How to get votes for a contest? There are two concentrated ways to get votes. You can get votes either by promoting your entry or by purchasing votes. In this blog, I will share 17 unique ideas to get votes for a contest.
Types of Voting Contest
Before you know how to get votes for a contest, it is crucial to understand the different types of voting contests. There are two main categories of voting contests:
- Online Voting Contest
- In-Person Voting Contest
Online voting contest
Online voting contests are typically conducted on websites or social media platforms, enabling virtual participation. For example, in an Instagram photo contest, participants can submit their entries using a designated hashtag, and the photo with the highest number of likes or comments emerges as the winner.
Another illustration is a contest hosted on a brand’s website, where customers are invited to vote for their preferred product. The product garnering the most votes is subsequently offered at a discounted price.
Contests like these help create a bond and interaction between the brand and its audience, building customer loyalty and boosting brand recognition.
In-person voting contest
In-person voting contests, on the other hand, are typically conducted at live events or venues. A classic example is a talent show where audience members are given voting devices or paper ballots to vote for their favorite performance after the show. This creates an exhilarating and interactive atmosphere as audience members actively participate in decision-making.
Another instance is a public art competition, where artists showcase their work in a public space, and visitors are given tokens to vote for their preferred artwork. The piece of art that accumulates the highest number of tokens by the end of the event claims victory in the contest.
Most home, office, and school contests are conducted offline and in person. These contests foster community participation and encourage meaningful engagement with the event or cause.
How to Get Votes for a Contest: 17 Best Ways
It’s time to discover all the ways to get votes for a contest! Below are some unique ideas that will help you increase your chances of winning a contest.
#1. Utilize Social Media Platforms
How to get online votes for a contest? For online votes, you should utilize all the social media platforms first. Social media is a huge network that can help you reach a large audience quickly. According to Statista, over 4.89 Billions people are on social media. It’s really huge!
Utilize social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn to promote your entry and ask for votes. You can also join relevant groups or communities on these platforms and share your entry there.
Facebook is the most effective way to get votes by creating and sharing a post on your profile, page, or group. You can also ask friends and family members to share your post with their network.
Read also: How to get engagement on Facebook?
On Instagram, you can use cool hashtags related to the contest and your entry to reach a bigger audience. Just share an eye-catching post with the right hashtags on your profile.
You can even collaborate with influencers or other contestants to promote each other’s entries. Let’s get creative together!
Twitter is known for its fast-paced nature, so tweet about your entry consistently and use relevant hashtags to attract more votes.
YouTube
For video contests, YouTube is your go-to platform. Create a compelling video promoting your entry and share it on your channel. You can also ask your subscribers to like and vote for your entry.
LinkedIn may not be the first platform that comes to mind when you think of contests, but it can still be a useful tool. Share your entry on this professional network and reach potential voters who may not be active on other social media platforms.
All these platforms have a large user base and can help you get votes from a diverse audience. So, make sure to utilize them effectively. Plus, you may run paid ads on social media to reach an even larger audience and increase your chances of winning.
#2. Host a Giveaway Contest
Why not give something back to your voters? Host a giveaway contest on your social media platforms or website and offer a prize in exchange for votes. This will not only encourage people to vote for you but also attract new voters who are interested in the prize.
To host a successful giveaway contest, set clear rules and deadlines. You can also collaborate with other contestants or sponsors to make the prize more enticing.
Remember, the prize doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should be something your target audience would love to win.
#3. Ask Your Friends & Family
Word of mouth is always a powerful marketing tool. Don’t be shy about asking your friends and family members to vote for you. They may not be able to get you hundreds of votes, but every vote counts when it comes to winning a contest.
You can also ask them to share your entry on social media or spread the word through their networks.
Although this strategy is mostly effective for offline contests, it can still help you get a few extra organic votes for online contests.
#4. Utilize Your Workplace
Workplaces can serve as a valuable resource for gathering votes. After all, your co-workers and management team form a ready-made network of potential supporters. Send a friendly email or make an announcement during a meeting, explaining the contest and how their votes could make a difference.
Many people will be willing to lend their support, especially if they feel personally connected to you or the cause you’re championing.
Remember, be polite and respectful when asking for votes in the workplace. Avoid being pushy or making anyone feel obligated to vote for you. Instead, present it as a fun opportunity for the office to support one of their own. This approach will likely lead to a more positive response and a higher number of votes.
#5. Collaborate with Influencers
Partnering with influencers in your niche is a great way to get votes for a contest. They have a loyal following who trust their recommendations and are likelier to vote for you if they see the influencer supporting your entry. Reach out to relevant influencers and offer them a collaboration in exchange for votes.
You can use influencer marketing platforms like Upfluence, AspireIQ, or FameBit to contact influencers. Also, you may contact them directly through social media or email.
#6. Use Email Marketing
In 2023, email marketing is still one of the most effective ways to reach your audience. If you have an email list, send out a personalized email to your subscribers asking them to vote for you in the contest. Mention how winning this contest will benefit you and why their vote matters.
You may also contact other bloggers or businesses in your niche and ask if they can mention or share your entry with their email subscribers.
#7. Use Your Contest’s Voting Link as Email Signature
Besides email marketing, another smart way to get more votes is by using your contest’s voting link as your email signature. This method is effective because it automatically promotes your entry whenever you send an email.
For example, you could alter your signature to look something like this:
Best Regards,
Your Name
P.S. I’m participating in the “X” contest and need your help to win. If you have time, could you please vote for me? Here is the link: Vote for me in the “X” contest
Remember, the key is to be polite and avoid spamming. This way, you organically remind people about your participation and can generate more votes without being too intrusive.
#8. Collaborate with Other Contestants
Collaboration can be a win-win for both parties involved in a contest. Reach out to other contestants in the same or similar category and propose a collaboration where you promote each other’s entries and ask your followers to vote for one another. This way, you both have a higher chance of getting more votes and winning the contest.
#9. Utilize Online Forums
Online forums like Quora, Reddit, and Yahoo Answers are great platforms to promote your entry and get votes. Find relevant discussions or questions about your contest topic and provide a valuable answer or solution while subtly mentioning your entry.
For example, if the contest is about healthy eating, you could answer a question on Quora about the benefits of certain foods and mention your entry as an example of your healthy recipe. Just follow the forum’s guidelines and avoid being too promotional.
Be sure not to spam or come across as too promotional, as this may backfire.
#10. Leverage Your Website or Blog
If you have a website or blog, use it to your advantage by promoting your entry and asking for votes. You can create a dedicated blog post or page about the contest, share it on social media, and ask your readers to vote for you.
Additionally, you may offer an incentive such as a discount code or exclusive content to those who vote for you.
#11. Participate in Cross-Promotion
Reach out to other businesses or individuals in your niche and propose a cross-promotion where they promote your entry on their platform, and you do the same for them. This way, you benefit from each other’s audience and increase your chances of winning the contest.
#12. Make Flyers:
Flyers can serve as an effective means of physically reaching potential voters who may not be active on digital platforms. To create an engaging flyer, include concise information about the contest, why you are participating, and how and where they can vote for you. Remember to make it visually appealing with eye-catching design elements and colors.
Consider including a QR code linked to the voting page for easy access if the contest rules permit. Distribute these flyers in high-traffic areas and community gathering spots. Done right, this old-school method can help you garner significant votes.
#13. Run a Publicity Campaign
Consider running a publicity campaign to create buzz and draw attention to your entry. You can use PR tools like Pressfarm, BuzzStream, or HARO to get media coverage for your entry and increase your chances of getting more votes.
You must have a compelling story and angle to run such a campaign successfully. Contact relevant journalists, bloggers, or media outlets and pitch your story. You can also offer them exclusive content or interviews related to the contest.
#14. Host an Event
If the contest allows it, consider hosting an event and use it as an opportunity to promote your entry and ask for votes. This can be a physical or virtual event, such as a webinar, live stream, or Q&A session. Collaborate with other contestants or influencers to reach a larger audience.
#15. Be Creative
Try to think outside the box and develop unique and creative ways to promote your entry and get votes. You can create a catchy hashtag, design eye-catching graphics, or even create a fun challenge related to the contest. Have fun while promoting your entry and engaging with potential voters.
Remember, your content should be genuine and not violate any contest rules. So, follow the guidelines provided by the organizers and use these unique ideas to get votes for a contest.
#16. Hire a Marketing Agency
If you have the budget, consider hiring a marketing agency specializing in contest promotion. They will have the expertise and resources to create an effective campaign to promote your entry and get votes.
In addition, you can also hire a virtual assistant or freelancer to help with tasks like social media management, email marketing, and outreach.
#17. Purchase Votes:
Purchasing votes is controversial and can violate some contest rules. However, if allowed, you may come across services that offer to sell votes for a fee. By buying high-quality votes, you can increase your chances of winning, but do your research and only use reliable services.
In that case, you must also know how to buy contest votes. However, Royal Votes can be your one-stop solution to provide legitimate votes for any online contest. Remember, you should be aware of the automatic online voting bot.
Check out the video below on cheating and beating any online voting contest.
FAQs on How to Get Votes for a Contest
How do you win a vote on Facebook?
To win a vote on Facebook, you can try the following strategies:
- Use visual content such as images or videos to grab people’s attention and make your entry stand out.
- Create a catchy headline or title for your entry that will entice people to click and vote.
- Share your entry on relevant Facebook groups and pages, and ask for votes from your friends and followers.
- Utilize Facebook Ads to reach a larger audience and get more votes.
- Collaborate with other contestants or influencers on Facebook to cross-promote each other’s entries and reach a wider audience.
Is it legal to buy contest votes?
Buying contest votes is not illegal, but it can violate the rules of some contests. Make sure to check the rules and regulations of the contest before purchasing votes, and only use reliable services.
How do you create a contest?
To create a contest, you can follow these steps:
- Clearly define the goal and purpose of your contest.
- Determine the type of contest (e.g., photo/video submission, voting-based, etc.) and the prize(s) to be awarded.
- Choose a platform or app to host your contest (e.g., social media platforms or specialized contest apps).
- Set a timeline for the contest, including start and end dates and any submission deadlines.
- Promote your contest on various platforms to attract participants.
- Monitor the contest and announce winners at the designated time.
- Follow up with winners and distribute prizes accordingly.
How to ask for votes on social media examples?
Here are some examples of how you can ask for votes on social media:
- “Hey, everyone! I’ve entered a contest and would really appreciate your support by voting for me. Just click the link below and hit that vote button. Thank you!”
- “I’m competing in a contest and need your help to win! Please take a minute to vote for my entry and share it with your friends. Your support means a lot to me.”
- “Calling all my friends and followers! I’m participating in a contest and need your votes to win. Please help me out by voting for my entry and sharing it on your social media platforms. Thank you!”
- “I’m excited to announce that I’ve entered a contest and would love your support. Please take a moment to vote for my entry and help me win. I can’t do it without you!”
- “It’s that time of the year again! I’m competing in a contest and need your votes to secure a victory. Show some love by voting for my entry and sharing it with your networks. Thank you!”
How do you make a contest go viral?
Making a contest go viral can be challenging, but here are some tips to increase your chances:
- Create shareable and visually appealing content for your contest entry.
- Utilize popular hashtags related to the contest or your niche to reach a larger audience.
- Collaborate with other contestants or influencers to cross-promote each other’s entries and expand your reach.
- Encourage participants to share their entries and ask for votes from their networks.
- Offer incentives or bonuses for people who vote and share your entry (e.g., discount codes, freebies).
- Use paid advertising on social media platforms to reach a wider audience.
- Engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages and updating them on the contest’s progress.
- Make it easy for people to vote by providing clear instructions and a direct link to your entry.
- Utilize different platforms (e.g., social media, email, website) to promote your contest and reach a diverse audience.
- Stay consistent with your messaging and branding throughout the contest. By implementing these strategies, you can increase the chances of your contest going viral and gaining more votes.
Conclusion:
Now, you have a detailed knowledge of how to get votes for a contest. The key is to be persistent, creative, and genuine while promoting your entry. Use a combination of these strategies to reach a wider audience and increase your chances of winning.
Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the experience! So keep trying and never give up; you’ll eventually reach success!
