How to create a sweepstakes on Instagram Stories and select winners

1. Introduction.

1.1. Types of sweepstakes in Stories.

1.2. Other considerations. 

2. Step by Step. 

2.1. Create the sweepstake with Cool Tabs.

2.2. Select winners.

2.3. Winners page.

2.4. Winners video.

2.5. Contact the winners.

3. Other Specifications.

4. Related Content.

1. Introduction.

The Instagram Sweepstakes application allows you to select winner/s among the users who comment/respond to your Stories.

You can automatically collect and import all user entries interacting during a specific period.

1.1. Types of sweepstakes in Stories.

1.1.1. Replies Sweepstake.

• Real-time Story sweepstake. The Instagram Sweepstake app allows you to run giveaways among users who reply to your Stories. You can set up the giveaway to collect interactions for up to 7 days after creating it in Cool Tabs. After this period, no more interactions will be gathered.

This way, even though Stories only have a "lifespan" of 24 hours, you can still run a giveaway for up to 7 days.

* IMPORTANT: Keep in mind that, for now, it’s not possible to create giveaways from old stories. By default, we only collect the last 50 messages received in a story. That’s why we recommend you create the giveaway in Cool Tabs before posting it in Stories or immediately afterward to avoid missing out on entries. This way, entries will be automatically collected each time a user comments on the giveaway Story or posts a Story mentioning you.

1.1.2. Mentions Sweepstake.

• Real-time Stories Sweepstake: The Instagram Sweepstake app allows you to run sweepstakes among users who post a Story mentioning your profile. It is only possible to collect mentions made from the moment the sweepstake is created (it is not possible to collect previous mentions) and only if the user's profile is public.

* IMPORTANT: As with a reply-based sweepstake we recommend you create the giveaway in Cool Tabs immediately after posting your giveaway Story. This way, all entries will be automatically collected every time a user comments on the sweepstakes Stories or uploads a story mentioning you.

1.2. Other Considerations.

Before we guide you through the steps of creating a giveaway in Instagram Stories, keep in mind the following:

• Even though Instagram’s API refers to responding to a story (Stories replies), the actual action the participant takes is sending you a message. When a user responds to your story, a message is sent to your inbox.

• Due to changes in Instagram's API, it's not possible to automatically verify if users are following your profile(s). You can request this as a requirement in your giveaway, as Instagram doesn't prohibit it, but you'll need to manually verify by visiting the winner's profile.

• Instagram does not allow giveaways with personal profiles. 

• Instagram requires business profiles to be linked to a Facebook fan page.

• Additionally, you will need to review the permissions for the profile where you want to run the giveaway in Facebook Business. How to add an Instagram account to Facebook Business to run your giveaway/monitoring.

2. Step by Step.

2.1. Create the sweepstake with Cool Tabs.

1) Log in to your Cool Tabs account. If you're not registered yet, check out the tutorial: How to create an account in Cool Tabs.

2) Create a new campaign by clicking the 'Create campaign' button.

If it’s your first time using the platform, you’ll directly see the apps catalog.

3) Select the Instagram sweepstake app.

4) Choose the Stories sweepstake type.

5) Accept the necessary Facebook permissions to manage your Instagram account.

* IMPORTANT: Instagram account data is accessed through Facebook’s API. Therefore, linking your Facebook account and accepting the permissions is necessary. Once this is done, the API will allow us to collect interactions from your Stories. Additionally, replies to your Stories are retrieved through Instagram direct messages, so we need you to grant permission for one of your Instagram profiles.

Click the ‘Connect’ button to start.

Then, click the "Continue as XXXX" button.

Make sure to select all the accounts you want to link.

Finally, grant permission to access the Instagram profile, manage messages, and show you the list of Instagram pages you manage.

If you haven’t granted the necessary permissions, an error message will appear, and we’ll ask you to grant the missing permissions again.

6) Your profile will be linked, and you can continue setting up the giveaway. Click the ‘Continue’ button.

If the profile you want to use for the giveaway doesn’t appear, click ‘I can’t find my account’ to link it. You can also refer to our tutorial on How to link an Instagram or Facebook profile and create a giveaway.

7) Complete the giveaway information.

• Sweepstake Name: Enter a name to identify your giveaway internally (it will not be public). This name will appear in your campaign list.
• Time Zone: Set the time zone for your giveaway.
• Types of actions you want to collect:

1. 1. Replies from other users to your Stories. Remember that once the sweepstake is created, replies can be collected for up to 7 days afterward. It’s also possible to collect replies to past Stories, up to 7 days old. For this reason, by default, comments from the last 7 days are collected. However, if you haven't published the sweepstake Story yet, you can uncheck the option 'Collect now the responses that have already been sent to me' so that only new replies from users are collected from this point forward.
   2. Mentions of your profile that are made by other users in their stories. Remember that we can only collect mentions from the moment you create the sweepstake in your Cool Tabs account, not before.

• Raffle end date: This is the date when entries will no longer be collected (replies and mentions will no longer be recorded).

8) Click the 'Save' button. Your giveaway will be saved in your Cool Tabs account, entries will be collected, and you will be able to select winners once the participation period ends.

Continue reading to start selecting winners.

To access the participant list, click the 'Leads' icon.

From the list of participants, you will be able to review the participations.

2.2. Select winners.