Typepad 101: Hosting A Giveaway

Welcome to Typepad 101! Whether you want to add some new features to your blog's design, or simply make your blog more functional, Typepad 101 has you covered. This tip is suitable for bloggers at all levels using Basic Templates - no special tricks or upgrades needed!

A great way to draw attention to your blog and gain new followers is by hosting a giveaway.  The prize can be anything from an Amazon Gift card to an iPad.  It is also great extra promotion if you have paid sponsors and advertisers.  As bloggers, we may be contacted occassionally by companies looking for extra promotion. Retailers are starting to acknowledge the reach bloggers have on potential customers. 

Of course don't just give away any ol' prize. If you're a foodie blog, a KitchenAid food processor will cater to your readers more than Black & Decker Hammer Drill (though  may still come in handy some time....I digress.) The same as reviewing a product, you want your giveaway to mesh well with your blog - entice your readers, make them want it, make them tweet about it, make them share it on their Facebook.

Rafflecopter is a great tool that helps make hosting a giveaway easy.  Once you plug in what the entry requirements are, it will give you a code to paste on your site similiar to this: 

Some things to keep in mind when hosting a giveaway: 

-Give clear instructions on how to enter (ie: leave a comment, tweet giveaway and share the URL in separate comment, pin giveaway and share URL, etc.)

-Is the contest open globally or just residents in the US & Canada?  If the prize is being shipped, this could be a factor in who can enter.

-Include how long the giveaway will last and when will be the last day to enter - no ifs, ands or buts about it.

- Promote! Share it on your Social Media platforms and use this as a way to gain more followers. A lot of giveaway hosts would include additional entries from readers if they follow them on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

- In addition to your blog post announcing the giveaway, you may want to add a link to your Sidebar right where the reader's eye can see it and are reminded to enter. 

- Make sure you're legit.  There are still rules and regulations involved when hosting a giveaway by Federal and in some cases, the State.  Here is a good article that breaks it down for you.

As word gets out on your giveaway, new people will discover your blog and will want to come back!