How to Run a Small Business Giveaway

Organizing a small business giveaway requires clear goals and a well-thought-out strategy. Here's a breakdown:

1. Define Your Objective: Are you aiming to generate leads, increase foot traffic, or build your brand’s online presence? Your giveaway structure should align with your goals.
2. Choose a Prize: Offer a prize that’s relevant to your audience. For instance, a gift card to your store or a free product. CliquePrize® enables you to provide giveaway prize details such as Gift Cards from BHN Rewards, an official integrated partner of our app.
3. Set Rules, Terms and Privacy Policies: Be transparent about eligibility criteria, deadlines, and data usage policies. CliquePrize® offers free templates that you can edit to ensure compliance. All Contestants must be at least 18 to enter.
4. Promote Your Giveaway: Use your Small Business social media, email newsletters, and in-store posters to reach potential entrants called Contestants. Remember the goal is to capture data. CliquePrize® also supports notifications to boost visibility. We also have a sister in-house agency called Digital Media which can help with any paid media efforts such as PPC or Facebook Ads.
5. Engage Contestants: Encourage Contestants to tag friends and share your giveaway on social media. Viral marketing is effective especially if its targets local prospects.
6. Analyze Results: After the promotion ends, evaluate participation and engagement metrics to improve future giveaways such as MQLs vs SQLs.

Best Platforms for Small Business Giveaways

To run a small business giveaway, choosing the right platform is key. The CliquePrize® Mobile App is your go-to giveaways management app, including lead capture, random winner selection, local metro market targeting and in-app notifications.

Digital Strategies for Small Businesses

Maximizing the impact of a small business giveaway requires thoughtful planning. Here are some strategies:

1. Leverage Social Proof: Encourage Contestants to share photos or testimonials after winning to build trust.
2. Create Urgency: Use countdowns to boost engagement. Reminders on your website, email, and social media will help.
3. Partner with Local Influencers: Collaborate with community leaders or micro-influencers to promote your giveaway. Remember your small business is local and needs foot soldiers on the ground.
4. Incentivize Referrals: Since CliquePrize® already has Refer A Friend capabilities built-in, use it! Take advantage of the free points Contestants can earn by referring their friends.

By combining these tactics with the digital tools provided by CliquePrize®, you can create highly engaging giveaways.

Affordable Giveaway Ideas for Small Businesses

Running a giveaway doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some cost-effective ideas:

1. Gift Cards: Offer a small gift card from your store or service or the aforementioned BHN Rewards Gift Cards.
2. Exclusive Experiences: Provide a behind-the-scenes tour or workshop. This works perfectively with Private Promotions in which only invited Contestants are permitted to enter with a QR code or 4 digit code inside CliquePrize®
3. Seasonal Products or Services: Offer a product or service that align with current holidays or trends. Remember, the more unique it is the more likely a local Contestant will enter to win.

CliquePrize® makes these ideas easy to execute, ensuring you get maximum value from your local business promotions.

How Can A Giveaway Help My Small Business?

Giveaways are powerful marketing tools because they:

1. Attract New Customers: They bring attention to your business and encourage entry which can be captured and measured.
2. Engage Existing Customers: Rewarding loyal customers fosters trust and retention.
3. Boost Brand Awareness: A well-promoted giveaway can expand your local reach.

What Are the Typical Rules for a Small Business Giveaway?

To run a compliant giveaway, consider the following:

1. Eligibility Criteria: Define who can enter (e.g., age, location). CliquePrize® only permits Contestants 18+ years of age and residing in the US only.
2. Clear Deadlines: Specify the start and end dates.
3. Entry Methods: Clarify how Contestants can enter (e.g., through CliquePrize®) or AMOE (Alternative Method of Entry) such as email, social media or mail in.
4. Prize Details: Clearly explain what winners will receive. To be compliant with US law, you must also state the cash value of the prize. Cash itself, however, is not permitted. All CliquePrize® promotions are valued under $1000. This is because higher than that, the giveaway must be backed by a public bond in most states. CliquePrize® doesn't offer bonded promotions.
5. Random Selection: Use tools like CliquePrize® for fair winner selection or manually choose the winner(s) yourself within the app
6. Prize Fulfillment: Select a prize fulfillment center to help fulfill physical prizes or send the prize(s) yourself through a major US mail carrier (e.g. FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc), Either way, CliquePrize® can help you track the receipt of physical prizes. For digital prizes, CliquePrize® offers QR codes for Contestants to redeem in person at your small business that you can fulfill yourself with the app.

Small Business Giveaways Near Me

While it's beneficial to take inspiration from competitors' strategies, you can elevate your approach by adding unique elements that reflect your small business's strengths and values. Here's how you can stand out:

1. Personalized Rewards: Offer prizes that are tailored to your customers' preferences, showcasing your understanding of local tastes and needs.
2. Exclusive Experiences: Instead of just giving away products and services that aren't specific to your small business, include experiences like behind-the-scenes tours, workshops, or special events at your small business that aren't offered normally throughout the year.
3. Interactive Engagement: Integrate fun activities like live voting, video contests, or customer-created content to make the giveaway more dynamic and memorable. CliquePrize® of course will be offering Video Contests in 2025.
4. Collaborations with Local Partners: Partner with other local small businesses to create bundled prizes, fostering a sense of unity and mutual support within the community.
5. Storytelling and Branding: Highlight your small business story by getting the local media involved. Add Press Releases and local media to your media strategy as PR tactics to promote your giveaway.

By adding your own unique twist, you not only replicate but also surpass what competitors are offering, ensuring a lasting impression on your target audience.

Participating in or promoting local business promotions builds connections in your community. Whether you're hosting or joining a small business giveaway in your area, CliquePrize® is the perfect platform for managing and supporting these initiatives

CliquePrize®*** is the iPhone Giveaways mobile app that helps Small Businesses grow by reaching, nurturing and converting local, high value prospects. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know!***