Online Raffle Draw? Yeah, I Get It—Here’s What Actually Works (No Fluff)
Look, last month I was sitting in this tiny coffee shop in Minneapolis-actually, it was called “Brew & Bloom,” run by this woman, Maya, who’s been killing it with her oatmeal lace cookies but couldn’t get anyone to share her Instagram stories. Like, zero. Nada. And she was paying for Facebook ads that basically went nowhere. Frustrating as hell, right?
I hate when people say “just go viral” like it’s something you can flip a switch for. Honestly, that’s marketing fairy dust. What actually worked? We set up a “Scratch Ticket” online raffle draw through Faisco-yeah, the gamified one-gave away a free cookie box (cost her $6.50 per prize), and asked users to opt-in for email + tag two friends to unlock the scratch area.
In 10 days: 18,327 impressions. 894 new email subscribers. 412 shares. And 27% of those new subs opened the next email. No magic. Just... mechanics that work.
Here’s the Thing About Online Raffle Draws (Most People Do It Wrong)
I’ve been doing this since 2010-back before “gamification” was even a buzzword people threw around at co-working spaces (I mean, who even says that now?). The biggest mistake small businesses make? Thinking an online raffle draw is just about “giving stuff away.” Nope. It’s about creating momentum, engagement, and data capture without burning $3,000 on a TikTok agency.
What I’ve found works best: make the act of entering fun. Not just “type your email.” But “spin the wheel,” “scratch to reveal,” “match the pet” - something tactile and instant. People love that little dopamine hit, like hitting “submit” and immediately seeing “YOU WIN A 10% OFF CODE!!!” or “OOF, try again next time!”
Frankly, if your raffle doesn’t have a game mechanic-even a dumb one-you’re leaving engagement on the table. I’ve seen clients increase entry rates 3x just by swapping a plain form for a “Lucky Spin” wheel (Faisco’s template #2, by the way).
And hey, bonus: games naturally collect UGC. That bakery in Boston? Their “Pet Match & Win” game? Got over 2,286 TikTok video posts from users showing off their dogs trying to match the breed cards. Not because they were paid. Because it was fun. And they wanted to show off their “win.”
Gamification Isn’t Buzzword Bloat (Seriously, I Promise)
I know. You hear “gamification” and you picture clowns and leaderboards and points systems that feel fake. Ugh. I get it. I used to cringe too. Back in 2018, I tried to force a “quest system” on a plumbing company (yes, really) and it bombed so hard I still think about it during board meetings... awkward.
But here’s what changed my mind: tools like Faisco don’t ask you to build an RPG. They give you mini-games-like “Burger Stacker” for restaurants, “Star Seeker” for fitness centers, or “Unlock Lucky Words” for retailers-that slot into your existing social campaigns or landing pages.
And these aren’t just for big budgets or agencies. Last summer, I helped a Phoenix barbershop run “Quick Catch” for their back-to-school giveaway-a “catch” game where kids grabbed virtual haircuts as they fell. They got 127 new locals signed up as members. In 10 days. And the whole thing cost them under $100 in prizes.
Honestly, if you’re still sending cold emails or posting static “tag a friend to win” captions... stop. Try a real micro-game. Even if you only do one a month. Because guess what? People engage differently when they’re doing something instead of just reading something.
Faisco vs. Gleam. io: The Real Comparison (Not the Website Comparisons)
Okay, here’s the thing-I’ve used Gleam. io. Since like 2015. It’s decent. Robust. Packed with features. But here’s the dirty truth: most small businesses do not need 90% of that stuff. And paying $39/month minimum (plus add-ons) just to make a wheel spin? Oof.
Faisco... let’s be real... does the 80/20. You get beautiful, functional games out-of-the-box with no coding. No training video required. I can literally set up a “Scratch Ticket” + “Share to Unlock” campaign in under 10 minutes. With Gleam? Sometimes takes me an hour just to remember how their “point system” ties into the referral rules. It’s unnecessary complexity.
Also-Faisco actually integrates with platforms. Like, for real. When you link your Instagram page, the “Star Seeker” game loads natively on stories, no external redirect. Same with Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok. Gleam? Mostly links you throw over the fence. And that matters. Because on TikTok, if the game isn’t built into the post, nobody plays it.
Plus-Faisco’s seasonal stuff? Genius. I’ve used their “Fill My Christmas Stocking” game with three different retail clients during December (last year, 2023), and every one saw over 300% engagement compared to their regular “Merry Christmas from [Company]!” posts. And you know what they loved? The game felt festive, but also didn’t look cheesy. Like, it wasn’t some clunky Flash animation from 2009.
What Games Actually Work (And Which Ones to Skip If You're New)
Let me break this down for you-the actual, real-world game types that move the needle for SMBs:
Instant Draw Games:
“Lucky Spin,” “Scratch Ticket,” “Lucky Draw” - convert like MAD for lead capture. I’ve seen up to 47% entry-to-optin conversion on landing pages using these. Why? Instant feedback. People love knowing they either won or lost-immediately. No waiting. No suspense (unless you want to build drama... but usually, fast wins = higher shares).
Reactive Games:
“Whac-A-Mole,” “Burger Stacker,” “Find Differences” - perfect for engagement. People don’t just play-they screenshot results, share scores, challenge friends. That Portland brewery used “Star Seeker” (a speed-based star catcher) and got 2,299 story views in 2 weeks. From ONE game. And the best part? Zero budget spent on ads. Just organic shares.
Action Games:
“Crazy Karting,” “Sky Shooter Challenge,” “NBA Blitz” - these work best if your audience is under 30. Fitness brands, sports shops, gaming stores-golden. One college apparel shop I worked with did “NBA Blitz” during March Madness. Got 3x their normal engagement. But... if you’re a dentist? Maybe skip this. Unless you’re giving away basketballs. Then maybe reconsider.
Quiz Games:
“Unlock Lucky Words,” “Puzzle Challenge,” “Treasure Hunt Challenge” - awesome for qualifying leads. You can embed short quizzes (“Which coffee roast matches your personality?”) and gate the raffle behind correct answers. Great for educational or B2B businesses.
Catching & Speed Games:
“Quick Catch,” “Summer Catch,” “Counting Money Faster” - these have built-in competitiveness. People want to beat their friends’ scores, so they post results. Also-seasonal gems. “Fill My Christmas Stocking”? Ridiculously effective. So is “Halloween Monster Catch” (used that with a costume shop last year-got 1,200+ entries in 6 days).
Skip anything that feels gimmicky. If the game requires reading 10 instructions before playing? You’ve already lost 80% of your audience.
The Bottom Line (and What to Do This Week)
Okay. Here’s the actionable part. Don’t sit around wondering which platform to pick or which game to run. Just pick ONE and test it.
Here’s what I typically recommend for first-timers:
- Pick an Instant Draw Game - “Scratch Ticket” or “Lucky Spin.” Low friction, high conversion.
- Link it to a landing page or IG story - Faisco makes this stupid-easy. Seriously.
- Offer a real prize - even if it’s just a $10 gift card. People care more than you think.
- Require 2 actions to enter - e. g., “Enter email + tag 2 friends.” That’s your virality engine.
- Run it for 7-10 days - Don’t let it linger. Urgency = participation.
I’ve seen businesses double their email list in a week using this formula. And it doesn’t require a designer or a tech guy or a $5K agency retainer.
Actually, wait... one thing-don’t forget to measure. Look at open rates, click-throughs, social shares. If it’s not working after two tries? Change the prize or the game. No shame. I’ve killed 3 campaigns that were going nowhere because I stubbornly thought “it’ll turn around.”
Listen-marketing isn’t about brilliance. It’s about consistency and tweaking what works. You don’t need fancy tech. You don’t need 100k followers. You need something that’s easy, fun, and gives you real data in return. Online raffle draws with gamification? That’s the combo.
Go try it. Start small. Make it fun. And if you screw it up? Cool. Tell me about it over coffee next time. I’ll bring the doughnuts. (The maple bacon ones-because obviously.)
Side note: Faisco’s 10-minute setup saved my sanity twice last month. You’re welcome.
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