/Birdeye_","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wearebirdeye\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/2837064\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/birdeye"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ab941e653f98ae931ba03a4e36eeaedb","name":"Birdeye Staff Writer","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b02d4f734e2626458e163885fb0eefb2537d88d979a27d2551696e9d9d675f80?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b02d4f734e2626458e163885fb0eefb2537d88d979a27d2551696e9d9d675f80?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Birdeye Staff Writer"},"description":"Birdeye's Staff Writers are dedicated to delivering insightful content on reputation management, customer engagement, and digital marketing trends. They turn complex digital marketing concepts into digestible, actionable content and help businesses leverage Birdeye's all-in-one platform for growth and success.","url":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/author\/birdeye-staff-writer\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042348644","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042348644","name":"What are social media contests?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Social media contests are activities that businesses ask followers to participate in. Typically, the winner is awarded a prize. Contests are a fun and interactive way to raise brand awareness.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042366375","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042366375","name":"How effective is a social media contest for business?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"They can help increase followers, build loyalty, and drive traffic to your website or stores. However, it's important to have a plan before launching a contest to give it the best chance for success.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042387325","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042387325","name":"What are some best practices for running a social media contest?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Make sure the prize is desirable, make the entry process easy, and make sure the contest is well-promoted. Also, make sure your contest attracts the type of followers you want for your business.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042409559","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042409559","name":"How do I make my social media contest compliant with the law?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Make sure you\u2019re compliant with the terms and conditions for each platform and you aren\u2019t collecting personal information without consent. Also, be sure to include the official rules in the post.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042432108","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671042432108","name":"How do you pick a social media contest winner?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"You can pick a contest winner based on the entry\u2019s creativity, speed of submission, or at random. Whichever you decide, be sure to include this information in the contest rules so there\u2019s no confusion.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671644478521","position":6,"url":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671644478521","name":"How do you run a social media photo contest?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"To start, decide on a theme for the contest. Then create the rules and post them along with the announcement of the contest. After the contest ends, announce the winner and thank the participants.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671644489613","position":7,"url":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/social-media-contest\/#faq-question-1671644489613","name":"How do you promote a contest on social media?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Start by promoting the contest before it beginnings to help generate buzz. Once it\u2019s live, you should post reminders, highlight posts from current participants, and use hashtags to extend its reach.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/92"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44273"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44273\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61872,"href":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44273\/revisions\/61872"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}