Facebook Giveaway Ideas That Don’t Suck (Yes, It’s Possible)
Let me start by saying this: I’ve spent the last 15 years watching small businesses waste so much money on Facebook giveaways that go absolutely nowhere. I’m talking about the “Like and Share to Win” garbage that’s about as effective as a screen door on a submarine. Here’s the thing-most people don’t actually care about your generic “$100 Gift Card Giveaway” (and Facebook’s algorithm hates those posts anyway).
Last year, I worked with a bakery in Minneapolis that was spending $500/month on boosted posts for these lame giveaways. They got 12 entries. Twelve. But then we tried something different-a gamified contest where people had to submit their favorite recipe and vote on others’ submissions. Entries shot up to 487 in two weeks. And yeah, they got a bunch of new customers from it.
Here’s what I’ve learned: If your Facebook giveaway ideas aren’t requiring actual engagement, you’re just throwing money into the void.
Why Most Giveaways Fail (And How to Fix Them)
Look, I hate to break it to you, but Facebook’s not the golden ticket it used to be. The algorithm prioritizes content that keeps people ON THE PLATFORM, not driving them to your website or email list. So if your “contest” is just asking people to like your post and tag a friend? Congrats, you’ve just paid Facebook to market their engagement metrics.
What actually works:
- Require actions that create value for YOU. Like, “Comment with your favorite product + follow our page” (basic, but better).
- Use tools that make participation feel like a game. (More on this in a sec.)
- Tie the giveaway to a specific goal. Want more Instagram followers? Make entrants follow you there as part of entry.
I had a client in Seattle who ran a “Photo Recipe Challenge” where people submitted pics of their takes on her bakery’s signature cookie. She got 2,000+ entries, 1,200 new Instagram followers, and a ton of user-generated content she could reuse. Best part? It cost $0 because she used a Faisco template.
Gamification 101: Stop Asking, Start Making
Gamification isn’t just a buzzword-it’s how you turn passive scrollers into active participants. And no, I’m not talking about those stupid “spin the wheel” pop-ups that follow you around the internet. I’m talking about integrated, platform-specific games that people actually want to play.
Here’s the breakdown of what’s working RIGHT NOW:
1. Instant Draw Games (Best for Lead Capture)
Stuff like “Lucky Spin” or “Scratch Ticket” where people get instant gratification. The key? Make the reward immediately visible.
Real example: I used Faisco’s “Scratch Ticket” for a craft brewery in Austin. Entrants scratched to win discounts (10% off, free pint, etc.). The brewery got 1,870 new Instagram story views in two weeks. Why? Because people love the anticipation of a prize, even if it’s small.
2. Reactive Games (For Engagement)
Think “Whac-A-Mole” or “Find the Differences.” These require skill and timing, so players feel like they’ve earned their entry.
Case study: A toy store in Chicago used a “Find the 5 Differences” game where players compared two holiday-themed product images. They got 4,200 entries and their Facebook engagement rate tripled.
3. Seasonal Catching Games (Holiday Gold)
Faisco’s “Christmas Stocking” or “Summer Catch” templates are perfect for holidays. The catch? Players have to “catch” falling items (like ornaments or sunglasses) within a time limit.
Why it works: People love sharing high scores. The same brewery I mentioned earlier used this in December-300% higher engagement than their regular posts.
Faisco vs. The World: Why I (Almost) Never Recommend Gleam
Gleam. io is the old standby for giveaways, but let’s be real-it’s clunky, expensive ($39/month at minimum), and designed for influencers with teams, not a bakery owner working solo. Faisco, on the other hand?
Here’s why I’m obsessed:
- You can set up a campaign in 10 minutes. No coding, no design skills.
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