How to do a giveaway on Instagram to gain followers? This is the question I’m going to answer in this blog. I’ll show you how doing it strategically can potentially double your followers – a real game-changer, especially when you’re growing your Instagram from scratch.
But doing it right is key. I mean setting a clear goal, understanding the purpose behind your contests, outlining the rules, and clarifying the prizes. And, of course, keep a close eye on how it did.
No more waiting – let’s jump into the details of how to get more Instagram followers with a giveaway!
Did you know that Instagram accounts that host giveaways grow 70% faster than those that do not?
How To Do A Giveaway On Instagram To Gain Followers?
Here I’ll walk you through the steps to run an Instagram contest.
#1. Set a clear goal
Every move you make on Instagram needs a goal, and hosting a giveaway is no exception. Whether you’re a brand or a creator, ask yourself: What’s the big win here? Is it just about getting more followers, or are you also gunning for more engagement, increasing brand awareness, getting cool user-generated content, promoting a product or service, or maybe a bit of everything? Figure out your game plan!
What do you think this contest is going to reach?
#2. Clarify the rules
Now, it’s time to set Instagram giveaway rules, from the deadline and entry rules to any age or location limitation.
When you’re sharing the rules for your giveaway, put them right in the caption, your bio link, or maybe through DMs. However you choose to do it, make sure it’s crystal clear!
Just a simple tip: Don’t make the rules too hard, or people might not bother trying. And hey, make sure the steps are worth the prize. Keep it fun and worthwhile!
#3. Define the prize
This is the fun part for users, and it’s gotta match your brand or what you’re all about. That way, you not only spread the word about your brand but also hit those other goals. Skip the generic stuff like gift cards – not the best move!
Would you really bother with this stuff?
#4. Create your Instagram giveaway post
If you’ve got clear rules and a cool prize, you want to catch your followers’ attention, right? Make it happen with a catchy picture and a caption that grabs them.
If you’re not a design pro or running short on time, no worries. Use ready-made free Instagram giveaway templates from places like Canva, Adobe, Freepik, or Placeit!
Once you’ve got a cool design, it’s caption time. Besides the rules, date, time, restrictions, the brand hosting it, and hashtags, keep it short, snappy, and positive. Ever thought about tossing in a quote for your Instagram giveaway caption?
#5. Pick an Instagram giveaway picker to publish the contest
So far, everything’s been pretty straightforward, and now, it gets even simpler with an automated giveaway picker. Here, I’m going to show you how to publish your contest with AiGrow’s simple giveaway picker.
Step 1:
If you’re new to AiGrow, create an account and add your Instagram account to the dashboard.
Step 2:
Tap the Giveaway Picker on the top menu and click on Start A Giveaway Contest Now.
Step 3:
Enter the giveaway post URL and tap on Get Started to go to the next step.
Step 4:
Here, you can define a name for your contest, enter the number of winners, identify if the users need to mention someone or use a certain hashtag, and tap Submit Contest Settings (You can use top Instagram giveaway hashtags to grow visibility).
Step 5:
Remember, your first giveaway can be done on a Free Trial, with no cost involved. But for the next ones, you’ll need to grab one of the monthly or yearly plans.
Finally, the tool randomly picks the winners based on the rules you set from the comments.
#6. Promote your contest
Don’t keep your awesome giveaway confined to just one Instagram post. Aside from the announcement post (your main giveaway post), there are other ways to promote an IG contest. Let’s dig into them.
- Instagram Stories: With Instagram stories, you can jazz up your contest content. Add fun stuff like interactive features, filters, music, and more. Toss in a link and watch the buzz grow.
- Collaborate with other brands or influencers related to your niche. This is one of the most helpful methods to promote your contest.
- Promote on Facebook: One of the benefits of linking your Instagram account to your Facebook page is that you can easily share your Instagram giveaway posts on both platforms.
If you’re not sure how to link your Instagram to your Facebook page, just click here.
- Instagram or Facebook Ads: Deciding to use paid ads for your contest comes down to your budget and the scale of your event.
If it’s a major one, throwing some money into targeted Instagram or Facebook ads can help you hit a more specific audience.
- Email Marketing: Another way is to shoot your followers an email and cheer them on to join the giveaway.
#7. Track your giveaway
Remember when you set your goal in the beginning? Now, let’s see if you hit it or not. Check out Instagram Insights, where you’ll find your Total Followers, engagement stuff like comments, likes, and shares, and more.
But if you want even more detailed info, you can go for AiGrow’s managed growth plans (Managed Premium and Managed Advanced).
With these plans, you not only get a top-notch giveaway picker and detailed reports but also additional perks like extra content creation, a bio link, and real, organic followers through targeted hashtags, location, and gender settings. It’s a complete package!
So, kick back and let AiGrow take care of your IG growth.
Instagram Giveaway Examples
Sure, you know how to do a giveaway on Instagram to gain followers. But if you’re stuck on ideas, no stress. We’ve got a list of 13 Instagram giveaway ideas to spark your creativity.
Here, I’m sharing more giveaway post ideas for Instagram across various niches. Get inspired!
#1. Follow, Like & Comment
Check out this contest post with 5K likes– they just want followers to follow, like, and comment on what they enjoy doing in Paris. I bet the prize is totally worth it!
#2. Like & Comment Emoji
This one’s even easier and more fun. All you need to do is hit the like button and drop a tasty emoji in the comments. Looks like it’s going great (2k likes)!
#3. Follow, Like, Save/Share
This post is asking followers to save and share it, not just like it. The cool part? They give you a choice, so you can go with the way that seems simpler to you.
#4. Follow & Guess the Prize
I thought this giveaway was cool because of the awesome post idea and the straightforward entry rules.
#5. Collaboration+ Email Giveaway
Travel BFF teamed up with an influencer for this giveaway. And they’re also doing an Email giveaway simultaneously.
#6. 1k Followers Giveaway
You can do giveaways on special follower milestones, like reaching 1k (or 10k, 100k). It’s a way to thank your followers and boost engagement.
#7. Loop Giveaways
This kind of giveaway makes your followers follow several accounts along with the main one.
While it’s good for gaining more followers and boosting engagement, you should be careful about the quality of those followers and the engagement. The last example is also a type of Instagram loop giveaway.
Tips To Run A Successful Instagram Giveaway
We said before that accounts doing giveaways grow 70% faster. But here’s the catch – some accounts still struggle, even with contests.
In simple terms, Instagram giveaways, contests, or raffles (whatever you call them) are a double-edged sword. To get the most out of them, keep these things in mind:
Target the right audience
When you’re doing a giveaway to get followers, make sure it’s the real deal—targeted and genuine. Create prizes and entry rules that pull in accounts truly interested in what you share.
Check out this contest’s prize, how you can enter, and any restrictions they’ve got, for example.
Collaborate with the right brand or influencer
Choosing an influencer with lots of followers, but not in your niche, won’t really help. Even if they follow you for the giveaway, they’ll likely stop following or engaging with your content once it’s over. It’s better to go for influencers in your niche for lasting results.
Share the contest at the best time
Just like you follow the rule of the best times to post on Instagram, do the same for your giveaway post. Share it when your followers are most active to get more engagement. For example, if you’re offering discounts for short term corporate rentals in Toronto, you’ll want to schedule your giveaway post during peak hours when your target audiences, such as business travelers or corporate decision-makers, are most likely to be online and engaged.
Don’t forget post-giveaway engagement
This means saying thanks to all who took part in a follow-up post. Encourage them to stay involved by sharing ideas for future content. Keep them engaged with strategies like creating interesting posts and responding to their comments.
FAQs on How to Do an Instagram Giveaway to Gain Followers
Now, let’s check out the usual questions people have about this topic:
Do Instagram Giveaways Increase Followers?
Yes, the stats say accounts doing giveaways grow 70% faster than those that don’t. But it’s important to do it in the right way.
How to do a giveaway on Instagram properly?
For a successful Instagram contest, set clear goals, establish rules, choose the right award, and use a reliable giveaway picker. Also, promote it on different channels and evaluate its performance.
Can you boost a giveaway on Instagram?
Yes, just tap on “Boost Post” next to your giveaway post. Choose a goal, add a link, and pick a call-to-action button. Here, learn more about Instagram boost post.
