Are contests good for building email lists?

[Milana]

I saw something on a blog that said that contests can be a good way to attract attention to something. Are contests good for building our email lists or are they better for other uses?

 

[Ben]

I have read a few things that said that contests are good ways for getting traffic to a site but I haven't seen anything about using contests for building an email list. I don't see why it wouldn't be a good idea.

Are you talking about having some kind of prize for people to compete for or be entered into some kind of drawing if they sign up?

 

[JohnQ]

I can't speak from experience because I have never done a contest but people love contests and competing for things so it sounds like it would be a good idea.

 

[Ellen F]

That sounds like an interesting idea. I have never seen a contest to build an email list but since people like contests then this might be a good idea.

Lets us know how it works out for you if you go ahead and try it.

 

[Traveler]

Do you mean contests that you give away a prize or just to see who wins?

 

[Melker]

People like winning things so if you are having a contest where they can win something then it is probably a good idea.

Is the prize that you would give away something expensive or not?

 

[Will247]

I have seen contests on Facebook many times before so it seems like some people like using them. I don't know how much success you can get because I have never done one myself but the idea sounds good.

 

[eMonetize]

Yes, they can work and I have done it.

It's not as simple as just offering to give something away. There are laws you have to follow.

You ideally want to give something away that is related to your niche. If you just offer a gift card, for example, you may get users that join just to get the gift card / have no interest in the niche.

Also, you need to offer something with a decent perceive or real value.

If you don't have the money or not sure how well it is going to work...

Take the cost of what you are going to give away and divide it by the dollar amount that you want to spend per subscriber. For example, $1000 / $2 = 500 subscribers. Then put into the terms that once you reach 500 contestants you will then give away what you are offering. Creates a page and list it in the terms that will keep contestants up to date as to how many so far exist.

That way at the very least you know you will get the number of subscribers to make it worthwhile for you.

 

[Maria Marketing]

If you are talking about a contest that people can try to win something then I think that is a good idea as long as what you are giving away is not too expensive.

 

[Dean]

Yes, they can work and I have done it.

It's not as simple as just offering to give something away. There are laws you have to follow.

You ideally want to give something away that is related to your niche. If you just offer a gift card, for example, you may get users that join just to get the gift card / have no interest in the niche.

Also, you need to offer something with a decent perceive or real value.

If you don't have the money or not sure how well it is going to work...

Take the cost of what you are going to give away and divide it by the dollar amount that you want to spend per subscriber. For example, $1000 / $2 = 500 subscribers. Then put into the terms that once you reach 500 contestants you will then give away what you are offering. Creates a page and list it in the terms that will keep contestants up to date as to how many so far exist.

That way at the very least you know you will get the number of subscribers to make it worthwhile for you.

Wow, that is some great info there @eMonetize , thanks for sharing this outlook. I have been wondering about doing this since I saw this thread mentioned but really had no idea as to how to look at it right.

Thanks again for sharing your insight about this.

 

[Kania]

I think contests can be good for making an email list but you have to have something that people will want to win. Just make sure it is worth the price you are paying for what you are giving away.

 

[Milana]

I have read a few things that said that contests are good ways for getting traffic to a site but I haven't seen anything about using contests for building an email list. I don't see why it wouldn't be a good idea.

Are you talking about having some kind of prize for people to compete for or be entered into some kind of drawing if they sign up?

Yes I was talking about that kind of contest.

That sounds like an interesting idea. I have never seen a contest to build an email list but since people like contests then this might be a good idea.

Lets us know how it works out for you if you go ahead and try it.

I will be happy to do that.

Do you mean contests that you give away a prize or just to see who wins?

It would be a contest to win a prize.

People like winning things so if you are having a contest where they can win something then it is probably a good idea.

Is the prize that you would give away something expensive or not?

I do not know the cost or value of the prize yet. I was waiting for some input to decide what I will do first.

Yes, they can work and I have done it.

It's not as simple as just offering to give something away. There are laws you have to follow.

You ideally want to give something away that is related to your niche. If you just offer a gift card, for example, you may get users that join just to get the gift card / have no interest in the niche.

Also, you need to offer something with a decent perceive or real value.

If you don't have the money or not sure how well it is going to work...

Take the cost of what you are going to give away and divide it by the dollar amount that you want to spend per subscriber. For example, $1000 / $2 = 500 subscribers. Then put into the terms that once you reach 500 contestants you will then give away what you are offering. Creates a page and list it in the terms that will keep contestants up to date as to how many so far exist.

That way at the very least you know you will get the number of subscribers to make it worthwhile for you.

I was thinking about perhaps having a gift card but since you pointed out the people who would only want the prize then I think that is not a good idea.

Are there things in particular that work good for prizes or does it just depend on the niche?

I think contests can be good for making an email list but you have to have something that people will want to win. Just make sure it is worth the price you are paying for what you are giving away.

Yes I was going to try to make sure it was worth the cost of the prize.

 

[david smith]

Running contests is a good way to entice your audience. I have had my fair share of ups and downs when it comes to running contests. I remember using a tool on the contact us page and whenever the prospect used to send an email a popup was generated which basically revealed the contest details to the prospect.

 

[EncarDM]

Contests is definitely a good strategy to build up those email list of yours, especially if the winning price is good and interesting to the niche that you aim to tap. I usually join this kind of contest from blogs and Youtubers , and I must say the traffic that it create is quiet huge. Though I haven't won anything from all those contests, I still try again and again because ,why not, its interesting and its free!

 

[ulterios]

Contests is definitely a good strategy to build up those email list of yours, especially if the winning price is good and interesting to the niche that you aim to tap. I usually join this kind of contest from blogs and Youtubers , and I must say the traffic that it create is quiet huge. Though I haven't won anything from all those contests, I still try again and again because ,why not, its interesting and its free!

I have always wondered just how legitimate some of the contest are because I have never won anything and the people that I have discussed this subject with have not either.

I have even seen contests on a particular forums that is always having contests but none of the members have won anything and the contests were not completed or honored.

 

[Marcos]

Having contests is a great way to build your email list but you need to make sure that the cost of what you are going to offer as the prize is worth the amount of signups you receive.

Everybody likes to win things and compete so if the price is something that people will want then it should get you some good results.

 

[Milana]

Running contests is a good way to entice your audience. I have had my fair share of ups and downs when it comes to running contests. I remember using a tool on the contact us page and whenever the prospect used to send an email a popup was generated which basically revealed the contest details to the prospect.

What things were you offering in your contests?

Contests is definitely a good strategy to build up those email list of yours, especially if the winning price is good and interesting to the niche that you aim to tap. I usually join this kind of contest from blogs and Youtubers , and I must say the traffic that it create is quiet huge. Though I haven't won anything from all those contests, I still try again and again because ,why not, its interesting and its free!

How do you run a contest on Youtube?

I have always wondered just how legitimate some of the contest are because I have never won anything and the people that I have discussed this subject with have not either.

I have even seen contests on a particular forums that is always having contests but none of the members have won anything and the contests were not completed or honored.

I have also thought about the legitimacy of some of the contest I have seen. I guess you just have to hope people are honest.

Having contests is a great way to build your email list but you need to make sure that the cost of what you are going to offer as the prize is worth the amount of signups you receive.

Everybody likes to win things and compete so if the price is something that people will want then it should get you some good results.

I have been trying to figure out what an appropriate cost of the prize should be but I am having a hard time figuring this out.

 

[JennyJ]

I have tried doing a couple of contests but they really did not get me the kind of results I was hoping for. It wound up costing too much money (the prize I offered) for the amount of new subscribers I wound up getting.

It might work for some people or even for me later but for now I will probably not be having any contests any time soon.

 

[Marcos]

I have been trying to figure out what an appropriate cost of the prize should be but I am having a hard time figuring this out.

That is hard to know I think. You would need to figure out how many emails you will gain and how much money you are willing to pay for each.

 

[Milana]

I have tried doing a couple of contests but they really did not get me the kind of results I was hoping for. It wound up costing too much money (the prize I offered) for the amount of new subscribers I wound up getting.

It might work for some people or even for me later but for now I will probably not be having any contests any time soon.

Were the prizes for digital products? Those should be able to keep your costs down at least for some things.

That is hard to know I think. You would need to figure out how many emails you will gain and how much money you are willing to pay for each.

I would not know how to figure out something like that. It seems like it would be left to chance.