Instagram contests are a fantastic way to increase engagement and grow your followers. They are fun, interactive, and can create a lot of buzz around your brand. In this article, we will explore ten inspiring Instagram contest examples that have successfully boosted engagement for various brands.
Key Takeaways
- Instagram contests can significantly increase your brand’s engagement and follower count.
- Choosing the right prize is crucial; it should be something that appeals directly to your target audience.
- Simple entry requirements, like tagging friends or using a specific hashtag, can help your contest reach a wider audience.
- Collaborating with influencers or other brands can expand your contest’s reach and attract more participants.
- Reviewing the contest’s performance and participant feedback can provide valuable insights for future contests.
Southbyseacollege
Southbyseacollege has mastered the art of engaging their audience with Instagram contests. They know their followers well and create contests that resonate with them. One of their most successful strategies involves leveraging the strong bonds within sororities. By offering prizes to an entire sorority chapter, they tap into incredible virality.
For instance, they once gave away about 120 pullovers to one sorority chapter. To enter, participants had to tag their sorority sisters in the comments. This exclusive and seasonal product was a huge hit, resulting in about 1000 new followers. The challenge, however, is retaining these followers once the contest ends.
Running contests that are seasonally appropriate and exclusive can significantly boost your engagement and follower count.
This approach not only increases engagement but also helps in building a loyal community. If you’re looking to boost your brand’s visibility, consider exploring creative giveaway contest ideas to engage customers and boost brand visibility.
RafflePress
RafflePress is a powerful tool for running Instagram contests. It offers easy-to-use, viral giveaway templates that integrate seamlessly with WordPress. This makes it an ideal choice for WordPress users looking for a comprehensive solution to boost their engagement.
One of the standout features of RafflePress is its drag-and-drop giveaway builder. This feature allows you to create any contest you can imagine, including Instagram contests. The platform also includes built-in social actions that help you grow your email list, website traffic, and social media followers through viral contests.
To run a successful Instagram contest using RafflePress, you can use their Instagram giveaway templates. These templates come with actions that encourage users to visit your Instagram account, view a post or video, and tag friends. This can rapidly grow your audience and bring in new followers who are likely to be interested in your content.
Additionally, RafflePress offers a step-by-step guide for running an Instagram giveaway. This guide includes tips on writing a good Instagram giveaway caption, outlining entry steps, and specifying the giveaway’s end date and winner announcement. Don’t forget to add relevant hashtags to expand your reach and include any partnership details or disclaimers.
Using RafflePress for your Instagram contests can significantly boost your engagement and help you achieve your contest marketing goals.
Benefit Cosmetics
Benefit Cosmetics is a well-known beauty brand that has mastered the art of Instagram contests. They often team up with other relevant brands to increase awareness and reach a broader audience. This strategy leverages the combined audiences of both brands, making the contest more effective.
To enter their contests, participants usually need to:
- Follow both brand accounts
- Like the contest post
- Tag 3 friends and each brand in the comments
- Share the post to their Instagram feed via stories (optional)
This approach not only boosts engagement but also helps in attracting new followers. By requiring participants to tag friends, the contest gains more visibility and reaches potential new customers. Additionally, using a tool like RafflePress can help manage entries and accept user-generated content (UGC), making the process smoother and more organized.
Running a well-executed giveaway can significantly enhance customer engagement and brand loyalty. It’s a simple yet effective way to attract attention in a competitive market.
Benefit Cosmetics’ contests are a great example of how to use Instagram to engage with your audience and grow your following. Their creative giveaway ideas are designed to create memorable experiences that foster brand loyalty and customer satisfaction.
#winitwednesday
The #winitwednesday contest is a fantastic way to engage your audience and boost your Instagram presence. This weekly contest encourages followers to participate by offering exciting prizes, making it a hit among users.
How It Works
Every Wednesday, a new contest is announced. Participants are required to follow the brand, like the contest post, and tag friends in the comments. This simple yet effective method helps in increasing engagement and expanding the brand’s reach.
Benefits
- Increased Engagement: The contest encourages users to interact with the post, leading to higher engagement rates.
- Viral Potential: By tagging friends, participants help in spreading the word, making the contest go viral.
- Community Building: Regular contests help in building a loyal community of followers who look forward to participating every week.
Tips for Success
- Be Clear with Rules: Make sure the rules are easy to understand and follow.
- Offer Attractive Prizes: The more appealing the prize, the more participants you’ll attract.
- Promote Widely: Use other social media platforms to promote your #winitwednesday contest.
Running a #winitwednesday contest can be a game-changer for your brand’s engagement and reach. Start planning your contest today and watch your community grow!
LEIF
LEIF is a small business that excels in running Instagram contests to engage their audience. They often host themed giveaways that resonate with their brand’s aesthetic and values. For instance, they might ask followers to share their favorite summer memory to win a seasonal product bundle. This not only boosts engagement but also creates a sense of community among their followers.
One of the key strategies LEIF uses is encouraging user-generated content. By asking participants to post photos or stories related to the contest theme, they effectively crowdsource content that promotes their brand. This approach not only increases visibility but also fosters a deeper connection with their audience.
Running a contest that aligns with your brand’s values can significantly enhance your engagement and build a loyal community.
In summary, LEIF’s contests are a great example of how small businesses can leverage Instagram to create meaningful interactions with their audience. Their success lies in their ability to make followers feel like a part of their brand’s story.
Prada
Prada has always been a trendsetter in the fashion world, and their Instagram contests are no different. By targeting a specific audience, Prada has managed to solidify its brand voice and boost its social media presence. One of their notable campaigns was the AW21 collection, which used the hashtag #FeelsLikePrada. Each image in this campaign evoked unique emotions, resonating deeply with their followers.
Prada’s decision to stop using animal fur in their designs starting from the Spring & Summer 2020 Women’s collections also attracted a new audience from the sustainability community. This move not only aligned with their brand values but also helped them gain a devoted fan base.
Contests will get people talking about your brand, and they can often yield strong social proof or user-generated content, if not both at once.
For seasonal promotions, Prada excels by creating timely posts that are immediately relevant. For example, their holiday pop-up store promotions are a hit, leveraging seasonal hashtags to maximize reach and engagement. Prada’s strategic use of Instagram stories and hashtags ensures they stay relevant and engaging to their audience.
Voyage UW
Voyage UW has mastered the art of engaging their audience through Instagram contests. Their approach is both creative and effective, making them a standout example.
One of their most successful strategies is hosting photo contests. When hosting a photo contest, make sure you have the resources and time to judge it. This ensures that the contest runs smoothly and participants feel valued.
Voyage UW also leverages user-generated content by encouraging participants to share their photos with a specific hashtag. This not only increases engagement but also provides them with a wealth of content to repost (with permission, of course).
Here are some tips to steal from Voyage UW’s strategy:
- Make sure you have the resources and time to judge a photo contest.
- Use the photo entries as user-generated content.
- Include in the rules that you have the right to repost any entries.
A well-performing hashtag will drive traffic back to your Instagram post and your page.
By following these steps, you can create a successful Instagram contest that boosts engagement and grows your audience.
Manna Pro Homestead
Manna Pro Homestead ran a highly engaging Instagram contest that resonated well with their audience. The contest encouraged participants to share photos of their homesteading projects, creating a sense of community and shared purpose. The key to their success was the focus on user-generated content, which not only boosted engagement but also provided authentic content for their brand.
Participants were asked to:
- Follow Manna Pro Homestead on Instagram.
- Post a photo of their homesteading project using the hashtag #MannaProHomestead.
- Tag Manna Pro Homestead in their post.
This simple yet effective strategy helped Manna Pro Homestead connect with their audience on a deeper level. The contest also offered attractive prizes, which further motivated participation.
Engaging your audience through user-generated content can transform ordinary events into memorable experiences.
By leveraging these strategies, Manna Pro Homestead was able to create a successful and engaging contest that not only increased their follower count but also strengthened their community ties.
Alexee & Her Bc’s
Alexee & Her Bc’s ran a unique contest that caught the attention of many Instagram users. This contest for shirts that are dyed with blueberries (cool) asked users to “tag someone who is berry special” in the comments. They gave away two shirts, likely one to the contest winner and one to the tagged friend.
Steal This Strategy
- Make tagging a friend in the comments a method of entry to increase your giveaway’s reach.
- Think about how tagging a friend can provide value to the user, as well—for example, you can give away two prizes (so the tagged friend also gets a prize). Otherwise, you risk your contest simply annoying all the tagged friends.
Shortstack
Shortstack is a versatile platform that helps you design and manage interactive campaigns. It offers a range of features to fine-tune your contest and engage your audience effectively. One of the standout features of Shortstack is its ability to streamline your workload by handling multiple contests and analyzing their data in one place. This makes it easier for you to focus on creating the perfect interactive content to pull in leads.
Shortstack also provides seamless integrations to amplify your marketing campaigns. Whether you’re looking to boost engagement or gather valuable leads, Shortstack has the tools you need. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, so you don’t need any technical skills to get started. Simply pick a template, customize it to fit your brand, and launch your contest.
Shortstack’s ability to handle several contests simultaneously makes it a go-to choice for busy marketers.
For more expert tips on running engaging contests, check out our article on [creating a buzz: top 5 expert tips on how to contest for maximum engagement](creating-a-buzz-top-5-expert-tips-on-how-to-contest-for-maximum-engagement/).
Conclusion
Instagram contests are a fantastic way to boost your engagement and grow your follower base. By using creative ideas and keeping your audience’s interests in mind, you can run successful contests that not only increase your visibility but also build a stronger community around your brand. Remember to keep the rules simple, offer attractive prizes, and always follow up by announcing the winners. Reviewing the outcomes of your contests will help you improve future ones. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your next Instagram contest today and watch your engagement soar!
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I include in my Instagram contest announcement post?
In your announcement post, make sure to restate the terms and conditions, detail how the winner will proceed, provide a timeframe to claim the prize, and include any contact instructions. Finally, ask the winner for a photo or video with the prize to use as user-generated content for future promotions.
How can I improve the quality of contest entrants?
To improve the quality of contest entrants, consider using tools like RafflePress to accept user-generated content. Ask participants to upload photos or videos that you can feature on your website, which can drive extra traffic.
What are some effective ways to boost engagement in Instagram contests?
Boost engagement by encouraging actions like liking the post, following your account, tagging friends, and using a branded hashtag. You can also ask questions or create polls to get more interaction.
Why should I review insights and lessons learned after a contest?
Reviewing insights and lessons learned helps you understand what worked well and what can be improved for future contests. Look at entry processes, participation rates, winner selection, prize delivery, participant feedback, and Instagram insights.
What are some popular Instagram contest ideas?
Popular Instagram contest ideas include caption contests, story contests, hashtag contests, and photo contests. Each type has its own benefits, such as increasing engagement, building brand awareness, and connecting emotionally with your audience.
How can I ensure my Instagram contest is successful?
To ensure a successful contest, offer a prize relevant to your target audience, keep entry requirements simple, and use appropriate hashtags. Share the winner’s name (with their permission) to maintain transparency and encourage future participation.
