As a webmaster with over 15 years of experience, I‘ve seen firsthand how giveaways can rapidly expand an email list when done right. By offering an appealing prize to newsletter subscribers, it‘s possible to increase your email subscriber count by 150% or more.
But running a successful giveaway takes strategic planning. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share insider tips to create giveaways that maximize email signups. Follow these best practices and you‘ll see your audience grow at a tremendous rate.
Contents
Why Giveaways Work So Well for Email List Growth
Let‘s first look at why giveaways are so effective for growing an email list:
- Incentivize subscriptions. People need a reason to sign up for your emails. Giveaways provide that motivation.
- Reach new audiences. Promoting your giveaway exposes it to new potential subscribers.
- Increase social followers. Requiring social sharing for extra entries expands your reach.
- Boost engagement. Giveaways get people actively involved with your brand.
According to statistics from Rafflepress, the average giveaway results in 2,631 new email subscribers. That‘s an incredible increase for any business.
Plus, email marketing as a whole yields high ROI. Studies show that for every $1 spent, email marketing brings in an average return of $42. That‘s a 4,200% return!
With numbers like that, it‘s no wonder that giveaways are a popular growth tactic. The key is executing your giveaway properly.
Step #1: Choose a Compelling Prize
The first step in planning your giveaway is selecting an appealing prize. You need something enticing enough that people will actively participate for a chance to win.
Consider which prize options align best with your target audience. For example:
- For fashion/beauty brands, spa packages and luxury products motivate subscribers.
- Tech audiences love the latest gadgets and devices.
- Offer gift cards to Amazon, Visa, etc. for broad appeal.
Evaluate different prize ideas based on these factors:
- Relevance: Does the prize relate to your niche and audience interests?
- Value: Is it valuable enough to drive excitement without excessive costs to you?
- Originality: Will this prize stand out from other giveaways?
The best prize amount for maximizing email signups is typically $100 – $500. This provides enough perceived value without breaking the bank for your business.
Getting creative with prizes can also help cut down on costs. For example, you may offer:
- A bundle of several lower-value prizes
- Free access to a paid product/service
- A discount coupon or store credit
- A grand experience like concert tickets
With a compelling prize lined up, you can start planning the actual giveaway mechanics.
Step #2: Set Up the Giveaway in WordPress with RafflePress
The easiest way to create a seamless giveaway is by using the RafflePress WordPress plugin. This gives you powerful tools for managing every aspect of your giveaway while integrating with your email provider.
Here is how to set up your giveaway using RafflePress:
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Install and activate RafflePress from your WordPress dashboard.
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Create a new giveaway campaign and select the "Grow Your Email List" template.
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Customize the giveaway details like name, description, image, start/end dates, etc.
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Set the giveaway options:
- Restriction options (age, location, etc.)
- Limit number of entries
- Collect user info through custom fields
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Add engaging giveaway actions like social sharing, visiting site, watching video, etc.
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Connect your email service and integrate signups with RafflePress.
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Customize the giveaway design with colors, fonts, layout, etc.
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Publish the giveaway through a landing page, widget, or embedded form.
RafflePress makes it incredibly simple to get a customized giveaway up and running in your WordPress site in minutes.
You can also install the RafflePress floating bar plugin to promote your giveaway in a fixed position on your site. Configure it to show a banner or modal popup prompting visitors to enter the contest.
Step #3: Promote Your Giveaway for Maximum Reach
Now for the fun part – getting the word out about your giveaway! You want as many people participating as possible to maximize email signups.
Here are proven promotion tactics to build hype:
Promote on Social Media
- Share posts about the giveaway across your social channels before and during it.
- Use eye-catching graphics and strong calls-to-action in your posts.
- Run social media ads targeting interested demographics.
Email Marketing
- Send a dedicated email to your current list announcing the giveaway.
- Remind subscribers through follow-up emails leading up to end date.
Website Promotion
- Show a banner, modal popup, or embedded form about the giveaway across your site.
- Add a link in your header navigation menu pointing to the giveaway.
- Display a countdown ticker or persistent slide-in tab to build urgency.
Content Marketing
- Write a blog post elaborating on the giveaway details and prize.
- Include links to the giveaway in relevant content to increase visibility.
Influencer Outreach
- Recruit influencers in your niche to help co-promote the giveaway to their own audiences. Most are happy to partner on giveaways that also benefit their followers.
Paid Advertising
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Run paid ads on platforms like Facebook and Instagram specifically promoting your giveaway to targeted demographics who are likely to participate.
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Retarget people who visit your site with ads across the web enticing them to enter.
Diversifying your promotion strategy is crucial for giveaway success. You want to utilize both on-site and off-site tactics across multiple channels to maximize reach.
Step #4: Choose Winners and Distribute Prizes
Once your giveaway ends, it‘s time to pick the lucky winners!
RafflePress makes randomly choosing winners simple. Just navigate to the giveaway in your WordPress dashboard, specify how many winners you want to pick, and click to randomly select.
Be sure to check any local laws regarding giveaways, sweepstakes, contests, and random drawings to ensure you comply with regulations. Many states prohibit requiring a purchase for entry, for example.
Notify the winners by email and request any required details like mailing address. Avoid simply posting the winners publicly, as this causes many selected winners to not see that they won.
Announce and tag the winners on social media when the prizes are awarded. Then ship out the prizes promptly. Following through will keep entrants satisfied and willing to participate again next time.
Advanced Tips for Giveaway Success
Beyond the basics, here are some pro tips I‘ve picked up from running numerous giveaways over the years:
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Set a short timeframe like 1-2 weeks to create urgency around the giveaway. Limiting the duration pressures visitors to participate right away.
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Require email opt-in to maximize list growth. Make joining the newsletter mandatory for entry.
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Collect user details like name, phone number, etc to build your contact list. Just be transparent in your giveaway rules.
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Limit entries to level the playing field. This prevents people from boosting their odds by entering hundreds of times.
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Offer bonus entries for social sharing, watching a video, visiting certain pages, etc. More entry actions = more email signups.
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Follow up afterwards with giveaway participants through emails or ads. They already expressed interest in your brand by participating.
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Run giveaways regularly like monthly or quarterly. This continually engages your audience.
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Test different prize values like $50, $100, $250, etc. to see what drives the most entries.
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Split large prizes into multiple winners to reduce costs. For example, give 5 winners a $100 Amazon gift card each rather than 1 winner $500.
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Ensure legal compliance for any giveaway open to the public. Consult an attorney if you‘re unsure.
Optimizing your promotions, prizes, and platform will lead to giveaway success. Applying the strategies in this guide, you should have no problem growing your email list by 150% or more!
Giveaways are hands down one of the fastest ways to attract targeted new subscribers in any niche. Use them strategically alongside high-quality email content, and you‘ll take your business growth to the next level.
