Doing a giveaway or creating a contest for your Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or other type of crowdfunding campaign is a great way to incentivize potential backers to become involved with your project early on. In exchange for subscribing to your newsletter, liking your Facebook page, or following you on Twitter, they could have the chance to win some cool prizes related to your project.
Below, I’ve included three software tools that I’ve found to be easy to implement for giveaways. Let me know which your favorite is and whether or not you found them to be helpful in growing your mailing list or social media following.
1. Rafflecopter
Rafflecopter has been around since 2010, but has recently been used more and more to coordinate giveaways related to crowdfunding campaigns. Using the software, you can create and launch giveaway promotions & sweepstakes across your website, blog, and Facebook page.
You must first add a prize or prizes and then select how participants can enter the contest. I’ve included a few ways that participants can enter below. You can also select the option that participants can enter the contest by referring a friend, though this is a premium option.
Pricing: Free – $59.99 per month. The free version has most of the functionality you would want.
2. PunchTab
PunchTab is another online giveaway software that lets you incentivize users to take actions in exchange for prizes. You must first select a prize, a duration for the giveaway, and then specify how users will pledge their support. I’ve included a few examples below. You can also configure multiple steps that a user must take (like your facebook page, then tweet you).
Finally, you must embed the giveaway on your website or Facebook page.
Pricing: Free version still supported. Paid versions have been retired.
3. PromoSimple
PromoSimple offers similar functionality as the two above solutions. You can design the entry form, enforce age and location restrictions, accept Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest & Twitter entries, etc.
One thing I don’t like about this software is that it sets the “referral contest” option at $75/month and Rafflecopter is only $60/month.
I’ve included some of the actions and items that you can customize below.
Pricing: $0 – $295
Conclusion
My personal favorite is Rafflecopter because I think they have good integrations, a reasonable price, and have a beautiful user interface that is easy to navigate.
For most campaigns, I think the subscribing to an email list would be most effective in terms of long-term benefits, as I see better click through rates from email marketing than any other social network. However, I would experiment! You can also invent your own “action” that participants must take to be entered.
As with all internet activity, “social proof” goes a long way, so if the software you choose also lists “total entries” to potential participants, I would first ask your friends and family to enter the giveaway before you promote it to strangers.
If you’re looking to generate a buzz and gather a following leading up to your campaign, I’d also recommend reading through my post on using Thunderclap as a promotional tool and my experience using it.
Finally, I encourage you to share the contests and giveaways you create in the comments below! Let me know which tool you like best.
