Do giveaways really work?

[DudeThatsErin]

I've thought about doing a giveaway each time I open a domain and while this costs a lot of money to do, it would be worth it if it drives more people to the websites.

I want some opinions... Do you believe giveaways really work? Why or why not?

 

[John]

Depends on what it is, and how you classify a "giveaway". Things like posting contests are normally pretty useless. However, if you can come up with a reasonably unique contest that requires little effort from a member's perspective, you'll probably do well. I'm not entirely sure what might work (or even what type of website you're running), but I'm sure you can come up with something. 🙂

 

[DudeThatsErin]

Depends on what it is, and how you classify a "giveaway". Things like posting contests are normally pretty useless. However, if you can come up with a reasonably unique contest that requires little effort from a member's perspective, you'll probably do well. I'm not entirely sure what might work (or even what type of website you're running), but I'm sure you can come up with something. 🙂

I was thinking a domain giveaway/hosting giveaway/promo blog post (advertising for your site) etc. Maybe even amazon gift card.
Giveaway's I've had in the past were run with rafflecopter.com and did exactly ^^. They seemed to work but I think I gave away too much stuff. hahahaha.

 

[Page]

It depends but for me, Nope. I had like 4 events in the pass and only one went all good with like 6 or more people went for it. There was one event that there was no one to give the game away and so I had to go and give it away elsewhere then I had one member rejected even that he won.

I stopped doing giveaways since I don't have the extra cash

 

[DudeThatsErin]

It depends but for me, Nope. I had like 4 events in the pass and only one went all good with like 6 or more people went for it. There was one event that there was no one to give the game away and so I had to go and give it away elsewhere then I had one member rejected even that he won.

I stopped doing giveaways since I don't have the extra cash

ugh. I'm sorry! Maybe it wasn't a popular game? Not sure what you were giving away. Even if it was, that sucks. 🙁

 

[Page]

ugh. I'm sorry! Maybe it wasn't a popular game? Not sure what you were giving away. Even if it was, that sucks. 🙁

well GTA5 was one of those games. So!!!

 

[Teg]

I went ahead and voted "yes" in your poll. But, honestly, it all depends on what the giveaway is for and the item(s) being given away. When you run a site or forum based on a specific niche, clearly the item(s) given away should be related to that niche and be something that your users will want to win. Giveaways work best on active forums, but that's just my personal opinion.

 

[Page]

people always want things and yet giveaways can be hard

 

[Shannon Apple]

There's two problems with giveaways. 1. Your giveaway is too niche, and no one cares or 2. Everyone wants the prize, but doesn't really give a toss about your website. I guess you need to find a way of making sure that it's not expensive enough to attract every freeloader on the net, but not useless enough to attract no one.

 

[DudeThatsErin]

There's two problems with giveaways. 1. Your giveaway is too niche, and no one cares or 2. Everyone wants the prize, but doesn't really give a toss about your website. I guess you need to find a way of making sure that it's not expensive enough to attract every freeloader on the net, but not useless enough to attract no one.

Didn't even think about that. Thanks!

 

[Page]

. Your giveaway is too niche, and no one cares or 2. Everyone wants the prize, but doesn't really give a toss about your website.

Yep 🙂 I did an posting giveaways and five people would receive something, it did not go so well 🙁

 

[Jason76]

I think it does. You know, as they say - money talks.

In fact, it might be one of the best ways to drive people into a growing forum other than paid advertising.

There's two problems with giveaways. 1. Your giveaway is too niche, and no one cares or 2. Everyone wants the prize, but doesn't really give a toss about your website.

Regarding the first part, just give away money and regarding the 2nd part, constant giveaways are keeping people on the website, giving them enough time to develop interest.

 

[Bluezone777]

The thing about giveaways is that more often then not, most of the people will only be drawn to the prize and not the site itself. What you draw someone to you is what will keep them and while it might seem like a giveaway is going to be a great way to move people to your site, it often will only bring people who stay for the prize then split when it's over. Honestly, giveaways if they are to be done at all should be focused on rewarding long term members for sticking with you and your site instead of drawing in new people who likely won't care about you or your site.

 

[Shannon Apple]

We used to do giveaways for review competitions. 40 dollar Amazon gift card for whoever wrote the best review of an anime, or whatever. Instead, we now have an article section with volunteer writers. I'm probably going to suggest giving them something at the end of the year.

 

[Jason76]

The thing about giveaways is that more often then not, most of the people will only be drawn to the prize and not the site itself.

In a way, it's similar to paid to click (PTC) schemes.

Honestly, giveaways if they are to be done at all should be focused on rewarding long term members for sticking with you and your site instead of drawing in new people who likely won't care about you or your site.

Using virtual currency, like on this site, might be one way to reward those who are constantly doing something. For instance, after a certain post count is reached, a forum owner could then enter the user into a drawing for big cash.

 

[DudeThatsErin]

The thing about giveaways is that more often then not, most of the people will only be drawn to the prize and not the site itself. What you draw someone to you is what will keep them and while it might seem like a giveaway is going to be a great way to move people to your site, it often will only bring people who stay for the prize then split when it's over. Honestly, giveaways if they are to be done at all should be focused on rewarding long term members for sticking with you and your site instead of drawing in new people who likely won't care about you or your site.

That's what I am worried about if I do one, too. Good idea though!

We used to do giveaways for review competitions. 40 dollar Amazon gift card for whoever wrote the best review of an anime, or whatever. Instead, we now have an article section with volunteer writers. I'm probably going to suggest giving them something at the end of the year.

That's cool.

In a way, it's similar to paid to click (PTC) schemes.


Using virtual currency, like on this site, might be one way to reward those who are constantly doing something. For instance, after a certain post count is reached, a forum owner could then enter the user into a drawing for big cash.

Depends on the type of site you have for virtual currency.

 

[lucycarter]

Giveaways are popular offline marketing technique among advertisers to generate leds and increase your reach among people. I have used this technique for my friends clothing store and it worked!

 

[Ashley]

It depends but for me, Nope. I had like 4 events in the pass and only one went all good with like 6 or more people went for it. There was one event that there was no one to give the game away and so I had to go and give it away elsewhere then I had one member rejected even that he won.

I stopped doing giveaways since I don't have the extra cash

I'm actually don't have contests period. I tried a couple simple posting contests when I first started out, but the prizes were merely vip access and simple stuff like that. No monetary prizes, no giveaways, just stuff people can enjoy on the site. But now, despite having loads more time for it now that I no longer have a job, I don't do contests at all. A lot of it is for privacy reasons more than anything...not all people are who they say they are.

 

[Page]

People seem to don't have interests unless the giveaway is to be a big spent, like a new realised game worth $50 to $80. But what made me stop more than anything that once it's ended people just go and leave this the site and goes dead..