This one's a no brainer. Holding a contest to promot
e your small business creates lots of buzz and interest.
With the right hook, a newsworthy contest can get you media coverage too.
Tips For Holding A Contest
- Make it fun
- Keep it simple - rules, how to enter and who is eligible
- Be clear on what the prize is
- Keep your business name prominent
- Have a defined closing date
- Get as much publicity as you can before, during and after
- Promote it online at sites such as Online Sweepstakes
- Announce the winners and notify them
- Honor your promise even if you have only a few entries
- Don't change the rules halfway through
- If you are extending the deadline, make it very clear
- Be open and transparent about how the winner is decided
- Post contest publicity
Where Do You Get The Prizes?
As well as your own prizes there may be scope for partnering with complementary businesses. Run a joint contest and have a larger prize pool - more publicity channels too. Or you may be able to ask some of your suppliers to provide prizes.
Product Or Service Vouchers
Another savvy contest prize is a voucher for your business. The face value is less than what it will cost you. Plus, a voucher brings customers back into your business.
- Any other tips for holding contests to promote your small business?
At a customer appreciation dinner that I hosted for my 50 best customers, I set up a fantasy golf league. I mixed golfers and non-golfers to form teams. These teams then "drafted" the pro golfers. Each month, I sent them a report on the team standings as a way of keeping my name in front of them. At the end of the seasons, I sent the top three teams prizes. My customers loved it.
Posted by: Ron Meledandri - Sentra Business Solutions | July 23, 2008 8:04 PM | Permalink to Comment