By Koen Knol on .
Running a contest on YouTube can be an exciting way to engage your audience and attract new viewers. Here are 10 simple steps to help you host a successful contest or giveaway on your channel.
1. Define Your Goals
Before you start, be clear about what you want to achieve. Do you want more subscribers, higher engagement, or increased traffic to your channel? Set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely (SMART) goals to guide your contest.
2. Understand YouTube’s Promotional Guidelines
Familiarize yourself with YouTube’s rules for contests. This will help you design a campaign that’s compliant and effective. There are two main sets of guidelines: general rules for all promotions and specific rules for your contest.
3. Choose the Right Prize
Select a prize that resonates with your audience. It should be something they find valuable and relevant to your channel’s theme. Whether it’s a product, service, or experience, the prize should motivate participation.
4. Build Partnerships
Collaborating with other YouTubers or brands can expand your contest’s reach. Make sure your partner’s audience aligns with yours and clearly define your goals and responsibilities.
5. Pick a Contest Type
Decide what kind of contest you want to run. Popular options include sweepstakes, comment contests, and video submissions. Choose a format that aligns with your goals and audience preferences.
6. Create Clear Contest Rules
Outline what participants need to do to enter your contest. Keep it simple to maximize participation. For example, you might ask viewers to subscribe, like, and comment on your video.
7. Select a Hashtag
If your contest involves user-generated content, choose a unique hashtag to track entries. A catchy hashtag can also help your contest go viral.
8. Announce Your Contest
Create an engaging announcement video to launch your contest. Highlight the prize, explain the rules, and encourage participation. Promote the contest across your social media channels and in your YouTube videos.
9. Choose and Announce the Winners
Once the contest ends, use a fair method to pick the winner. You can use tools like YouTube Comment Picker or other random selection tools. Announce the winner in a creative or livestream video to generate more engagement.
10. Evaluate the Contest
After the contest, review your results. Did you achieve your goals? Analyze the feedback and metrics to decide if running another contest is worth it.
Running a YouTube contest requires planning and attention to detail, but by following these steps, you can create a fun and engaging experience for your audience.