How to Select a Social Media Contest Platform

Today’s technology has left us with no shortage of options. The question is no longer: What do I do? The question is: Which one of a hundred ways do I do it? Digital advertising is no exception to this rule.

With Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Google Plus and LinkedIn, the modern marketer looking to capitalize on a contest has an important choice to make. This article will help you understand the most popular social media sites and help you choose the social media contest platform that is best for your audience and most likely to result in a successful campaign.

Facebook

When the words “social media” are said, “Facebook” is usually not far behind. With an easy-to-use interface and integrated conversion tracking, the site is a natural hot-spot for advertisers. With Facebook accounting for 1 in every 6 minutes spent online, it makes sense.

Every participant becomes a brand ambassador, spreading your message with the simplicity of a click. Each person you reach represents an entire network of people that consume your content, and that network grows exponentially.

More than this, the ability to post pictures and comments allows for an interactive experience that encourages customers to engage with your brand at their comfort and convenience, organically generating a veritable treasure-trove of marketing material.

Twitter

You don’t need a lot of space for a big idea: that’s the big idea of Twitter. Their 140-character count (now 280-character count) means you’ll need to be brief. And though that may seem like a disadvantage, consider it an exercise in efficiency.

Your average customer has a limited attention span. With the proliferation of quick, concise media, Twitter has led the charge in giving users what they want, when they want it, without demanding their time. They’ve done it through the power of hashtags.

A contest supported by strong hashtags can make it not only fun to participate in, but fun to share and explore. Through a smart selection of hashtags, any campaign can find a following. Twitter’s accessibility and convenience will work for you — making it an excellent social media contest platform.

Instagram

Take a step back and look at the broader picture. Then ‘like’ and ‘comment’. Instagram is the leading photo-sharing app available and a go-to for marketers looking to crowdsource content for their contests. Your work is already cut out for you.

Here’s an immediate advantage: You can leverage an influencer’s following to target different microcosms, reaching your chosen demographic accurately through a credible source they’ve come to know and trust. You’re a friend of a friend.

Another plus: With Instagram, every user has an audience. When they engage with your brand, your contest spreads. A social media contest can gain momentum this way, moving from person to person as it grows presence. And since visual content is 40 times more likely than other content to be shared on social media, circulation will be a non-issue.

Conclusion

A good decision is an informed decision. Through understanding the most popular social media contest platforms, you have the know-how to move forward with your next successful campaign.

Whether you use Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (or Snapchat, Pinterest, Google Plus, or LinkedIn), you can trust social media to put color in your contest and drive results. The next big winner is you.

To learn more about how our social media contest platform makes it easy to collect photo and text entries from all channels, check out our post. Realtime Media is your source for information, a trusted partner in promotion helping brands build their business through social media solutions. Our team of experienced professionals is ready to help. Contact us for details!