Online contests and sweepstakes can be great for business. Besides creating a fun customer experience, consider the lure of increased publicity, the spike in traffic to your website, and all those shoutouts on Facebook and Twitter.
But for every online contest success story, you'll also encounter a story of doom. The angry emails, phone calls, tweets and Yelp reviews. The sharp drop in traffic following a so-so spike, the total lack of interest and participation. And worst of all, loss of money or reputation.
The key to a successful online contest is planning -- you can’t wing it and expect to succeed just because you’re giving something away. Freebies come a dime a dozen. You know what doesn't? Online contests that generate lasting sales.
I asked 10 successful entrepreneurs to share contests that caught their eyes in 2011, and why they thought these contests presented genuine business wins.
1. Citizen Eco-Drive
- Anthony Saladino, Kitchen Cabinet Kings.
2. Magnum Heir Contest
- Erin Blaskie, BSETC .
3. Bing's Use of User Generated Content to Drive WOM
- Erica Nicole, YFS Magazine: Young, Fabulous & Self Employed.
4. Viral Content is the Golden Egg
- Ilya Pozin, Ciplex.
5. Find the Dodge Journey
- John Meyer, 9 Clouds.
6. Oscar Mayer Good Mood Mission
7. Great Contests Get Emotional
- Laura Roeder, LKR.
8. Visa's Ideas Happen!
- Jennifer Kushell, Young & Successful Media.
9. Basecamp Tell A Friend
- Nathalie Lussier, Nathalie Lussier Media.
10. Carnival Cruise Lines Didja Ever
