2.1. Sweepstakes with a registration form
2.5. Multiplatform sweepstakes
1. Introduction
If you've published a sweepstake on social media and selected winners using Cool Tabs apps, you'll need to contact the winners to let them know the result and help them claim and/or arrange delivery of the prize.
If you haven't selected a winner yet, check out the tutorial on how to select winners and get your certificate of validity.
Below, we walk you through your options for contacting winners.
2. Types of sweepstakes
Depending on the sweepstake's format and the social network it ran on, your options for contacting winners may vary.
2.1. Sweepstakes with a registration form
In this type of sweepstake, contest, or promotion, users enter by filling in their personal details, and among other information, they're asked for an email address.
Whether they entered using "Anonymous" registration (filling in their personal details) or "Social Login" (with one of the social networks you've enabled), you'll have access to their email.
In this case, the easiest and quickest option is to contact them by email. In the "Winners" section of your campaign, you'll find each winner's email next to their name.
We recommend specifying in your campaign's legal terms how you'll contact the winner(s) and the deadline they have to respond.
Our email sending tool makes it easy to manage this kind of communication. To learn how to schedule emails from Cool Tabs, check out the tutorial how to send an email to the users who entered your campaign.
How to announce the winners of a registration-form sweepstake
So the winner and other users know the sweepstake's outcome, and so the selection is seen as a transparent process, you can also:
Publish the public URL to the winners page on your social media, website, blog, etc.
Publish the winners video on your social media, website, blog, etc.
Embed the winners page on a website or blog.
Don't forget to set the winners page and/or video to public mode before you publish it, so all users can see it.
2.2. Sweepstakes on Instagram
Once you've selected the winners, you'll find the winner's username in the sweepstake's "Winners" section.
Clicking the Instagram icon next to it will take you straight to their profile, so you can send them a private message congratulating them and explaining how to receive or collect the prize.
You can also edit the sweepstake post and mention the winner to let them know they've won.
If you need to review the winner's entry, you can do so from the participants list, in the "Participants" section. You can access it from the sweepstake results page or from your main campaign list by clicking the "Leads" icon.
Enter the winner's username in the "Name, username, or email" field and click "Filter". In the search results, you'll be able to see their entry, the comment they left, and any mentions they included, if applicable.
Announcing the winners of an Instagram sweepstake
To publish the result of your Instagram sweepstake and offer more transparency to your audience, you have several options:
Post the winners page URL in your Instagram bio and/or Stories.
Download and publish the winners video on your Instagram feed and/or Stories.
Don't forget to set the winners page and/or video to public mode before you publish it, so all users can see it.
2.3. Sweepstakes on Facebook
When you select winners for a Facebook sweepstake, you'll get the winner's username in the "Winners" section.
2.3.1. Sweepstakes based on comments
If your sweepstake is based on comments, clicking the Facebook icon next to the winner's name will take you straight to the comment they left.
This way, you can send them a message or reply directly to their comment to let them know they've won.
Take the chance to share the link to the winners page in that same comment, so other participants can see the sweepstake's outcome.
2.3.2. Sweepstakes based on likes
For sweepstakes based on likes, Facebook doesn't allow direct access to a user's profile: clicking the Facebook icon next to the winner's name will show the message "This content isn't available right now."
Here are a few options for contacting the winner:
1. Create a new post and mention the winner. You can only mention them if they follow you.
2. Write a comment on the sweepstake post mentioning the winner. Again, you can only mention them if they follow you.
3. Search for the user among the list of people who liked the post. Not very practical if there are many participants.
If you can't mention the winner, or there are too many participants to find them, it's best to publish a new post announcing the sweepstake's outcome and share the URL to the public winners page, asking users to reach out to you by private message.
How to publish the winners of a Facebook sweepstake
To publish the result of your Facebook sweepstake and offer more transparency to your audience, you have several options:
Post the winners page URL on your wall.
Download and publish the winners video on your page's wall and/or Stories.
Don't forget to set the winners page and/or video to public mode before you publish it, so all users can see it.
2.4. Sweepstakes on Twitter
Contacting the winners of a Twitter sweepstake is very simple. Once you've selected the winners, you'll find the winner's username in the sweepstake's "Winners" section.
Clicking the Twitter icon next to it will take you straight to their profile, so you can send them a private message congratulating them and explaining how to receive or collect the prize.
Another option is to post a new tweet or leave a comment on the sweepstake post, announcing the outcome and mentioning the winner. In this case, it's also a good idea to include the link to the winners page.
If you need to check the winner's entry, you can do so from the participants list, in the "Participants" section. You can access it from the sweepstake results page or from your main campaign list by clicking the "Leads" icon.
Enter the winner's username in the "Name, username, or email" field and click "Filter". You'll be able to see the tweet the winner posted.
How to announce the winners of a Twitter sweepstake
To publish the result of your Twitter sweepstake and offer more transparency to your audience, you have several options:
Post a tweet with the winners page URL.
Download and post a tweet with the winners video.
Don't forget to set the winners page and/or video to public mode before you publish it, so all users can see it.
2.5. Multiplatform sweepstakes
For multiplatform sweepstakes, your options for contacting the winner depend on which network they entered through. On the sweepstake results page, you'll see the icon of the social network they entered on next to their name.
Follow the steps described above for Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter sweepstakes, as appropriate.
3. Other specifications
Keep in mind that selecting winners requires an active plan, whether paid or trial. The free trial lets you try any plan for free for 7 days, with no limitations.
If you have any questions or would like more information, you can reach us through our website chat or by emailing help@cool-tabs.com.
4. Related content
How to create a sweepstake on Instagram and choose winners
How to create a sweepstake on Facebook and choose winners
How to create a sweepstake on Twitter and choose winners
Comments
0 comments
Please sign in to leave a comment.