Online sweepstakes are becoming increasingly popular. This is so because they offer the excitement of winning a prize or money without needing to pay to enter, or to work to win the award. Those who participate in sweepstakes enjoy the thrill of entering and savor the possibility of winning. Since participants don’t need any particular skill to enter a sweepstakes, the experience is enjoyable because it is effortless. While offline sweepstakes are offered at specific business locations, online sweepstakes are offered on a particular website; this website will have a page that announces the sweepstakes, the rules and the attractive prizes.
Difference between Sweepstakes and Contests
Sweepstakes should not be confused with events that require skills: such events are contests, not sweepstakes. In sweepstakes, the winner is decided through a process of random selection i.e. a drawing.
More Effective Advertising
Participants enjoy the process of signing up for sweepstakes, making advertising more effective. The sweepstakes embodies an ideal means for a company to create product awareness. In many ways, the payoff for the company in offering cash or prizes compliments brand messages delivered through advertising media. This is because advertising is the medium, while the sweepstakes can become the message.
Legal and Ethical Sweepstakes
Running a sweepstakes is a process that must be conducted ethically and legally. Many companies do not fully understand the 10 basic rules of running successful sweepstakes. In fact, some companies unintentionally create fraudulent sweepstakes, violating the laws enacted to regulate the sweepstakes process. In the United States, sweepstakes are supervised by a combination of Federal, State and Local agencies.
The 10 Sweepstake Rules That Must Be Followed:
1. The sweepstakes must have a clause stating that no purchase is necessary.
2. The sweepstakes must have specific beginning and end dates.
3. The sweepstakes must clearly spell out eligibility requirements.
4. The sweepstakes must have a precise description of how to enter.
5. The sweepstakes must declare whether there is a limit on how many people are allowed to enter it.
6. The sweepstakes must have a statement clarifying the odds of winning.
7. The sweepstakes must explain what prizes are offered, and the value of these prizes.
8. The sweepstakes must explain how the winners will be selected and how they will be informed of their success.
9. The sweepstakes must state if there are any restrictions on how to win.
10. The sweepstakes must provide the name and address of those who are sponsoring the prize.
Conclusion
Sweepstakes are powerful messages to promote your company’s brand or to introduce a new product to the marketplace. Sweepstakes are regulated to ensure that the sweepstakes is equally fair to everyone. If you would like more information on how to successfully plan and run a sweepstakes for your next marketing campaign, contact us. Our experts will handle every detail of your sweepstakes, allowing you to launch your campaign quickly and effectively.
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