7 Winning reasons to run a competition this year

Looking to mix things up this year? Your business or organisation has likely tried many different avenues to grow and engage your community. And perhaps, this year, it’s time to think outside of the regular strategy box. 

Running a competition is a great way to diversify your marketing strategy, engage your audience and increase your online footprint. And, it’s easier than you think to implement! 

Here are some reasons to consider running a competition this year for your organisation. 

1. To engage your target audience

Running a competition this year can help you improve the engagement of your target audience. A competition involves the participants directly, driving their active participation and emotional connection. This fosters a sense of community around the competition and your organisation as a whole. 

Also, competitions present a valuable opportunity to educate your audience about your mission, services, products or the general industry. Your organisation can also enjoy the engagement of your target audience after the competition ends. Regular communication about updates and upcoming competitions will keep your competition–and branding–front and centre.

2. To enhance brand awareness

Running a competition places your brand in the spotlight. The buzz of the competition offers you greater visibility to a larger audience. If the competition is well organised and executed, it can do wonders for your brand image, and the positive experience will translate into positive emotions towards your brand. 

Competitions are also a good way to cut through the noise in your industry. It can create memorable experiences, and set you apart from any competitors.

3. To generate content  

Competitions are a great source of user-generated content for your organisation’s marketing strategy. Content can come in the form of submissions, which can then be shared and promoted through various marketing channels. Bonus points if these submissions are artworks or other visually appealing content! 

You can collect and share the stories of the participants. Narratives of their experiences during the competition and how they dealt with the challenges as well as their testimonials after the competition add authenticity to your marketing campaigns.        

4. To spark creativity

Competitions foster creative spirit! Whether your competition is for employees, students or members of the general public, a competition can help you light a flame, drive ingenuity and foster new solutions and ideas. 

Competitions also foster focus. Charging participants to produce specific results within a timeframe encourages them to direct their whole attention to the task at hand and ignore distractions.      

5. To expand networking opportunities

Another reason to run a competition this year is because it presents your organisation with the opportunity to build new connections. Competitions typically involve collaborating with industry experts and promoters such as judges and potential partners. Engaging with these major players will foster new relationships.  

Likewise, the competition will draw participants from different backgrounds, with varying perspectives and skill sets. Interacting with these participants during and after the competition can help your organisation build a diverse alumni network and help expand your organisation’s reach.        

6. To make a social impact

You can address a social concern by framing a competition around a specific issue important to your industry. If your organisation is passionate about education, development, healthcare or sustainability, designing your competition to attend to such issues is an efficient way to mobilise support for advancement in any of those areas. 

Competitions can also foster youth involvement. By engaging the younger generation, you nurture social consciousness in the minds of tomorrow’s leaders. Similarly, competitions boost community engagement; by inviting members of the community to participate, either as entrants or judges, you instil in them a sense of belonging and ownership.     

7. To generate revenue

Running a competition this year can be an effective way to generate revenue for your organisation. It provides an array of monetisable opportunities you can reap with strategic planning.

Charging entry fees is a popular way to make money from your competition. If the competition involves a live event such as the final stage or awards ceremony, consider selling tickets (or pay-per-view if the event is hosted online) for such events. 

Also, you can secure sponsorships in the form of financial support from other organisations that either support your cause or want promotion. 

A competition provides a bigger platform for your organisation to sell its branded products. Whether bags, notepads, mugs or other collectables, the sale of these items generates income for the organisation. The funds generated through the competition can help increase your organisation’s finances or help cover the costs of running the competition.

Running competitions can be an incredibly versatile and effective marketing strategy. It can keep your audience engaged, provide content for your organisation, enhance your marketing and help make a social impact.