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Do you want more email subscribers?
Have you run contests on Facebook?
Facebook contests and sweepstakes are an excellent method for capturing email leads.
In this post I’ll share five ways to grow your email list with Facebook contests.
#1: Offer Multiple Prizes
When you offer several prizes, people are more likely to enter since there's a greater likelihood of winning.
Cloud Freebies, a UK-based site where people can sign up for samples, vouchers, deals and contests, held a drawing where fans could win one of three hampers full of chocolate. The prize was low-value, but entry was easy. Just enter name, email and address, accept the terms and click to enter.
There are several things this contest does well.
The decision to give away three chocolate hampers was excellent. Research shows that multiple inexpensive prizes perform better than a single, high-value grand prize, since people think that they have a better chance to win a lower-value prize.
The contest was well-branded and clear. Even though the colors seem a bit wild, they represent the company's website. Plus the photo of the yummy prizes was certainly appealing.
Plus, fans were given an incentive to share. Invite friends to increase chances of winning. The more they shared, the better the chance to win. (And the positive result for the company: more email addresses for their list.)
Take it up a notch: Increase the reach of your sweepstakes by further incentivizing your subscribers to share. Draw the winners only from the subscribers who shared the contest the most.
#2: Cater to Your Niche
If you have a niche business, embrace it. Come up with a contest your fans can't resist.
An online marketplace for dog breeders and potential owners, Dogs and Puppies ran a photo contest where fans could upload a picture of their dog dressed in a Halloween costume to enter. Fans vote for the best pics.
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The three photos with the most votes win a prize. Plus, two voters would win prizes too!
This contest works for many reasons.
It's a niche topic. Dressing up a dog at Halloween is fun for any fan of a dog-centric site. It's also timely for Halloween and seasonal contests work well.
The prizes are appropriate and meaningful. Prizes determine a contests' participants and what dog-lover wouldn't want to win a prize for his or her pet?
It values voters. There's a barrier to entry for the initial part of the contest (uploading a photo), but also a chance to win for those who take a minute to vote. Voters are also potential customers. And this contest captures their email too!
Take it up a notch: The contest promotional material should be visually appealing. This app has too much text. At the very least, insert photos of the prizes to break up the content. Also, be sure the period for uploading and voting on pictures does not overlap.
#3: Support Your Community
Local businesses can seize the opportunity to offer an event in their town as a contest prize.
The Premier Bone and Joint Centers, orthopedic practices in Wyoming, did a “Game Day” sweepstakes: a package of four tickets to a University of Wyoming football game, dinner and hotel accommodations. An ideal prize and a fun day out for a family.
There are lots of strengths to this contest.
It has a fantastic grand prize that supports a team in the community. A lot of fans will want to take the opportunity to enter to win. It strengthens the connection among the company, the sponsored team and the customer, and inspires brand loyalty.
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GET THE DETAILSPlus, the design of the app is clean and in harmony with the colors of the company's website. The sponsoring company is a medical practice and the contest just screams “professionalism”—as it should.
Take it up a notch: This contest has a prize package of tickets, dinner and hotel. Since multiple prizes perform better, split up the package and let more fans win.
#4: Offer an Exclusive Opportunity
Just as many small prizes will drum up interest, so will having a phenomenal once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with several winners.
Jamie Cullum is a singer known all over the world. His team organized a secret concert. Fans were invited to enter a sweepstakes where winners were drawn randomly for a chance to win one of 30 pairs of tickets.
Known brands and entertainers can certainly raise the stakes when it comes to contests. This sweepstakes has a lot going for it.
First of all, the contest design is well-branded. It screams “VIP.”
Plus, you can't do much better than the prize of a VIP concert for avid fans at a secret location with tickets not available for purchase. This tempting prize attracts the singer's biggest fans (and those close to the venue in Germany) to enter via email.
Since there are multiple prizes, a lot of people will enter because winning seems more likely.
The contest entrants earn extra points if their friends subscribe from the shared link. That kind of incentive means the campaign spreads faster.
Take it up a notch: Invite people to enter to win attendance at an exclusive event that's not limited by location. An invite-only online concert may have a similar interest with many more people entering because it's accessible to all.
#5: Make It an Ongoing Event
Regular interaction increases engagement. Construct a contest that gives your fans multiple chances to enter.
The Rock n Roll Resort, a dance club and concert venue, ran a contest where the prize was a 3-day pass for two people to a music festival.
This is a great contest for locals.
The contest app design is reminiscent of concert posters, so it's branded and grabs attention.
A 3-day pass to a music festival is a very attractive prize for music lovers. The fact that people can enter the sweepstakes every day to increase their chances is a boost to engagement.
The contest also uses a point system for more opportunities to enter. The phrasing “You can earn 100 points after 10 invited friends enter” catches more attention than if it read, “Earn 10 points after an invited friend enters.”
Take it up a notch: If you have a club or other event venue, give away a few pairs of tickets, not just one. Remember, the more the merrier. A giveaway of three pairs of tickets (one for each day) would cost the same, but might attract more subscribers.
Conclusion
A Facebook contest is really just a fun landing page with higher conversion rates. It's a wonderful marketing tool, especially to increase email subscribers.
It's easy to put together a Facebook contest app, especially since there are smart self-service tools to use, such as Antavo, ShortStack, Wishpond and others.
Find a fitting theme, offer appropriate (and multiple, if possible) prizes and create an appealing design that fits with your brand. You'll gain new fans and increase loyalty of those who already like your company.
What do you think? Have you created contests and sweepstakes to grow your email list? Which contest app do you use? What recommendations do you have for those launching a contest? Please tell us in the comments.
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