The Ultimate Guide To Running Successful Instagram Giveaways

Apr 2, 2023 10 min read

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms that has been around for more than a decade now. Many brands use various tools to increase engagement on Instagram, one of which is Instagram giveaways.

If you want to develop your business on Instagram and increase the number of your Instagram followers, you can use Instagram giveaways because when you do giveaways on Instagram, there's a rain of followers. Here are some statistics on the effectiveness of Instagram giveaways:

  • According to a study by Tailwind, Instagram accounts that host giveaways grow 70% faster than those that don't.
  • An Instagram giveaway can generate up to 3.5 times more likes and 64 times more comments than a regular post, according to another study by Tailwind.

Even when you organize Instagram giveaways, you can set different rules, which will increase your social media engagement. So, in this blog, we will tell you about Instagram giveaways and their creation.

We'll cover how to organize giveaways, how to host them, and how to win Instagram giveaways. If you're interested in learning more about how Instagram giveaways can benefit your business, keep reading!

Table Of Contents:

What Are Instagram Giveaways?

giveaway

Instagram giveaways are a marketing tactic used by brands and influencers to increase their following, engagement, and reach on the platform by offering incentives for users to participate.

Instagram giveaways typically involve a brand, influencer, or individual giving away a prize or reward to some followers who enter a competition.

To enter the İnstagram giveaway, users must typically follow a set of rules such as liking a specific post, tagging friends in the comments, or using a particular İnstagram giveaways hashtag.

Instagram giveaways must be prepared according to certain rules. Followers who follow these rules have an increased chance of winning the giveaway.

Users sometimes want to join more than one giveaway. For this, they search the engine with suitable keywords. So they find relevant keywords. When you search with the right keywords on social media, you will find different post content your want.

For example, if you want to join book giveaways on Instagram, you can definitely search for #bookgiveaway in the search section of Instagram. So you will get the type of Instagram giveaways you are looking for.

6 Reasons To Host An Instagram Giveaway

There are several reasons why you might want to host an Instagram giveaway:

  1. Increased engagement: Giveaways can encourage users to interact with your content, like your posts, and leave comments. This increased engagement can help to improve your visibility on the platform and increase your reach.

  2. Grow your following: Participating in Instagram giveaways increases the number of followers because, according to the rules of Instagram giveaways, these followers follow you according to those conditions. This way, you get new followers and even new customers. Then you can learn how to track Instagram followers' growth.

  3. Promote a product or service: Once you have new followers, you will promote your products again and more on your Instagram account. In this way, Instagram giveaways help promote your product. Also, if you join any giveaway as a sponsor, you can offer a discount on your products here.

  4. Build brand awareness: Giveaways can help you build brand awareness and reach a wider audience. By using a specific hashtag or tag in your giveaway, you can increase your visibility and reach potential customers who might not have been aware of your brand previously.

  5. Customer insights: Running a giveaway can give you valuable insights into your target audience, including who they are, what they're interested in, and what motivates them to engage with your brand.

  6. Cost-effective: Instagram giveaways help you reach a large audience and achieve your marketing goals.

Hosting an Instagram giveaway can be a great way to reach your target audience, increase engagement, and grow your following. It is important to plan and execute your giveaway carefully, following all relevant laws and regulations and ensuring that you have a clear goal and strategy in place.

How To Run An Instagram Giveaway?

On Instagram, you probably often see Instagram giveaway posts and would've even joined some of them. Now you can also conduct giveaways on Instagram by following the steps below. Here are some basic criteria you need to meet.

This is where all the nuances matter, from the number of your followers on Instagram to their activities and the offer they promise to your followers.

Step 1: Determine your goal

What do you hope to achieve with your Instagram giveaway? This could be to increase engagement, grow your following, promote a new product, or something else. Once you have identified these, you can start doing other tasks. When choosing the goal of your Instagram giveaway, base it on your current Instagram analytics. Let's say you are an influencer, and you want to organize an Instagram giveaway. Then, the most essential time management tips for influencers also apply to you: define your main goal and the goal you want to achieve.

Step 2: Choose a prize

What do you think are the main reasons why people join Instagram giveaways? Of course, a gift! When running a giveaway, first determine the gift you will give to the Instagram giveaway winner. You can offer your products and services for free or at a discount.

Step 3: Create the Instagram giveaway rules

giveaway-rules

Make sure the rules are clear and easy to follow. Instagram has certain rules and guidelines for running giveaways on the platform. Some of these include:

  • Clearly state the rules and conditions of the giveaway.
  • The giveaway must not be fraudulent or misleading and must not ask users to participate in activities such as sharing their password or downloading an app.
  • The sponsor of the giveaway must clearly be stated.
  • The prize must be accurately represented.
  • The winner must be selected fairly and randomly.
  • You must obtain consent from users before sharing their personal information with third parties.

After following these rules, the number of fake Instagram giveaways will decrease, and everything will be for the benefit of users. It's important to note that Instagram's policies are subject to change, and you should always check their platform policies for the most up-to-date information.

Additionally, it's always a good idea to consult a lawyer if you have any questions about the legality of your giveaway or the rules you need to follow.

Step 4: Promote the giveaway

promote

Share information about the giveaway on your Instagram account, in your Instagram stories, and through other marketing channels. Encourage your Instagram followers to share the giveaway on Instagram with their friends and followers.

You can also advertise your giveaway on other social media platforms. Thus, by increasing the number of giveaway participants, you can get high engagement on Instagram.

Step 5: Run the giveaway

Run-the-giveaway

Monitor the giveaway and respond to any questions or comments from users. You can also consider using Instagram's built-in features, such as Instagram Stories or polls, to create a more interactive experience.

Step 6: Choose a winner

Decide on a method for choosing the winner, such as randomly selecting a winner from all the entries. Make sure to follow all relevant laws and regulations regarding giveaways and contests.

How to choose a winner for an Instagram giveaway? Some popular methods include:

  • Random selection: You can use a random number generator or a random name picker tool to choose an Instagram giveaway winner.
  • Comment selection: You can choose a winner based on the comments left on a post. For example, you can ask users to like the post, follow your account, leave a comment to enter the giveaway, and then randomly select a comment as the winner.
  • Direct message (DM) selection: You can ask users to send you a direct message to enter the giveaway and then randomly select a DM as the winner.
  • Hashtag selection: You can ask users to use a specific hashtag when posting about the giveaway and then randomly select a post with the hashtag as the winner.

Step 7: Announce the winner

Announce-the-winner

Announce the winner on your Instagram account and share information about the prize. Consider reaching out to the winner directly to let them know they have won.

Step 8: Follow up with participants

Thank all participants for their engagement and encourage them to continue following your Instagram account. Consider running additional giveaways in the future to maintain engagement and build your following.

Know more about 18 Instagram Marketing Tools To Boost ROI & Engagement [Free & Paid]

Instagram Giveaway Rules For Participants

Instagram giveaways must be prepared according to specific rules. Followers who follow these rules have an increased chance of winning the giveaway. Here are some different Instagram giveaway rules that you can consider:

  • Like-to-win: Participants must like the post to enter the giveaway.
  • Follow-to-win: follow your Instagram account to enter the giveaway.
  • Tag-a-friend: Tag one or more friends in the post's comments section to enter the giveaway.
  • Comment-to-win: Comment on the post with a specific answer or hashtag to enter the giveaway.
  • Share-to-win: Share the post on their Instagram story or feed to enter the giveaway.
  • UGC contest: Create and share their own Instagram post related to the theme of the giveaway, using a specific hashtag to enter.
  • Quiz or trivia: Answer a quiz or trivia question related to the brand or product to enter the giveaway.

Remember to clearly state the rules and eligibility requirements for the giveaway in your post and comply with Instagram's promotional guidelines.

5 Proven Tips To Run Instagram Giveaways

Instagram giveaways can be a great way to increase engagement and reach a wider audience on the platform. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your giveaways:

1. Make it visually appealing

Make sure your Instagram giveaway photos are eye-catching and attention-grabbing. Thus, since users first see the visual in your Instagram image, you should create interest in them to join the giveaway. You can make Instagram carousel posts, videos, or reels. At the same time, insert a CTA in the image you prepared. For example, hurry to join the giveaway, don't miss this opportunity.

2. Write a catchy caption

To write an Instagram giveaway caption, you must first enter the correct information about the giveaway. After mentioning what your giveaway is and the rules of the giveaway, encourage followers to enter the giveaway. To write the best Instagram captions, you can analyze other users' Instagram giveaways. So you can get an idea of what suits you.

3. Use giveaways hashtags

Using the right İnstagram giveaway hashtags is crucial for increasing the visibility of your Instagram giveaway and reaching a wider audience. Here are some popular hashtags for Instagram giveaways:

#giveaway
#contest
#competition
#win
#freebies
#prizes
#enter
#chance
#sweepstakes
#winitwednesday

In addition to these generic hashtags, you should also consider using hashtags related to your brand, industry, or the prize you're offering. For example, if you're giving away a beauty product, you could use hashtags like #beautygiveaway, #skincaregiveaway, or #beautycontest.

Remember to also use specific hashtags for your location, as this will help you reach a more targeted audience. For example, if your giveaway is open to participants in the United States, you could use hashtags like #giveawayUSA, #contestUSA, or #winUS.

It's important to use hashtags relevant to your giveaway and audience and avoid spamming the users with too many hashtags. You can use up to 30 hashtags on each Instagram post, so choose them carefully to maximize their impact. However, you need not add all 30 hashtags to it; using 5-8 hashtags still works if they are relevant.

4. Learn the best time to post on Instagram

Knowing the best time to post on Instagram can get good results in all your posts. This applies to Instagram giveaways as well.

  • Weekdays - Launch your giveaway between 11 AM and 1 PM or 8 for most entries.

  • Weekends - The hours between 8 PM and midnight will see the most entries.

5. Use influencer marketing

Partner with influencers or bloggers to promote your giveaway and reach a wider audience. Choose the right influencer: look for influencers who have a large and engaged following in your target audience. Also, consider the influencer's content style, brand values, and audience demographics to ensure they align with your brand.

  • Define the partnership: Clearly define the terms of your partnership with the influencer, including their compensation, responsibilities, and any specific guidelines they need to follow.

  • Promote the giveaway: Have the influencer share information about your giveaway with their followers, including details on how to enter, what the prize is, and when the winner will be announced.

  • Track the results: Track the results of your giveaway and measure the impact of the influencer partnership. Use this information to improve future giveaways and influencer partnerships.

  • Provide incentives for followers: Consider providing incentives for the followers of the influencer who participate in your giveaway, such as a discount or special offer.

Time To Prize!

Instagram giveaways are a valuable feature for brands to increase their reach, engage with their audience, and drive sales. With the right strategy and execution, giveaways can help brands achieve their marketing goals and grow their following on Instagram.

As you move forward with your Instagram giveaway strategy, it's important to continually track and analyze your performance, adjust your tactics as needed, and stay up-to-date with best practices and trends in the space. By doing so, you can optimize your results and continue to grow your presence and impact on the platform.

So, if you're ready to take your Instagram presence to the next level, start planning your next giveaway today, and keep these tips and strategies in mind to ensure its success!

Running a successful Instagram giveaway can be time-consuming, especially if you’re trying to manage multiple social media accounts. That’s where a social media management tool like Statusbrew comes in.

With Statusbrew, you can easily schedule your giveaway posts, track engagement, and manage your comments and messages in one place.

Plus, with advanced analytics and reporting features, you can measure the success of your giveaways and optimize your strategy for even better results.


Try Statusbrew for free today and manage your Instagram account like never before!

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Frequently asked questions

Are giveaways on Instagram real?

Not all Instagram giveaways are real. Only join the giveaway of accounts you trust.

Is Instagram banning giveaways?

No, Instagram is not banning giveaways. However, the platform has policies and guidelines in place to ensure that giveaways are run fairly and transparently and do not violate the rights of users.

Do Instagram giveaways increase followers?

Yes, running an Instagram giveaway can help you increase your followers on the platform. When an Instagram user enters a giveaway, they are often required to follow the giveaway host’s account as one of the entry requirements. This can lead to an increase in followers for the host, as well as increased engagement and brand awareness.

How do you win a random giveaway?

There is no sure-shot way of winning a random Instagram giveaway as winners are typically chosen randomly by the host. However, you can try your luck by following the giveaway rules and being patient.

Khanim Hajiyeva

Khanim is a content creator and tech enthusiast. She loves to research topics in detail to learn new every time.

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