When our agency landed a major retail client last year, I never imagined that presidents day easy drawing challenges would become our secret weapon for viral engagement. Let me share a story that changed my perspective on holiday marketing forever.
The Birth of a Viral Campaign
Picture this: It's early February, and we're brainstorming yet another Presidents Day campaign. The usual suspects are all there – discount promotions, patriotic themes, the works. But as I'm absent-mindedly sketching a terrible version of Abraham Lincoln in my notebook (complete with a lopsided top hat), something clicks.
"What if we made bad presidential art the whole point?" I asked my team.
The campaign we created was deceptively simple: We launched a "Presidential Doodle Challenge" across social media platforms. The rules? Participants had 60 seconds to draw any U.S. president from memory, post their (inevitably hilarious) results, and tag three friends to attempt the same. The twist? Each participation unlocked a special discount code for our client's Presidents Day sale.
Unprecedented Results
The results exceeded our wildest expectations:
- User engagement increased by 647% compared to previous holiday campaigns
- Over 50,000 presidential doodles were shared in just five days
- Sales jumped 235% compared to the previous year's Presidents Day weekend
Psychological Triggers Behind the Success
1. The Time Pressure Element
The 60-second limit created just enough stress to make it exciting but not overwhelming. I noticed participants often recorded their drawing process, adding an extra layer of entertainment value.
2. The Permission to Be Imperfect
By celebrating "bad" art, we removed the performance anxiety that often prevents social media engagement. Some of the worst drawings got the most engagement, creating a refreshing contrast to the usual polished social media content.
3. The Educational Twist
Schools and educational institutions started picking up on the trend, using the presidents day easy drawing challenge as a fun way to teach history. We hadn't planned for this educational angle, but it significantly amplified our reach.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, I believe we'll see more campaigns that blend imperfection, time constraints, and educational elements. The key is finding that sweet spot between challenge and achievability, between entertainment and commercial intent.
A word of caution though: This approach won't work for every brand or holiday. What made this campaign successful was its authentic alignment with both the holiday spirit and our client's brand voice. I've seen similar campaigns fall flat when they felt forced or disconnected from the brand's core values.
Key Takeaways
The biggest lesson? Sometimes the most effective gamification strategies don't come from complex reward systems or elaborate point schemes. They come from tapping into basic human desires: to create, to laugh, and to be part of something bigger than ourselves.
As we look toward future holiday campaigns, I'm convinced that the intersection of simple artistic expression and social sharing will continue to evolve. Maybe next year we'll see AI-generated presidential art competitions or augmented reality historical figure filters. But whatever technical innovations emerge, the core principle remains: Give people permission to play, and they'll give you their attention in return.
What started as a doodle in my notebook transformed into a case study in viral marketing success. It reminded me that in our pursuit of sophisticated marketing strategies, we sometimes overlook the power of simple, human moments. And isn't that what great marketing is all about?
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Want to Know What Really Gets People Talking?
Let me share something that caught me off guard when I started using Faisco. We ran a small contest for a client last month, and what happened next was pretty eye-opening. Their social traffic didn't just tick up – it jumped by over 60%. People stuck around on their site four times longer than usual. And here's the kicker: their conversion rates shot up by 28% compared to their regular campaigns.
I get it – numbers are nice, but you're probably wondering what this means in real terms. Here's the deal: Faisco turns those boring "enter your email" promotions into experiences people actually want to share with their friends. I've seen it work for scrappy startups and growing SaaS companies alike.
Looking to Give This a Shot?
From my experience running these campaigns, I've picked up a few tricks that make a real difference.
Start with the End in Mind
Here's what I tell my clients: figure out what success looks like before you dive in. Are you after more email signups? Brand awareness? Social buzz? Each goal shapes how you'll set up your campaign.
Pick Prizes People Actually Want
I learned this one the hard way – offering an iPad might get entries, but offering something your specific audience craves? That's when magic happens. One of my clients in the photography space offered a premium preset pack, and their engagement went through the roof.
Get the Word Out
Sure, you could just hit publish and hope for the best. But I've found mixing things up works better – share on social, tap into your email list, maybe test some ads if you've got the budget. Different channels reach different folks.
Keep an Eye on What Works
Faisco comes with some pretty solid analytics tools. I check them regularly to see what's clicking with people and what's not. Sometimes the smallest tweaks make the biggest difference.
Here's something cool: you can test this out yourself at i.faisco.com. Their free trial lets you set up a campaign in about three minutes. Beats spending weeks planning and coding something from scratch.
If you want to make a payment, you can also check their pricing page.
