Create a Free Contest
Day Seventeen of the Make Money Without Spending a Dime Challenge
Using free contests to attract customers isn't a challenging money making tactic, but it does take a bit of finesse. Learn how with these quick tips and suggestions.
With every free contest there is an element of play: visitors and customers alike vie for awards, recognition or small fortunes in a friendly yet competitive situation. Making free contests work for your business however, requires focus on the bottom line and the "what's in it for me?" (or my business?) factor.
Start with the reason behind your free contest (a free contest, by the way, is one that doesn't cost anyone to participate). How will it attract the kinds of customers you want? What value does it offer both clients and your bottom line?
What Kind of Free Contest Should I Start?
For ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
- A poetry contest, writing contest or other related content (for a publication, restaurant looking for reviews, service business in need of testimonials);
- A coloring contest or baby crawling contest (child-related or family-oriented businesses);
- An eating contest (for restaurants, kitchen-supply stores or health);
- A song contest, music contest or modelling contest (for businesses in need of a jingle or spokesperson);
- A recipe contest or cooking contest (caterers, kitchen-supply, restaurants, organic food delivery); or
- A photo contest (to display winners on marketing materials).
Where Do I Get Prizes for a Free Contest?
Speak with your manufacturers, sales reps, businesses down the street, related organizations and business networking groups. Ask if they'd like to donate prizes to your free contest in exchange for promotional opportunities.
Additionally, offer something of value from your establishment as well. It could be as simple as providing a free hour of service, as unique as shaving your head and dying your eyebrows pink, or as involved as giving a makeover to the winner (home rennovations, weight loss, nutrition, proofreading or editing, painting... the list could go on forever).
Keep Those Free Contest Entry Ballots!
Once the contest is finished, don't throw away the entries. If you've designed them correctly (asking for basic contact information, advising only one entry per person and maybe even asking if the entrant will have a need for your services in the near future) you can use this information. Compile everything and plunk these details into your free mailing list.
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This article is Day 17 of a 30-day series about Making Money Without Spending a Dime for Entrepreneurs. Visit the first day, see a list of all of the information to date, feel free to comment in our discussion group about your experiences, or read the next article in the series: Using Wholesale Suppliers Coop Advertising To Get Free Marketing Materials.
