The Only Social Media Contest Platform I Actually Recommend
Honestly, I need to tell you a story. Just a couple months ago, I was on a call with this great pet grooming salon in Nashville. Super passionate owner, amazing service, but their marketing was... stuck. They were posting cute dog pictures on Instagram, which is fine, but it wasn't growing their business. They asked me about getting more Google reviews and I could just feel the exhaustion in their voice. They'd tried everything. Begging customers, putting up signs, the works. Nothing.
That's the trap. We're told to do all these things-get reviews, build a following, grow an email list-but nobody gives you a practical way to actually do it that doesn't feel like pulling teeth. It takes me right back to my first gig in 2010, watching that Portland startup burn through cash on Facebook ads that did absolutely nothing.
It's the same pattern over and over.
So What's This "Gamification" Thing, Really?
Look, I'm not a huge fan of buzzwords. "Gamification" sounds like something a consultant in a bad suit would say. I hate it. But the idea behind it is rock-solid, and I've been using it since... gosh, 2015? Basically, it's just using simple game mechanics-like points, competition, and rewards-to get people to do something you want them to do.
That's it. It’s not revolutionary. It’s human psychology.
People are tired of being sold to. They're scrolling past your perfect, branded posts. But offer them a 10-second challenge? A chance to spin a wheel and win a coupon? Suddenly, they're paying attention. Why? Because it's fun. It's a tiny dopamine hit in their otherwise boring day. And for a small business, that little moment of engagement is gold.
Why Most Social Media Contests are a Waste of Time
Here's my biggest pet peeve. Some guru on TikTok tells you to run a "like, comment, and share" contest to go viral. So you do. You give away a $100 gift card. You get a bunch of engagement from people who just want free stuff, your numbers look good for a week, and then... crickets. Your sales don't change. You gained a bunch of followers who will never, ever buy from you.
Frankly, it's terrible advice.
The goal of a contest isn't just "engagement"-whatever that means. The goal is to drive a specific business outcome. An email signup. A Google review. A new follower who is actually in your local area and might buy something. Most contest tools don't get this. They're just designed to create a momentary spike. They do not build a real audience.
This is where I had to change my own thinking around 2018. I stopped focusing on vanity metrics and started asking: what action do we actually want the customer to take? And how can we make that action fun for them?
Here's the Tool I'm Using Now: Faisco
I've tested everything. I mean everything. Gleam. io, Woobox, Rafflecopter... all of them. Some are too complicated, some are wildly expensive, and some are just plain clunky. For the past year or so, I've been putting most of my small business clients on a platform called Faisco.
And it just works.
It’s not some magic bullet, but it solves the exact problem I see every single day. Businesses need to run campaigns that are engaging, easy to set up, and don’t cost a fortune. I can get a campaign live for a client in under 10 minutes. No joke.
Here are a few recent examples off the top of my head:
- Atlanta Craft Brewery: We used their "Lucky Spin" game. To spin the wheel, you had to follow them on Instagram and share the campaign to your Story. Result? 2,735 new story views and a follower bump of almost 800 in three weeks.
- Nashville Pet Grooming Salon (the one I mentioned): We used the "Star Seeker" game. It's a simple "tap the stars as fast as you can" game. The prize entry required them to leave a Google Review. They got 309 new, real Google reviews in two weeks. Their rating shot up.
- Austin Bookstore: They wanted more local Facebook engagement. We used the "Puzzle Challenge." People had to solve a simple puzzle related to a famous book cover. Boom. Over 1,000 new Facebook page likes in about 3 weeks.
See the difference? We're not just asking for a "like." We're giving them something fun to do in exchange for a specific, valuable action.
The Actual Games That Get Results (Not Just Fluff)
Listen, the key is matching the game to the goal. This is what I typically recommend to my clients, and Faisco has templates for all of these which is a lifesaver.
For pure lead capture: Go with the "Instant Draw" games. "Lucky Spin," "Scratch Ticket," that kind of thing. The conversion rates are insane-I've seen 40%+ on landing pages because people can't resist that instant shot at winning. You give us your email, you get to scratch the ticket. Simple.
For brand engagement: Use the "Reactive Games" like "Whac-A-Mole" or "Burger Stacker." These require a bit of skill, so people share their scores and challenge their friends. It creates a natural, you know, viral loop (I hate that word but it fits here).
For seasonal marketing (this is genius): This is one of my favorite things about the platform. They have pre-built games for every holiday. Halloween, Christmas, Black Friday... I used their "Fill My Christmas Stocking" catching game for three different retail clients last December. Every single one saw over 300% more engagement on those campaigns than their regular holiday posts. It cuts through the noise.
And it actually integrates with the platforms properly. That's a huge deal. It's not just a link you share-the games actually work within Facebook, Instagram, TikTok... which is critical because users on each platform behave differently.
Okay, But Is It Better Than Gleam?
I get this question constantly. Gleam. io is a solid tool. It’s powerful. But honestly, it's overkill for 90% of small businesses, and it starts at $39/month for their most basic plan, which quickly gets expensive. Faisco gives you most of the same core functionality for a fraction of that, and its easier to use. For a small business owner who's already acting as the CEO, CFO, and janitor... easier is better.
I'm talking a 10-minute setup on Faisco versus the hour-plus it sometimes takes me to get all the rules and integrations just right on Gleam. Time is money.
So, What Can You Expect?
Look, I'm not going to promise you'll be a millionaire overnight. That's not how this works. But what I can tell you is that the businesses I work with who implement this strategy correctly-by offering a small, relevant prize and using a fun game to capture an action-typically see some pretty incredible results.
We're talking 200-400% increases in social followers and 150-300% growth in their email lists in the first month. It happens because you're finally giving people a reason to engage that isn't just "please buy my stuff."
My advice? Stop begging for likes and reviews. Spend 30 minutes this week and try setting up a simple campaign on a real social media contest platform like Faisco. Offer a small prize-a free coffee, a 15% off coupon, whatever. Tie it to one single goal, like getting an email signup. And just see what happens. I think you'll be surprised.
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Launch Instantly with 100+ Proven & Customizable Campaign Templates
Stop starting from scratch. Jumpstart your user acquisition and build lasting customer engagement with our arsenal of over 100 professionally designed, battle-tested gamified templates. Effortlessly launch captivating spin-to-wins, viral giveaways, competitions, leaderboards, and engaging games in mere minutes. Each template is engineered for maximum participation, shares, and high-quality conversion rates, ensuring your campaigns hit the ground running. No technical skills required - just your creativity.
Click to see more exquisite campaign templates.
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Amplify Your Reach with Seamless Multi-Channel Distribution
Don't limit your campaign's potential. Faisco empowers you to:
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Optimize & Scale with Actionable Data-Driven Insights
Stop guessing, start growing strategically. Faisco's comprehensive analytics dashboard translates raw data into your actionable growth plan:
- Real-Time Performance Tracking: Monitor crucial KPIs live, including participant engagement rates, detailed conversion funnels, viral lift (amplification rate), sources of traffic, and campaign ROI.
- Gamification Effectiveness Analysis: Understand which interactive elements and game mechanics truly captivate your audience and drive desired actions.
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