A great number of business owners seem to use the terms contest, giveaway and sweepstakes interchangeably.
However, each of them has a different meaning and it’s important to know it for your next campaign. Otherwise, if you use the wrong term, participants may get confused.
What is a Giveaway?
The general assumption is that Giveaway is the umbrella term for Sweepstakes and Contests. Both give people the chance to win a prize but the winner is chosen in a different way. Which brings us to the question… What is the difference between Sweepstakes and Contests?
Sweepstakes vs Contests
Sweepstakes are used to increase brand awareness, grow your social media channels and grow your email list. All participants have to do is enter the campaign and follow the rules. The winner is chosen at random. Think of sweepstakes as a game of luck.
Contests are also used to grow one’s following and email list but are best suited for engaging your audience. In this case, people try to win by doing something better than others. The winner is chosen based on how good his submission is. For example, if you organize a photo contest, the person with the best photo will win. Think of contests as a game of skill.