Expand Your Reach With Instagram Contests

August 12, 2021

Do you want to expand your Instagram reach quickly while also engaging your followers? If so, Instagram contests can help. You can enjoy immediate results when you run a contest, which will make it much easier to reach your marketing goals. Follow some tips to create an Instagram contest that converts. 
 

Select an Entry Method

First, you need to choose an entry method. You have lots of options for this, so let’s look at some of the most popular. 
 

  • Like, Comment, and Follow to Win

If you spend much time on Instagram, you’ve likely seen some sort of variation on this type of contest. Some companies ask people to like to enter, while others have them like and comment. Finally, some companies have people like, comment, and follow the page to enter the contest. That’s the best option since it allows you to increase your reach, engagement, and followers with a single contest. 

If you go this route, you can choose the winner randomly. Everyone has an equal chance to win, and that’s part of the appeal. 
 

  • Tag-a-friend Contest

If you want to boost your reach, a tag-a-friend contest might be the right choice for you. People can enter when they tag a friend on the post. You can have people tag a single friend, two friends, or more to enter the contest. When people see the tag, they will likely visit your page. Then, they might follow your page and tag another friend. This type of contest can spread quickly, so get ready to increase your reach and engagement.
 

  • Photo Caption Contests

Photo caption contests are also popular on Instagram. They provide a fun way for brands to engage with their customer base, and they also give people a chance to show off their personalities and humor. Start by posting an unusual image and then ask people to caption it. You can boost reach and engagement quickly with this type of contest, and you can also generate excitement around your brand.

Keep in mind that you will need to determine who will judge in the contest and pick a winner. You’ll also need to dedicate some time to the process. Unlike a random contest where anyone can win, you’ll need to go through the entries and choose the best caption.
 

  • User-generated Content (Selfie) Contest

User-generated content can help you build trust with your target market. You can add lots of user-generated content to your page at once by making that the focus of your contest. There are lots of ways to run such a contest. Many brands have people post selfies that show them using one of the company’s products. 

Decide what you want people to post and have them use a specific hashtag to enter the contest. Then, when people search for that hashtag, they’ll see photos related to your brand. You’ll also want to take it a step further and include language in the contest rules that explains you can use the entries for marketing purposes. Then, you can share the photos down the line if you wish. 
 

Choose the Prize

After you decide on the entry method, you’ll need to choose a prize for your content. There are a couple of things to keep in mind when you do this. 

First, select a prize related to your business. It should be a product, service, gift card, or another item directly related to your brand. While that might seem obvious, some brands make a mistake and give away products from other companies. For example, some brands choose to give away iPads, even though the tablet doesn’t have anything to do with their business. This is problematic for a couple of reasons. First, you’ll miss a chance for people to see how amazing your products or services are. Second, your content will attract people who aren’t in your target market. They might follow your page during the contest, but once it’s over, they’ll leave. That means you won’t really benefit from the promotion.

Next, the prize needs to be valuable. The higher the value, the more engagement you can expect from your contest. You might not be able to offer thousands of dollars in prizes but select the most valuable item possible. 
 

Write Your Description

You need to write a description for your contest so people know how to enter and what’s involved. The description should provide all of the details and be written clearly, so it’s easy to understand. Be sure to include the contest rules, eligibility requirements, and restrictions.  The description should also include the prize, the deadline to enter, and the time and date you will announce the winner. 
 

Launch Your Contest

After you write your description, you’ll be ready to launch your contest. Create an engaging photo and caption that explains the details of the contest. Post it and watch your engagement levels and reach grow.

Keep in mind that you want your entire Instagram page to look inviting and enticing to people who enter the contest. After all, you want to attract long-term followers. Your contest will likely take up lots of your time, but you still need to work on getting likes on your other posts so that people who visit your page will see you have a lot to offer. You can buy Instagram likes to increase engagement on your page so you can put your best foot forward during the contest.  
 

Keep Track of the Analytics

Finally, keep track of the analytics while your contest is live. You should notice a dramatic increase in engagement. If you get lots of new followers from this contest, your next one can be even more successful. Record the analytics, so you can compare each content you run.
 

Brainstorm Contest Ideas Today

Brainstorm some ideas for an Instagram contest. Then, use these tips to increase the likelihood of success. Once you have a few successful contests in the books, you should have a strong Instagram presence with lots of followers.

⟵ Regresar al blog