How to use Instagram Stories and Reels for giveaway promotions

Unlock the power of Instagram Stories and Reels to maximize the success of your campaigns

Instagram is the platform that transformed social media into a marketing hub, especially for giveaways and contests. It has both static and dynamic posts that easily grab attention and drive engagement for brands.

When using the platform for giveaways, two of the most powerful Instagram features, which are also the ones you’ll need to use most, are Stories and Reels. Each offers a unique way to connect with your audience, and you need to combine them to create and run a successful campaign.

However, it’s not just about posting content but knowing the power of the features and what works for social media contests. Each of these has different features that you need to utilize, as well as a few psychological approaches that work for them.

In this post, we’ll give you a quick guide on how to use Instagram Stories and reels for social media contests and giveaways.

Using Instagram Stories to Run a Giveaway

Instagram Stories are quite dynamic and are effective at keeping your audience engaged and informed. Since they appear at the top of users’ feeds and only last 24 hours, they are easily seen, and they create a sense of urgency – perfect for giveaways.

Here’s how you can use them at every stage of your contest.

Creating an attention-grabbing announcement

Your giveaway announcement usually sets the tone for the contest. It’s what will stop users from scrolling, so you need to ensure you get it right.

Here are some ways you can use Instagram Stories to encourage viewers to participate in your giveaway:

• Visually striking graphics: Make sure the Story is eye-catching. Use bold, easy-to-read text to highlight key points and entry requirements. For example, “Giveaway Alert!” or “Chance to Win!”
• Countdown sticker: Build anticipation by adding Instagram’s countdown sticker to your story before launching the giveaway and at the end.
• Questions sticker: Followers will have questions, so use the “Questions” sticker to answer the common ones, making the giveaway interactive.
• Poll sticker: You can use this sticker to ask followers some fun questions, such as what they’d do if they won.
• Link sticker: If you have a dedicated landing page or a specific post you’d like users to interact with, use this sticker to direct them there.

This helps grab attention and also makes it easy for your audience to participate.

Running the campaign

During the giveaway period, use your Instagram Stories to make everything lively and engaging. Here are some features and tactics that can help with that:

• “Swipe Up” or “See Post” Prompts: You can use these stickers to guide followers to the main feed post.
• Behind-the-Scenes: To create excitement, share sneak peeks of the prize.
• Reminders: Post daily reminders on your Stories, especially when the deadline is closer. Countdown stickers will also work great.
• Entrant spotlights (with permission): Showcase some entries, especially if you are running a contest. This builds social proof and encourages others to join.
• Q&A Sessions: Answer the common questions, especially about the giveaway rules, deadlines, and prizes.
• Live sessions: Consider going live once in a while to explain the giveaway and showcase the prizes.
• Polls and engagement stickers: Use this to keep your audience interactive and invested.

Taking advantage of these features strategically helps keep your campaign visible and your audience engaged.

Announcing the winner

The way you reveal the winner is just as important as running the campaign. Here are some ways to make it count:

• Live reveal: Consider going live as it adds excitement to the reveal. The transparency is also important for people to believe that the giveaway or contest was genuine and that the winner selection was fair.
• Winner Tag: With their permission, post the winner and tag them in a celebratory post. It adds authenticity.
• Thank you note: After announcing the winner, post a story thanking everyone who participated.

From there, keep your community posted on what’s coming next.

Using Reels to boost the Giveaway

While Stories and posts will keep your audience engaged, you need to combine them with Reels. These play a crucial role in keeping users updated, and they also give you an opportunity to explain the contest in detail.

Here are some ideas to maximize them:

• Start with a strong hook to captivate views  – “Want to win [prize name]?”
• Use them to visually demonstrate the prize.
• Have a clear CTA verbally and using on-screen text.
• Use engaging audio, whether trending or original. It should be upbeat.
• Use text overlays to reiterate crucial information.
• Take advantage of the videos to educate users on the different aspects of the giveaway.

By strategically combining Instagram Stories and Reels, you can create highly effective social media giveaways that boost your brand and grow your audience.

Ready to run an Instagram contest or giveaway that stands out?

Promosfera can help you create and manage campaigns that boost brand awareness, engage your audience, and make your social media contests impossible to ignore.