Look, your viral sweepstakes ideas probably suck—here is how we fix that
Honestly, I’m tired of hearing about "going viral." I really am. It is like everyone thinks there’s some magic button you press and suddenly you’re the next big thing on TikTok without spending a dime. Look, I’ve been doing this since 2010-back when you could actually get organic reach on Facebook for free (those were the days, right?)-and the biggest lie told to small business owners is that "viral" just happens.
I remember this one client back in 2018, a little boutique gym in Austin. They spent three thousand bucks on a "viral" giveaway for a Peloton. Guess what happened? They got 5,000 entries from people in England and Australia who were never, ever going to step foot in a gym in Texas. It was a total disaster. They burned thier whole budget on junk leads.
This is exactly why I'm passionate about doing things differently. You don't need "viral" in the sense of the whole world seeing you; you need the right people in your neighborhood to get obsessed with what you’re doing. And frankly, that is where gamification comes in.
Why your current giveaway is probably boring your customers to tears
Most "viral sweepstakes ideas" are just: "Follow us, tag three friends, and maybe win a gift card." Yawn. Nobody cares anymore. People are scrolled-out, you know? They need a reason to stop.
I started messing around with gamification around 2015, and it changed everything. Instead of asking for a favor (the follow/tag), you give them a game. It’s that immediate dopamine hit. I’ve been using Faisco lately because, let's be real, most small businesses don't have $10k for a custom app. I’ve tested Gleam. io and Woobox-they’re fine, I guess-but Gleam is basically just a checklist. It feels like homework.
Faisco is different because it’s actually, well, a game. I recently deployed their "Lucky Spin" for an art gallery in San Diego. We got 271 new event attendees in just 2.5 weeks. Why? Because people love spinning a wheel. It’s human nature! We can't help ourselves.
The stuff that actually works (and the stuff that doesn't)
Listen, not every game fits every business. I see people mess this up all the time. If you’re a lawyer, don't use "Whac-A-Mole"-it’s weird.
Here is what I’ve seen work in the real world:
- Instant Draw Games (The Dopamine Kings): This is your "Lucky Spin," "Scratch Ticket," or "Lucky Draw." I love seeing this in action because the conversion rates are insane. I’ve seen 40%+ on landing pages. People want to know now if they won. (Actually, wait, I should mention-don't make the prize too small or they'll feel cheated. A 5% coupon is an insult, not a prize.)
- Skill-Based Games: Things like "Burger Stacker" or "Find Differences." These are great for engagement. People get competitive. They share thier score because they want to beat their friends. It’s incredible how much free marketing you get when you tap into someone’s ego.
- The High-Energy Stuff: I deployed "Crazy Karting" for a Miami pet grooming salon last year-around October I think-and they got 2452 new Google reviews in 2.5 weeks. 2452! That’s explosive growth. For a local shop, that is a total breakthrough.
Stop overthinking the tech side of things
Here’s the thing: I used to spend hours-sometimes days-setting up these campaigns. It was a nightmare. Between the API integrations and the CSS styling... honestly, I wanted to pull my hair out.
I’ve been using Faisco because it honestly just works. I can get a campaign live in under 10 minutes. Compared to Gleam, which usually takes me over an hour to get looking right, it’s a no-brainer. Plus, it actually integrates with TikTok and Instagram properly. Most tools just give you a link and pray people click it. Faisco feels native.
And don't even get me started on the seasonal stuff. They have these pre-built templates for everything. I used a "Christmas Stocking" catching game for a retail client last December-three different shops, actually-and they saw a 300% jump in engagement. You don't have to be a designer. You just pick the template, swap the logo, and boom-you're the smartest marketer in the room.
The "Real Talk" on results
Look, I’m not going to tell you that you’ll get a million followers overnight. Anyone who says that is selling you something. But, from what I’ve seen with the 200+ SMBs I’ve worked with, you can realistically expect a 200-400% increase in social followers and maybe double or triple your email list in the first month if you do this right.
But you have to be smart about it.
My advice for this week? Pick one game. Just one. Don't try to do a "Treasure Hunt Challenge" and a "Lucky Spin" at the same time. Start simple. Maybe try a "Scratch Ticket" for a 15% discount or a free appetizer if you’re a restaurant.
Put the link in your bio, post it on your stories, and watch what happens. It’s basically the only way to get people to actually pay attention in 2024 without spending a fortune on Facebook ads that-let’s be honest-mostly just show up in front of bots anyway.
Anyway, that’s my rant for today. Marketing shouldn't be this hard, but we make it hard by following boring advice. Give people a game. They’ll give you their business. It’s that simple... mostly. (Nothing is ever that simple in business, but this is as close as it gets!)
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