Category: Sweepstakes

Tear Pad Entry Form vs Online Registration Form

Cheryl Thornton, Account Supervisor, contributes this post about tear pad entry forms vs online registration forms. Long before the start of internet promotions, the ways to enter a sweepstakes were either to 1) mail a 3X5 card to a designated P.O. Box, or 2) to complete a tear pad entry form found on displays in stores or other establishments and deposit it into a ballot box provided. In some

March 28, 2019

How to Spot a Sweepstakes Scam

A sweepstakes scam, or poorly run promotion, gives legitimate sweepstakes agencies and promotional marketing companies a bad name. Know what to look for to spot a sweepstakes scam, or a company that runs them. Here is a list of things to look for in a sweepstakes, or game of chance, that you should avoid, or at least be cautious of: 1. Super low odds: Any sweepstakes where there will be

March 13, 2019

Content Moderation: A Requirement for Social Posts and Contests

Content moderation has made the headlines lately as social channels like Facebook and Twitter tried to deal with “fake news” stories and inappropriate content. There is a torrent of video and written content being produced and distributed through the various social platforms, and content moderators work around the clock, deciding what needs to be taken down and what can remain. But what about content moderation for your brand’s social

March 1, 2019

5 Ways to Improve How You Run a Giveaway on Social Channels

Do you want to know how to run a giveaway on social channels, but are looking for how to do it legally and using best practices? Here are 5 things to consider when you run a giveaway. 1. Include rules. While a good many “giveaways” on social do not seem to have a legal set of rules, that doesn’t mean you don’t need them! Official rules are what protect

February 27, 2019

10 Ways to Promote Your Sweepstakes or Giveaway

Here are 10 ways to promote your sweepstakes, giveaway or contest. It’s up to you, and your budget, to find the best way to reach your current and future customers. When you use any of these methods, please remember to use the correct disclaimer language and include a way to access the full rules, either in print or online. 1. Posting to your social channels FREE Posting about your sweepstakes on your company or

February 14, 2019

Sweepstakes Email Opt-in Best Practices

The primary purpose of many sweepstakes is to build a brand’s mailing list; having a valid email opt-in on the sweepstakes registration page is imperative to the success of the promotion. If you fail to use best practices when setting up your opt-in, then your ability to email users for the purposes you had in mind may be at risk. Here are 3 things to keep in mind when

February 6, 2019

20 Things Small Business Customers Want Out of a Rewards or Loyalty Program

If you are creating a loyalty program for your best customers, here are 20 things that customers frequently ask for to get them to come back for more: A welcome kit – customized to your business The option to get updates via text, email — or push notifications on an app if you have an app Rewards bucks/points to spend on items in your store Exclusive discounts Exclusive offers

February 4, 2019

Paying for Votes Doesn’t Pay Off

If you are lucky enough to be a finalist in a contest you might think about going to extraordinary lengths to win — like paying for votes. But what really works and what is a bad idea? Before you get yourself into trouble and get disqualified, you should consult the official rules of the contest. The rules outline all the ways you could get disqualified for cheating, and some

January 31, 2019

Contest Laws by State

Before you run a promotion in the United States, you might want to check sweepstakes or contest laws by state. Some states have more vigorous laws regulating sweepstakes and contests and you can’t claim you didn’t know what you didn’t know after the fact – there may be big fines for non-compliance. Here is a sampling of states that have strict laws regarding promotions: Florida: In Florida you must register

August 17, 2018

What is a Sweepstakes?

What is a sweepstakes? A sweepstakes is a chance promotion, where a winner is randomly selected from all eligible entries. Entries into a sweepstakes must either be free for all, or if you want to encourage purchase for entry, then an alternate, free method of entry (AMOE) must also be available. Luck determines a sweepstakes winner rather than any skill or payment. For a sweepstakes you typically collect only the information you need from an

July 6, 2018