An Instagram photo contest is a great way to promote your small business while having some fun. A photo contest can lead to new followers while
your company is giving back to the Instagram community.
But running an Instagram photo contest isn’t always easy,
and can be a bit confusing. Here is a short guide on getting the most out of a
photo contest, should you choose to do so.
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Target Your Market
Define your target market before kicking off your photo
contest. A contest for families who enjoy camping is going to look a lot
different than couples who look for new and exciting places to visit in the
city. Determine who you intend to engage with, and gear your contest toward
them.
Team Up
Finding a partner for your Instagram photo contest can be a
benefit for both businesses. Not only can you gain more followers through this
method, but you’ll also receive additional exposure. Most of these types of
partnerships require participants to be followers of both accounts before they
can enter. Keep things simple though. There’s no need to team up with more than
one business per contest.
Make sure your rules for entering and participating in your
photo contest are clear and concise. Include an ending date and time, and offer
step-by-step instructions for participants, including limitations on number of
entries.
Call to Action
Provide your followers a clear call to action, so that they
are fully aware of the necessary steps required to enter the contest. The
primary purpose of your photo contest is to gain followers or increase your
exposure (but make sure you have fun too!). The two most common ways to go
about doing this is to have contestants tag a friend or post a picture.
Tag a Friend – For this type of call to action, have
participants tag a friend to enter the contest. When the friend sees your post
and competition, they will join and tag more friends.
Post a Photo – Contestants with this type of call to action
post a photo and use a specific hashtag to enter. This will allow you to track
the entries, and pick a winner when the time comes.
Keep an Eye on Submissions
This is your contest, so it would behove you to be aware of
how it’s progressing. Decide how you’ll monitor your contest, whether manually
or by using one of the many tools available for just such an occasion. Decide
beforehand how you plan on following your contest, so you’re not scrambling to
decide while submissions are rolling in.
Declare a Winner
When your contest comes to a close, it’s time to pick a
winner. Some contests use a poll, while others may use a group of judges. No
matter what method you choose, select a winner and notify them through
Instagram.
Promote the winner on your Instagram page, but don’t forget
to give credit where credit is due. Cross-promote on other platforms. Announce
the results on your Twitter, Facebook, and web pages as well.
Repeat as Needed
Running an Instagram photo contest doesn’t have to be a
one-time occurrence. You can have a weekly or monthly contest. Explore your
options, find what works best for your company and adjust as needed. Discover a
way to build habits with your followers while creating momentum with your
contests.
Instagram photo contests are an excellent opportunity to
have fun with the platform while building up a following. Be creative and
engaging with your contests to have the most success. Not only will you expand
your audience, but you’ll also have fresh content that may inspire your next
photo contest.
By Martin Goldthorpe 2018
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