Giveaways and Contests {October’s Marketing Challenge}

A fun way to get more leads from your website is to offer contests and giveaways. People love getting free stuff and they especially love when they win it! To create a contest or giveaway that generates leads requires a lot of planning on your part but the end results are worth it.

Decide the Prize

First things first, decide what the prize will be. The goal is to make the prize great and to make it big. Don’t just offer a $20 gas gift card. Make it $100 and a lot of people will enter. Or make it 5 people that can win a $20 gas gift card. The goal is to not be cheap! Here are some ideas:

Local Establishments: Restaurants, Dry Cleaners, Movie Theater, etc.

Services: House Cleaning, House Painting, Landscaping, etc.

Gift Cards: Gas Stations, Amazon, Target, etc.

Outings: Local plays, Wine Tasting Events, Hot Air Balloon Ride, etc.

Create the Page

Next you will want to create a page on your website announcing the contest. Let people know your goals, what they will win, how they can enter and when the prize will be announced.

Here’s an Example:

Goal:  You are looking for people to sign up for your monthly real estate newsletter so create a contest for those that sign up.

Prize: 3 people will win a $100 gas gift card

How to Enter: Create a sign up form using your email marketing service provider, tools from your website or have people enter by leaving a comment on your page or blog post.

Deadline to Enter: Make the date far enough out to give people time to enter and time for you to create a marketing campaign around the contest, but not too far out so they forget. I would aim for 10-14 days.

Generate Buzz

Now you have to let people know you are hosting a contest! Send out an email to your existing subscribers and let them know about it. Give them the opportunity to win more entries if they spread the word and people sign up. Announce it on your Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn and your blog. If you are in networking groups let them know about it too!

Announce the Winner

When it is time to announce the winner make a big deal out of it! Post a picture of the winner holding the prize if possible. If you are going to do more contests let people know when they can expect the next one.

Creating a contest can generate a lot of buzz for your website and your real estate business. It is a fun way to interact with old clients and new prospects! Plus isn’t it always fun to give out free stuff?!

What do you think?

Have you ever held a contest or giveaway offline or online that has led to more leads for you? Please tell us about your experiences in the comments below! If you are reading this in your email or Reader, please click here to comment!

Related posts:

1. July’s Marketing Challenge: Create an Autoresponder with AWeber
2. August’s Marketing Challenge
3. July’s Challenge: Getting Started with AWeber
4. Free is always nice {October’s Marketing Challenge}
5. Don’t Skip the First Step {September’s Marketing Challenge}

Tags: Website leads, 30 day marketing challenge