Many companies and brands run social media contests on the internet. They try their best to ensure that these contests reach a wide audience. There are several ways to promote social media contests. Some of these methods have been already used, others are still being researched.
Community recognition
The prize should be community recognition. Oftentimes, it is observed that people are more motivated by the recognition of their peers than by money. They draw pride from being associated with a certain social group or community. Therefore, for these social media contests, the prize should be in the form of community recognition. The winners should be given a badge of honor that they can proudly display on their social media profiles.
Use pictures and videos
A picture is worth a thousand words and a video is worth a thousand pictures. Social media contests should make creative use of pictures and videos. In today's world of smartphones and instant internet, it is very easy for the users themselves to provide the picture and video content. The users should be encouraged to utilize pictures and videos throughout these social media contests. These pictures and videos should reach the largest possible audience on the internet. This will make the social media contest a truly compelling experience. You could even start an auction to sell your house by sharing impressive photos and videos of your property.
Captions and Hashtags
The contest should make creative use of captions and hashtags. Hashtags have become an significant part of the virtual world. They show up everywhere from newsroom panel discussions to personal shared content. They have taken over our digital lives in every possible way. They can also be put to good use in social media contests. The hashtags can be used to attract more users to the social media contests, because they easily show up in the Facebook and Twitter feeds of users. Hashtags also provide important information about the contest itself to would be participants. Hashtags if successfully used can really enhance the experience of a social media contest.
Use Voting
Voting should also be a part of any creative social media contest. The users should be allowed to vote in every possible way relating to the contest. The winners can be decided by vote, so can the rules of the contest. Voting creates an element of surprise which is very important in any contest. It entertains the users and provides an outcome that the users have themselves contributed to.
Encourage Volunteerism
The contests should encourage volunteerism. The users who volunteer for companies or brands feel that they are a part of something constructive. This makes them feel valued. They feel that their contributions are being properly acknowledged. The contests can make use of volunteers in many possible ways. Adding the social angle to an online contest could help your business give back to the society, while also achieving specific commercial targets.
These are five creative ways to promote social media contests. Several other approaches may also be adopted based on the nature of the business and the characteristics of the target audience. The future of social media is going to be driven by such contests.