I recently ran my first Instagram giveaway, and it turned out to be a fantastic learning experience! It was a "12 Days of Christmas Gift Box Giveaways" for Christmas 2024 season. I thought I would summarize a few takeaways that I will definetely take forward to my next giveaway:
Preparation is Key
As a new and eager entrepreneur I made the classic mistake of just launching the 12 days of giveaways on very short notice. I did my best to make sure my social media was planned but it lacked "in depth planning" like the story content & planned time to engage with my audience every day. For my next time around I would map out everyting to make my life easier and to be able to have more fun with it! I would map everything from the content leading up to the giveaway all the way to after the final day to make sure my website and social media were in tip-top shape. It seems so obvious but ....I still made the mistake because of the excitement of just doing the giveaway!
Smart Boosting & Testing Products
I boosted some of my reels at about $10 per day, which brought in between 2,000 and 3,000 views. This strategy was interesting —it provided valuable insight into which products resonated most with my audience and who my audience was! Testing different items based on viewer response helped me understand what my community really loves.
Engagement Matters
I learned that posting a story every day to accompany the giveaway post was crucial. Keeping a daily narrative alive not only maintained engagement but also built excitement throughout the giveaway period- 12 days was a long period to keep peoples attention (especially in the thick of Christmas time!). Being ready to interact immediately after posting not only ensured that my audience felt heard and valued but it was fun! For next time I would plan more time to do engage with my new online community.
The Joy of Giving Back
It was incredibly rewarding to just give without trying to get something back. In a sense this is never really possible because I did gain insight into my audience, but I knew my intentions were good, so I was happy with that! It was also so motivating to feel how genuinely grateful people were have a chance at winning something, and to give to complete strangers! This experience reinforced how small acts of generosity can make a big impact on my day to day life. I know I am running a business - but this type of inclusion will definitely help keep things in a grounded perspective of "its not all about making a sale". It is about connection & sharing joy- building a business should be just an added bonus.
Tools That Simplified the Process
I needed a simple way to collect shipment information without asking for credit card details because I know there are so many scammers out there and I did not want to put anyone in harms way. Flodesk’s giveaway feature was perfect for this, as it allowed me to send the winner a link seamlessly without collecting credit card information. I also discovered an online Instagram winner picker—a tool I had no idea existed! This tool helped me fairly select a winner by allowing me to set rules that matched my giveaway requirements.
What I’d Do Differently Next Time
Reflecting on the experience, I’d start with a more organized plan. Running a 12-day giveaway with curated gift boxes meant that I should have had my content mapped out well in advance. I’d also have a backup offer for non-winners, like a 15% discount on their order, to keep everyone feeling appreciated. Finally, I’d invest more time in pre-giveaway marketing—especially during busy seasons like Christmas, when keeping up can be a real challenge.
Every step of this journey taught me something new, and I’m excited to apply these lessons to future giveaways. If you’re planning a giveaway, remember that preparation, engagement, and using the right tools can make all the difference. Happy giving!
