The best prize ideas for Instagram contests to boost participation

Creative giveaway prizes that spark interest, attract the right followers, and drive real engagement

When running an Instagram contest, the prize on offer is the hook. It’s what will catch a person’s attention and help them decide whether the contest is attractive enough to them. This means that when you are deciding on the prize, you need to ensure it’s catchy.

However, the gift should also go beyond being attractive, as you also want to attract the right audience. This means that you need to put a bit of thought into it and balance between value and your goals. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it needs to be relevant.

If you are thinking of running an Instagram giveaway, we’ll take you through some prize ideas that can help maximize participation.

Branded bundles that show off your products

If you are selling products, a giveaway is the best chance to showcase your products. People don’t have to pay for them, so they’ll be open and willing to try them out, which makes it a perfect chance to showcase new items.

For the Instagram prizes, you can create a bundle of some of your best products. These work better than a single expensive gift as they feel more generous and exciting. And beyond that, they allow people to check out more of your products, so it’s easier for winners to discover a product they might otherwise not have bought.

The idea is to try to make the bundle feel intentional as much as possible – not just random products. If it works in your case, you can also have a theme or purpose for the prize – maybe a “Skin Care Night Routine” or “Desk Setup Upgrade.”

Exclusive experiences (not just stuff)

While physical prizes are great, you can try to give an experience gift as it tends to feel more personal and unique. It’s also not offered by many brands, so the rarity aspect of it will make it much more valuable in the eyes of the audience.

This is especially applicable if you are a service-based brand. It can be something like a private behind-the-scenes tour or a studio visit. Or if you are a travel company, a trip that you’ve collaborated with a few other brands (more on that later).

This is a prize that feels well thought-out, as it’s not just any other product from a shelf, so it will significantly contribute to the giveaway success.

Gift Cards—but make them strategic

Gift cards are probably the most popular Instagram gifts. But this is for good reason – they are easy to deliver and are very flexible.

However, while a $50 or $100 gift card will generate the attention you need, it won’t create a strong connection between your brand and the audience. Well, unless you make it more strategic.

It can be a gift card to your own shop. This is important as it filters out freebie hunters who aren’t really interested in your products or brand. It also makes it easier for your audience to win, so they’ll be more willing to comment, tag, and share your post.

Limited edition or custom-made items

A limited or a custom-made Instagram gift is scarce, so the giveaway strategy instantly creates desire – it’s a simple psychological truth. This makes these types of gifts perform much better compared to standard prizes, as people can’t buy what you are giving away.

For example, it can be a popular product, but in a special color or material. It can also be a product with a name or one that’s made-to-order.

It will give you a better chance at giveaway success as the audience will be more willing to engage with your contest due to the unique Instagram prizes. Your winners will also be more likely to post about the prize as it feels uniquely theirs.

Partner prizes that expand your reach

One of the most powerful ways to boost giveaway success and expand your reach is to partner with another brand. However, this needs to be a brand with which you have a common clientele. For example, a fashion label can partner with an accessory maker.

Together, you can build a prize that feels more complete and exciting. This kind of collaboration in a giveaway will expose your brand to a new audience that already knew (and probably trusts) the other brand. Each brand will get more engagement, walking away with real growth, not just exposure.

Got the perfect prize in mind or looking for more ideas? At Promosfera, we can bring your Instagram contest to life and help achieve your goals. We are specialists at creating custom campaigns that works for a specific brand and drive real engagement, so reach out below.