Instagram contests are a wonderful opportunity to interact with your audience and learn more about them in a natural and engaging setting. You’ve come to the correct spot if you’ve ever considered hosting an Instagram giveaway but held off because of concerns regarding logistics like selecting a winner or navigating any legal complications that could arise.
This post will provide you with all the information you want to successfully host a giveaway on Instagram.
Rules for Instagram Contests
If you want to increase your Instagram following and visibility, a giveaway is a great method to do either.
Follow the Guidelines:
- You are responsible for ensuring that the contest is run in accordance with applicable legislation, including establishing eligibility conditions (such as age and location) and offering terms.
- You may not improperly tag content, nor may you encourage others to do so.
- You must clearly explain that Instagram is not connected with this advertising.
- You acknowledge that hosting a promotion is done at your own risk, and that Instagram bears no responsibility for any repercussions.
Is it okay if I host giveaways on Instagram?
The quick answer is yes, but only if you follow the law. So, before launching a contest on Instagram, users should research the relevant legislation in their jurisdiction and adhere to all applicable regulations.
It’s also crucial that you and your competitors avoid misunderstandings. To do so successfully, it is essential that you know what is meant by the words “contest,” “sweepstakes,” and “giveaway.” Legal trouble may arise from inappropriate use of these phrases.
What do these terms mean?
A sweepstakes (also spelled “giveaway”) is a promotion in which a winner is selected at random. No one has to buy anything to get in.
A contest is a type of competition in which the victor is decided by popular vote or expert evaluation. Admission is paid for by guests occasionally.
If your offer isn’t actually a contest, it’s best not to use the word “contest” while advertising it.
Is there a minimum age requirement to enter a contest?
To enter a giveaway, one must be at least 13 years old unless the prize is restricted to those who are 18 or older. But before you start handing out free stuff left and right, make sure you’re not breaking any rules in your jurisdiction.
Be careful to specify in the rules of the giveaway whether or not participants must be over a certain age to participate.
In what method do you determine who receives an Instagram prize?
Choosing a winner is one of the most challenging aspects of hosting a contest. The practise of picking names at random is now obsolete. Today, you can use any number of online services or apps to generate a truly random selection of winners.
Many people utilise Google’s free Random Number Generator to choose contest winners. Use it as follows:
- Number each entry (the most equitable and straightforward method is to number submissions in the order they were received).
- Check out Google.com.
- Search for “random number generator” in the box provided.
- Fill in the highest and lowest possible numbers here.
- Choose Produce.
Take a snapshot of the chosen random number if you use this function to have irrefutable documentation of how the winner was determined.
You may also use the Instagram Sweepstakes App from Easypromo. The app will organise a giveaway and pick a winner at random. After your first contest is complete, you will need to purchase a membership in order to host any more giveaways.
Do freebies incur tax liability?
The vast majority of social media freebies consist of little, low-value items. However, the winner (if they are subject to U.S. taxes) will be required to pay taxes on the prize if its worth is $600 or more.
In addition to the winner’s name and address, you’ll also need to record the winner’s social security number for tax purposes.
Instagram’s Top Tips for Hosting a Contest
With that out of the way, let’s talk about the free stuff now that you know the rules. This section will discuss the dos of running successful Instagram giveaways.
When is the best time to run a giveaway on Instagram?
There is no clear answer here, but social media specialist Alex Tooby suggests trying time-sensitive promotions. By creating a sense of time pressure, you may increase the likelihood that your followers will enter the giveaway.
The standard range should be between three and seven days. Fast freebies that last only a day are also fantastic.
Ideas for fun Instagram giveaways
The possibilities for Instagram contests are endless. A common form of contest is the “like and/or comment to win.” People may easily participate by simply like or commenting on a post. Also, it’s simple to maintain tabs on.
In order to be eligible to win the reward on some accounts, users must additionally follow the account or tag a friend in a remark. Doing so might increase the visibility of your account.
What not to do when hosting a giveaway on Instagram
Instagram contests may be executed with little effort, but there are a few blunders you should attempt to avoid at all costs.
People are more likely to participate in a giveaway if all they have to do to join is like or comment on the post. Careless usage of hashtags is also discouraged. It’s easy to lose credibility with your followers if you use too many hashtags, especially if they aren’t relevant to your content, business, or specialty.