How to Run a Successful Instagram Contest or Giveaway

How to Run a Successful Instagram Contest or Giveaway

Running an Instagram contest can be a great way to reach your audience, reward them for participating with your content, and even gain new followers. However, there are some rules and best practices you need to keep in mind to ensure you run your contest efficiently and effectively, without getting in trouble with the Instagram police.

Rules for Running an Instagram Contest:

1. Use release verbiage: According to Instagram rules, you must include the following release verbiage in your contest post: Per Instagram rules, this promotion is in no way sponsored, administered or associated with Instagram Inc. By entering, entrants confirm that they are 13+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram's terms of use.

2. Don't tag people who don't appear in the photo: You cannot ask users to tag themselves or others in a photo in which they do not appear, and you cannot tag people in a photo in which they do not appear. However, you can tag them in a comment.

3. Disclose the terms and conditions: You must fully disclose the terms and conditions of the contest, including the start and end date, conditions to enter, how the winners will be determined, and any other defining criteria.

4. Use the right terminology: Make it clear that you're running a contest or giveaway, and use the word contest or giveaway in text on the actual image. Use emojis and capital letters in that first sentence, even the first word of your caption, to make it clear and obvious that this is not an everyday post.

Tips for Running a Successful Instagram Contest:

1. Determine the type of contest based on the prize: The type of contest you run will be determined by the prize you have available. For example, a low-range swag giveaway would be appropriate for a simple contest where users only need to tag a friend, while a bigger prize giveaway would be more appropriate for a more complicated contest where users need to create content on Instagram.

2. Use a hashtag: Create a hashtag exclusively for that contest, and assign someone to monitor the hashtag and the contest post. Notify the winner privately first, and once they accept the prize, you can go ahead and announce the winner publicly.

3. Catalog all the data: Record all the data from your various contests, including the likes and comments generated, the length of the contest, the time of year, and the prize value. Look for patterns and other ways to improve performance down the road with future contests.

Running an Instagram contest can be a great way to engage with your audience and grow your following, but it's important to follow the rules and best practices to ensure you run your contest efficiently and effectively. By using the right terminology, creating a hashtag, and cataloging all the data, you can run successful contests that benefit your brand and your audience.