11 Giveaway Ideas That Really Work

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Hello, and welcome back to another edition of eCommerce Alchemy - your one-stop destination for everything related to ecommerce growth.

Imagine turning a single giveaway into a surge of new email subscribers, a flood of social media interactions, and a spike in sales. Sounds too good to be true? It’s not, if you get it right.

In this newsletter, I’m breaking down the essentials for running a giveaway that goes beyond just handing out freebies and actually drives real business growth.

Ready to transform your next giveaway into a game-changer? Let’s dive into the strategies that will make it happen.

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Why Bother with Giveaways? Let’s Break It Down

1. Grow Your Email List
Email marketing is like a magic wand for driving sales—$36 back for every $1 spent, can you believe that? If you’re looking to build your email list, giveaways are your secret weapon.

Collect emails from new visitors who haven’t bought yet, and then send them personalised offers when they’re eyeing those must-have items. It’s like having a VIP pass to their inbox!

2. Boost Your Social Media Presence
Want more likes, comments, and followers on social media? Host a giveaway! Just like Haute Hijab does, you can encourage people to like, comment, and tag their friends for a chance to win.

It’s a fun way to get noticed, but remember, not everyone who joins the fun will stick around or buy from you.

3. Score Some User-Generated Content (UGC)
80% of people say user-generated content impacts their buying decisions. So why not get your customers to share their photos and videos of your products? It’s a win-win: they show off their new goodies, and you get awesome content to use in future campaigns. Who wouldn’t want that?

4. Drive Those Referrals
Referred customers are often the best kind—loyal and ready to spend. To get referrals, make it rewarding. Offer a prize to both the person referring and the new customer. It’s a great way to boost your sales and keep customers coming back for more.

Timing Is Everything

When Should You Launch Your Giveaway?
Timing your giveaway right can make all the difference. Run it during slower sales periods to give your brand a boost when it needs it most. And make sure you time your launch for when engagement is high. For emails, try sending them on Tuesdays or Thursdays, and aim for times like 8 AM, 1 PM, or 5 PM for the best results.

How to Run a Successful Business Giveaway

Giveaways can be a fantastic way to grow your email list, get referrals, and boost sales. But if you don’t do it right, you might end up hurting your brand. Let’s make sure your giveaway hits the mark with these tips:

1. Choose the Right Platform

Pick a platform where your audience hangs out. Want to get new followers? Use social media like Facebook or Instagram—people can easily share and spread the word. Looking to build your email list? Set up pop-ups on your website for visitors who haven’t bought from you yet.

2. Collect Emails and Keep Participants Engaged

You’re not just giving away freebies for fun; you want to build your list and engage new customers. So, grab those email addresses when people enter. If your giveaway lasts more than a day or two, keep people excited with regular updates through email or social media.

Here’s a quick email plan:

3. Link the Prize Back to Your Business

Make sure the prize fits with your brand. It’s usually easiest to give away your own products, but think creatively. For instance, The White Company gave away a stay at a fancy cottage they decorated, which was a great way to showcase their style.

4. Get Engagement on Social Media

Even if your giveaway isn’t on social media, use your channels to hype it up. Get people to comment, tag friends, or share your posts. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are great for this and can drive traffic to your giveaway page.

5. Keep It Simple

Make the rules easy to follow. Clearly explain how to enter, what the prize is, and when the winner will be announced. If it’s too complicated to explain in a few simple points, it’s probably too complicated.

11 Cool Giveaway Ideas to Supercharge Your Brand

1. Choose the Right Prize

First things first: pick a prize that matches your brand. Offering something random, like the latest tech gadget, might attract a crowd that’s not really interested in what you sell. Instead, choose a prize related to your products.

For instance, J.Crew Factory’s giveaway features their own products and gift cards. This way, you attract people who are genuinely interested in your brand.

2. Craft Engaging Copy

Your giveaway’s copy should be clear and enticing. Check out Jysk Vin’s approach—they’ve got a simple, effective headline and a straightforward call-to-action right on their site. Make it easy for people to join and you’ll see better results.

3. Make the Most of Holiday Seasons

Holidays are perfect for running giveaways. Why not let people pick their own prizes or offer something exclusive? For example, Chubbies’ holiday giveaway let folks create a wishlist from their products. It’s a fun way to engage people and promote your brand at the same time.

4. Promote Your Products Without Being Pushy

Use your giveaway to subtly highlight your products. Oru Kayak does this by partnering with other brands and showcasing the prizes on their giveaway page. This way, people get to know your products while participating in the contest.

5. Drive Sales with Your Giveaway

Giveaways can also boost your sales. Vinomofo’s birthday giveaway required a purchase to enter, which helped increase their sales. Consider adding features like countdown timers or onsite pop-ups to create urgency and encourage purchases.

6. Combine Surveys with Giveaways

Get more survey responses by tying them to a giveaway. Brooklinen does this by framing their survey around a giveaway. It’s a great way to make the survey feel more rewarding and gather valuable feedback from your customers.

7. Keep Engaging After the Giveaway Ends

Even after your giveaway wraps up, you can still capture interest. Bellroy does this by turning old giveaway pages into lead generators, inviting visitors to join their newsletter. It’s a smart way to keep the conversation going and collect potential leads.

8. Gather User-Generated Content

Encourage your customers to share their own content related to your products. GoPro does this really well with their giveaways, gathering tons of user-generated content that they then showcase. Create specific hashtags to track and collect these entries for added marketing value.

9. Create Scarcity with Limited-Edition Prizes

Boost excitement by offering limited-edition products in your giveaway. Cotton Bureau did this for their anniversary, offering exclusive items that were only available through the contest. It’s a great way to drive immediate interest and increase sales.

10. Run a Branded Merch Giveaway

If your brand is already known, branded merchandise can be a big hit. Death Wish Coffee’s giveaway of branded mugs around a major holiday is a perfect example. This works best if people are already familiar with your brand and its appeal.

11. Partner with Other Brands

Team up with complementary brands to expand your reach. Too Faced and Pop-Tarts did this with a fun, nostalgic giveaway that brought both brands’ audiences together. Find brands that fit well with yours and share the promotion to get the best results.

Turn your next giveaway into more than just a promotional event—make it a growth driver for your business. By implementing these strategies, you’ll see how a well-executed giveaway can lead to increased engagement, a larger email list, and boosted sales.