There is no doubt that competitions are a great way to engage with customers and promote your brand. But did you know that you can also run competitions with bloggers? By working with influencers in your industry, you can reach a larger audience and create more engaging competitions. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of running competitions with bloggers, as well as some useful tips on how to get started. So read on to learn more…

The benefits of running a competition with bloggers

By running a contest or giveaway, brands can increase awareness of their products or services while also generating buzz and excitement around their company. Additionally, competitions can help brands to build relationships with influencers and thought leaders in their industry.

Ultimately, running a competition is an effective way to reach new audiences, generate leads, and boost sales.

Why partner with bloggers to help grow your business?

In today’s social media-driven world, competition is fierce for attention among brands. Traditional advertising tactics are no longer as effective as they once were, and companies are constantly searching for new ways to reach their target audiences. One innovative approach that has been gaining popularity is partnering with bloggers and influencers.

In recent years, an increasing number of brands have turned to blogger competitions as a way to generate buzz and build interest around their products. When done correctly, these campaigns can be extremely successful, reaching a wide audience and driving significant traffic to a company’s website or social media accounts.

And because influencer marketing is still relatively new, it can be more cost-effective than other forms of marketing, making it an excellent return on investment. As online competition continues to increase, companies that are able to effectively reach their target audiences will be the ones that thrive.

Types of competitions that brands can run with bloggers

There are a few different types of competitions that brands can run with bloggers. The three main types are giveaways, contests and prize draws. All of these options can be effective in building engagement and partnering with bloggers so let’s explore…

Blogger giveaways: A win-win marketing tool

Blogger giveaways are a savvy marketing tool that expands your audience and boosts engagement. Unlike brand-hosted contests, these are run by bloggers or influencers, making them a trusted bridge to new followers. Entrants typically engage by following the brand or influencer on social media, subscribing to newsletters, or leaving comments.

The beauty of blogger giveaways lies in their dual benefits: they incentivise action, boost ROI, and amplify reach as participants often share the giveaway with their networks. For brands, it’s a chance to tap into the influencer’s audience; for bloggers, it’s a way to enhance engagement with fun, interactive content. It’s a simple yet effective strategy to grow and connect.

Giveaway ideas for brand-blogger collaborations

• Product bundle bonanza: Collaborate with a blogger to offer a bundle of your top-selling products. Entrants must follow both the brand and blogger on social media and tag friends in the comments to enter.
• Exclusive experience giveaway: Offer a unique experience related to your brand, such as a behind-the-scenes tour or a virtual workshop. Participants can enter by sharing a social media post about why they love your brand, tagging both the brand and the blogger.
• Personalised prize package: Create a giveaway where the winner receives a customised product package tailored to their preferences. Entry could involve completing a quick survey or quiz about their favourite products.
• Referral-based entry: Encourage entrants to share the giveaway with friends to earn additional entries, thereby increasing exposure. Partner with a blogger to maximise reach and engagement.
• Creative content challenge: Ask entrants to submit creative content, such as photos or videos using your products, for a chance to win a larger prize. The blogger can help judge entries and promote the contest.

Blogger contests

Blogger contests are dynamic challenges crafted by influencers, with brands providing enticing prizes for winners. These contests are excellent for boosting audience engagement and spotlighting your brand. Before launching, it’s crucial to align your contest objectives and prizes with your business goals.

Offering prizes that resonate with your products or services can attract fresh customers, enhance brand visibility, and increase ROI. Contests also encourage repeat visits, fostering customer loyalty. They’re perfect for generating leads and creating excitement around new products. With thoughtful planning, blogger contests can effectively connect you with your target audience and elevate your marketing strategy.

Blogger contest ideas

• For fashion brands: Encourage fashion bloggers to design their dream outfits using a specific colour palette or theme. Entries could be mood boards, sketches or styled photos. The winner receives a shopping spree with the brand’s latest collection.
• For food brands: Invite food bloggers to share their best homemade dish using a featured ingredient. Entries include recipes and photos. The prize could be a gourmet cooking class or a luxury kitchen gadget.
• For home brands: Ask homes and interior bloggers to showcase a room makeover using sustainable products. Entries can be before-and-after photos or videos. The prize could be a home decor package or a consultation with an interior designer.
• For travel brands: Encourage travel bloggers to capture their best travel moments or outdoor adventures. Entries should be stunning visual content. The winner receives travel gear or a gift card for a future adventure.
• For beauty brands: Call for beauty bloggers to share a unique skincare or makeup routine. Entries include video tutorials or photo guides. The prize could be a year’s supply of the brand’s products or a personal beauty consultation.

Case Study: Edinburgh Natural Skincare Co

Edinburgh Natural Skincare Co. effectively harnessed the power of bloggers and influencers via Get Blogged to spread the word about their skincare giveaway. By commissioning these online personalities to share the giveaway, they aimed to boost entries and brand awareness in an engaging way. Entrants were required to provide their email addresses, which not only drove participation but also expanded the company’s mailing list, which was the desired ROI for the campaign.

How to structure a blogger competition for the best results

Any good competition should be structured in a way that benefits both the participants and the host. A blogger competition is no different. In order to maximise your chances of success, there are a few key elements that you should keep in mind when planning your competition.

1. Set clear and achievable objectives

Setting clear and achievable objectives will help to ensure that your competition stays on track and that everyone involved knows what they are working towards.

2. Consider the rules carefully

The more clearly defined the rules are, the less likely it is that there will be any disputes later on.

3. The competition should be easy to enter

No one wants to waste their time filling out forms or jumping through hoops just for a chance to win.

4. Offer a great prize

The prize must be something that would appeal to the target audience. It doesn’t have to be of high value, so it could be a gift card, a product sample, or even a freebie that has the brand’s logo on it – if the brand is that popular!

5. Remember to promote your competition effectively

The more people are aware of it, the more likely you are to get high-quality entries. It’s always a good idea to partner with more than one blogger to help promote the contest. This will give it more reach and increase the chances of people taking notice.

By keeping these things in mind, brands can commission successful blogger competitions that will help them achieve their marketing goals.

Guidelines for choosing the right bloggers to participate in your competition

If you’re thinking of commissioning a blogger competition, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing participants.

1. Make sure there is content relevancy

First, consider the topic of your competition and the type of content you’re looking for. Make sure the bloggers you select writes about topics that are relevant to your brand and that their style meshes well with your overall brand values.

2. Be sure of the blogger’s reach

It’s also important to consider their reach when selecting bloggers. Look for bloggers with an engaged following who are active on social media and who have a history of producing high-quality content.

3. Consider their tone of voice

Finally, be sure to read through each blogger’s previous work to get a sense of their writing style and to make sure they’re a good fit for your brand’s tone and voice.

By following these simple guidelines, you can ensure that you choose the right bloggers for your next competition.

Stuck for competition inspo? Check these big-brand examples out…

Some of the most successful blogger competitions have been run by Coca-Cola, L’Oreal, and Beats by Dre. In each case, the companies leveraged the reach and influence of popular bloggers to reach a large number of consumers. Let’s see what made their competition campaigns a success…

The Coca-Cola food blogger contest which generated a positive ROI

Coca-Cola, for example, ran a competition in which food bloggers were tasked with creating original recipes using Coke as an ingredient. The results were impressive: not only did the competition generate a great deal of buzz and excitement, but it also had a positive impact on sales.

L’Oreal challenged bloggers to transform their hair with their new line of hair care products – a success on multiple fronts

L’Oreal enlisted bloggers to test out its new line of hair products and share their results with their followers. L’Oreal’s decision to enlist bloggers to test out its new line of hair products was a smart move that paid off in both reach and ROI.

The results speak for themselves: L’Oreal’s challenge generated a ton of excitement and curiosity, driving people to seek out the brand’s products and try them for themselves. In terms of reach, the challenge also helped L’Oreal to connect with a wider audience than it would have otherwise. And finally, in terms of ROI, the challenge helped L’Oreal to establish itself as a brand that is willing to take risks and innovate. All in all, L’Oreal’s challenge was a success on multiple fronts.

The game-changing Beats by Dre video contest

When Beats by Dre launched its contest asking bloggers to create videos showing how they used the company’s headphones in their everyday lives, they had no idea what kind of response they would get. The results far exceeded their expectations, with over 1,000 videos submitted from all over the world.

The prize was also a big factor in the success of the contest, as it motivated bloggers to produce high-quality videos. Not only did the contest generate a great deal of excitement and goodwill among Beats’ customers, it also had a significant impact on the company’s bottom line.

The contest helped to increase brand awareness and reach, resulting in a significant return on investment. In short, it was a resounding success.

These campaigns were all highly successful in driving interest and traffic to their respective brands.

Ready to launch your competition?

As you can see, running competitions with bloggers can be a great way to not only increase brand awareness but also drive sales. If you’re looking for the perfect bloggers to help promote or run your next competition, look no further than Get Blogged. Our team of campaign experts will help you find the right bloggers for your specific needs and make sure your competition is a success. Ready to get started? Join free or log in and submit a competition campaign for free now – we’ll do the outreach for you!