Free Giveaways: What Can They do for Your Blog?

One of the most powerful and effective marketing tools for you as a blogger is offering free giveaways. Giveaways are a great strategy that are not only fun, but attract current and future readers to your blog.

Two Blog Benefits of Blog Giveaways

1. Return readers – Readers who visit your blog will be attracted to the word “free.” This is nothing to be skeptical of – everyone likes free things! By offering your readers a chance to win something risk-free via your blog, you are providing them with a value-service. Once readers recognize this value, they will hopefully continue visiting your blog, and encourage others to do the same.
2. Appreciation – Since you are offering your readers with a chance to win a free item, they will feel the need to reciprocate the favor. This is known as the “law of reciprocity,” which states that people feel a natural obligation to return favors as a way of expressing their gratitude. Perhaps this favor will be returned in the form of reader subscriptions, or a fellow blogger may post your blog’s URL on their site. Learn more about showing appreciation, through four social media guidelines.

Now that you know the benefits of free blog giveaways, you may be asking yourself a few additional questions.

What should I give away, and where do I find items for giveaways?

• Gift Cards and Purchased Products - Everyone loves gift cards, especially if the gift card is for a company relevant to your blog. For example: a fashion blogger offers an H&M gift card on his/her blog. If you have the monetary funds, you can always purchase  a product yourself to giveaway on your blog. An example would be from one of our clients sites, called Kristen’s Raw, a blog dedicated to healthy eating.
• Product Reviews – Write some product reviews of your favorite products. Businesses will often contact bloggers, offering them free products in exchange for a glowing review. You can use these free products as giveaways.
• Etsy - Etsy is a website created for independent designers to sell their home-made designs. Visit the Etsy forums and post what type of giveaway you are looking for, along with a description of your blog and contact information. Many independent designers are looking for ways to promote their businesses.
• Social Media Contacts – Post a blurb on Facebook or tweet about what type of giveaway you are looking for. Contact businesses you like, and see if they would like to donate in return for promotion of their business.

How should my users participate in giveaways?

1. Ask users to comment on your giveaway post in order to enter. From there, you can choose a random commenter.
2. Ask users to post the address of your giveaway post on their social media pages. Thanks to blog additions such as Disqus, and Intense Debate, you can later confirm these postings right their your announcement post.

Here are some additional sites that may help you with your giveaway:

• Online-Sweepstakes.com – This is the best and biggest website listing for online giveaways.
• Randomizer.org – Randomizer offers you a simple and easy way to choose your blog’s giveaway winner. The program will calculate a number for you, and find that post (your winner!)