What contests did you find the most successful?

[Xyphien]

After the merge I'd like to have a massive contest. I'm not sure exactly what to do for it. I am, however aware of the prize I'll be doing.

I've tried posting contests in the past to get activity up but it never seems to work out as well as I'd hope. I need some sort of contest to get activity flowing again after my merge.

The prize will be, seeing it's a general discussion forum now with the main focus being on game development and webmaster content. The winner will chose either their own website being created by me, or a large SEO plan that's panda compliant.

 

[Page]

People will enter if the prizes are good, Like for gaming most after the new release or big game titles that are worth $10 or up. If you doing games that are only worth $5 then it's no point in doing it since most won't be interested. I did do game giveaways in the passed and most have failed since I did not get many entered and all did not want the games.

Posting contest is alright but after the giveaway is over then the activity goes down, they mostly leave since it has ended. SO need very good ideas that no one else have thought off and so what's that?

 

[Katrina]

I recently did a contest based on the game of Clue and offered $20 to the winner. It was a bomb!

My most successful contests weren't even real contest, just a game of Bingo (no prize but an award icon) that I had ongoing and some members enjoyed playing without any pressure. All my other contests in the 4 years since CH was created have not gone over very well.

 

[Tucker933]

We've given away $25 twice a month for about 4 years now, through a raffle system where tickets are earned through specific contributions to the community and by staff discretion.

Has done a ton for the generation of unique content, but it's a pretty expensive investment.

 

[Deleted member 17779]

We've given away $25 twice a month for about 4 years now, through a raffle system where tickets are earned through specific contributions to the community and by staff discretion.

Has done a ton for the generation of unique content, but it's a pretty expensive investment.

Yeah, I think that's the problem that a lot of forum owners have. They're using free hosting to host their community because they don't have the money to spend on hosting to begin with. Other owners that have spent their money on hosting, have spent what money they do have on the hosting and don't have the extra money to do a give-a-way or contest. Especially every month, like what you're talking about. It may have helped your community grow but it does cost the owner a lot of money over the course of the year and not everyone has that kind of money.

So, what are some other ways to have a contest without completely draining someone's wallet or purse?