Why Contests?
Growing Trends
Online promotions are exploding, quickly becoming more desirable for advertisers than traditional or online static advertising. Advertisers are searching for a way to engage with their audience in a fresh, interactive way. Print or banners ads cannot provide the level of engagement that a contest sponsorship can. A great way to integrate traditional advertising into contest package is to use print or banner ads to promote the contest and the sponsor.
Niche-Oriented
The endless possibilities of contest ideas waiting at your fingertips appeal to an assortment of potential advertisers. These potential advertisers are looking to reach a niche audience and your contesting abilities are a fantastic avenue to help them achieve their goal. Now, keep in mind, “niche” doesn’t translate to “small”, this just means contests are great for reaching a targeting audience.
For example, to secure a sponsorship from a new, local vet, offer to run a “Cutest Pet Contest“. Or, with College Basketball Playoffs go after a favorite local pub & grill. Or, one of our favorite pairings: run a “Best or Worst Tattoo Contest” with a tattoo parlor and a laser tattoo removal business.
Flexibility
The beauty of contest sponsorships is the ability to build it as an integrated program. You can package print advertisements, banner ads, email marketing, on-air spots with the contest sponsorship. Summary: you extract value by not only selling the contest sponsorship, but selling all advertising pieces that you wanted to sell anyway.
Plus, contests have social aspects, i.e. users posting photos to their Facebook or tweeting about a sweepstakes. What does this mean to an advertiser? That they will get the organic, word-of-mouth advertising that is priceless for them.
Client Success Story
$2.7MM with Chain-Wide Contest Strategy
GateHouse Media
In the first ten months of 2012, Gatehouse Media drove over $2.7 million from contesting alone, and expects to clear $3 million by the end of the year. On top of that revenue, they also increased their database by 46% and their Cutest Babies contest led to a 20% increase in monthly traffic. How did they do it?
CASE STUDY
Client Success Story
One Contest, Over 4 Million Page Views
WGN-TV / Chicago, IL
We got such a huge response to this contest that we went all out in coverage. The live event went off splendidly…really great TV. Since this concept came from news and was supported 110% by news, it was a win-win-win all around. The client was thrilled with the coverage and had over 24,000 people in attendance at their weekend music fest.” – Diana Dionisio, Director, Sponsorship Solutions
We’re Here to Help
We decided to take our contest know-how and develop a program that is designed to help local media companies like you maximize your potential revenue from running contests. PLAN-IT 365 is packed with ideas, strategies and tools to build a calendar that will ensure revenue generation (and make the boss happy).







