Holding monthly contests: best practices? Plugins?

Discussion in 'Managing Your Online Community' started by Soliloquy, May 27, 2013.

  1. Soliloquy

    Soliloquy Regular Member

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    I've amassed a number of cupcake-related items, and want to start holding a monthly contest on my Cupcake Forum to give them away. If you've done similar small contests, what did you do to promote them? Did you use any plugins to manage things? (I'm using vB 3.8.6.)
     
    Soliloquy, May 27, 2013
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    Brandon likes this.
  2. Big al

    Big al Regular Member

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    I have never done any contests however I think it could be helpful to create interest for your members by running a series of "teaser" adds Prior to the launch.

    You could say that there is a new and exciting contest coming so watch this space. And " Hold onto your cupcakes, as we are about to announce a new and exciting event on this forum" and things like this to create a little suspense, INTEREST and curiosity.
     
    Big al, May 27, 2013
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  3. ConfabIt

    ConfabIt Regular Member

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    Whenever I've done a competition/giveaway I've just used the forum, Facebook and Twitter to advertise them; we haven't got any newcomers this way but I dare say in the future I'll help. Twitter is particularly useful because you can do relevant hashtags which people can use to find you...assuming of course people are currently searching for Cupcakes on Twitter or that it's trending. :P
     
    ConfabIt, May 28, 2013
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  4. cpvr

    cpvr Regular Member

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    Find the top posters mod for your version of vBulletin. It'll help out a lot for future contests. I use it on my community which is vBulletin 4. I usually just promote the contests on other forums and on my Facebook page.
     
    cpvr, May 29, 2013
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  5. Cerberus

    Cerberus Admin Talk Staff

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    1st Link to cupcake forum LOL I like cupcakes

    As for contests, there are many ways one can go. It depends on what is most valuable to you. Do you need money? Do you need content? Do you just want happy members? You need to decide what it is you want out of said contest/giveaways.

    I want money - Then a raffle is always the best way. Tell them you need hosting money or what not for something your doing for the site. Could be a new feature/mod whatever. Then do a simple raffle. 1 dollar donation for an entry. I like to use 1 deck of cards so limited entries, people buy them quicker. It is always good way for quick money. And you give away something you already have essentially its all profit.

    I want content - Obviously a post contest is the way to go. Who has most posts, or best posts, whatever. I am sure you can find some plugin to help with this, should not be too hard. @Brandon used to have a good one on VBSetup.. I think the CodeMonkey guy made it? Not sure.. Ask Brandon

    I want happy members - Then do something silly to increase activity a lil and just give it away to someone with random.org . Like post ina thread, your thread number is your ticket number. Post many times as want, never back to back, post to 1000. When you hit 1000 posts in that thread, use random.org to get a random number and give that member prize. I would also record it with like camstudio and upload the random.org part on youtube.

    But, so many ideas. You just need to decide what you want from it as a forum owner.
     
    Cerberus, May 29, 2013
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  6. andyred

    andyred Regular Member

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    The idea of a $1 Raffle is a good one for you forum, especially if there are CupCake rated cooking prizes available to win - heck even I would buy a ticket off you ;-)

    It's just the tracking of the contests that i would be concerned with like if you do so many posts in a time frame or best quality posts or each member can vote another member.
     
    andyred, May 30, 2013
    #6
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