Hi everyone, so I thought I'd make a thread on how to run a successful blog giveaway. I was looking through some of the questions in other threads and have done a little research, and I have also learned a little about giveaways from doing a couple of them on my blog, one of which I only got 25 entries (which I would consider a failure), the second one having 230 entries and counting!
Tip #1: Use Rafflecopter! It's so easy to use and you have really great benefits even without having to pay: www.rafflecopter.com
Tip #2: When using Rafflecopter, make sure you make the entries reflect what you want most out of the giveaway. Do you want more Facebook likes? If so, make that worth the most points. Do you want people to look through your Etsy shop to pick their favorite item and then post about it in a blog comment? If so just make that option worth more points.
Tip #3: Make sure the giveaway goes for long enough that you get the amount of exposure you want for your Facebook/Etsy/Twitter/Blog,etc. 15 days is a good time slot for example.
Tip #4: If you are putting the giveaway on your blog and the prizes are items from another seller, make sure to emphasize THEIR SITES, not yours. You can add entry options that have to do with the people liking your FB page or favoriting your Etsy shop, etc, but make sure they are the last options so as not to take center stage.
Tip #5: If you are having a giveaway hosted for one of your items on someone else's blog, make sure to promote as well, and make sure you and the blogger have good communication on what you want emphasized in the giveaway entry options.
Tip #5: If you want to do a giveaway, but do not want to giveaway a $90 purse that you made (unless you have the money and time to do that), just give away something smaller that's in your shop, people will still enter the giveaway no matter what the prize is. People like giveaways, and they like winning stuff, no matter what, and it's a great marketing tool if you do it right.
Tip #6: Don't try to do a giveaway on Facebook, it is not allowed.
Tip #7: Submit your giveaway to giveaway blogs so that it is posted for hundreds more to see. Here is a great list of giveaway blogs where you can submit your giveaway by email for free:
http://etsygiveaways.blogspot.com/ http://www.fashionlovegiveaway.com/ http://bloggiveaways.blogspot.com/ http://international-giveaways.blogspot.com/ http://svenagrade.blogspot.com/ http://www.giveawayroute.com/ This one is a giveaway directory that also has some great tools to help with running a giveaway:
http://anyluckyday.com/giveaway-directories Tip #8: Do not EXPECT sales. Expect views and Facebook likes and follows, etc. Do not think it's impossible though. You may get sales from it or future buyers. If you want to increase the chances of buyers you could possibly offer a coupon code for your shop in the giveaway post.
Tip #9: If you don't want to deal with other bloggers then just run a giveaway for yourself on your blog.
Tip #10: Giveaways are not for everyone, but if you want some cheaper publicity then it's great for that, as well as gaining potential buyers, likes, follows, shop traffic, etc. It's not for everyone, but it can really successful if done the right way.
