Congratulations! You Win! Contests and competitions might look like a way to give away a product and win the affections of one or two customers, but the act of actually holding a competition can make you (the website owner) a winner too.
Competitions generate conversation, and when your goal is to generate website traffic, conversation is your best friend. The best way to host a contest on your website is unique to you. Long before the internet was around to spur the movement to its next level; competitions were used as a premier way of engaging potential clientele and boosting customer morale. What you gave away and the exact nature of the competition depended on the goal of your company, as well as the goal of your competition. These remain the two leading tenets of what will drive your online competition today.
Creating a Contest
The first question to ask yourself is why you are hosting a competition. The benefits of having a competition are numerous:
- Boost social media followers
- Gain website traffic
- Raise awareness about a topic
- Get rid of surplus stock
- Increase brand awareness
- Build an email network
Once you know the reason for your competition, you can tailor your competition to meet your ultimate needs. You can do this by using some of your existing SEO tools to your advantage. Things like social media, blogging and email newsletters are all great ways to spread the word about your competition.
Competitions get a lot more attention that your website will generally receive. People from across the internet often visit websites for the sole purpose of entering competitions. A well planned out competition can drive focus away from your competitors and get people looking at your website and your products.
Here are a few tips for creating a good competition on your website:
- Make it clear. Your prize, rules and other necessary facts should be stated clearly and concisely on your website. You do not want the rules of your competition to be confusing.
- Make it simple. The more hoops you introduce for people to jump through the less likely people will be to participate in your contest. Do your best to make your competition simple to enter.
- Make it timely. All contests need precise start and finish dates. Too short of a contest and you may lose out on potential traffic who missed the small window. Too large and people will lose interest before the competition is over.
- Make it relatable. Your contest should be relevant and relatable to you and your audience. Give away something they will want, but something that also makes sense from your company.
Once you create your contest, spread the word. Your contest should be found through every social media outlet, be talked about on your blog and be easy to find from the front of your website. Contests will drive traffic to your website, so welcome that traffic by making it evident they are in the right place. If you set up your contest right, your customers won’t be the only ones with a chance to win it big.