A well-planned video contest can be very good to enhance the skills of youngsters. Social media is a platform which can promote this video contest effectively. 

In this article, we will explore eight valuable tips on how to run a successful viral video contest and maximize your chances and buying online votes. 

Understanding the Importance of a Viral Video Contest

A viral video contest creates awareness in people regarding an ongoing contest. You can make user generated content and can earn a lot of fame. By running a contest, you can get excited, reach a lot of customers, and increase engagement on your social media platforms. 

8 Tips On How to Run a Viral Video Contest and Getting Online Votes

1. Defining Your Objectives and Target Audience

Before launching a viral video contest, it's crucial to clearly define your objectives and identify your target audience. If you want to increase brand awareness, promote a new merchandise and raise funds for a good cause. Understanding your goals will help you tailor the contest to resonate with your desired audience and generate the desired online votes.

2. Creating Compelling Contest Guidelines and Prizes

To attract participants and encourage them to create and submit their videos, you need to design compelling contest guidelines and offer attractive prizes. Clearly outline the theme of the contest, the submission criteria, and the deadline. Additionally, ensure that the prizes you offer are appealing enough to motivate participants to put effort into their submissions.

3. Promoting Your Video Contest through Multiple Channels

To maximize the reach and visibility of your viral video contest, it's essential to promote it through multiple channels. You can promote your contest on your website and social media platform. Collaborate with relevant influencers, industry experts, and partners to extend the reach of your promotion efforts.

4. Leveraging Influencers and Brand Ambassadors

Influencers and brand ambassadors can significantly amplify the reach and impact of your viral video contest. Identify influencers who align with your brand values and have a substantial following in your target audience. Collaborate with them to promote the contest, share their own videos, and engage with their followers. Their endorsement can bring credibility and attract more participants.

5. Encouraging User-Generated Content and Sharing

User- generated content is a key to a successful viral video contest. Encourage participants to create original and creative videos that align with the theme of the contest. Make clear for the participants on how they can share and submit their videos. The more participants share their videos, the higher the chances of generating online votes.

6. Engaging with Participants and Building Community

Throughout the contest duration, actively engage with participants by responding to their submissions, sharing their videos, and fostering a sense of community. Regularly update participants on the progress of the contest, showcase standout entries, and encourage participants to interact with each other. Building a vibrant community around your contest will generate enthusiasm and encourage more online votes.

7. Tracking Results and Analyzing Metrics

To measure the success of your viral video contest and understand its impact, it's crucial to track and analyze relevant metrics. Monitor the number of video submissions, engagement on social media platforms, website traffic, and online votes. Use analytics tools to gain insights into the demographics and behavior of the participants. Adjust your strategies based on the data collected to optimize future contests.

8. Announce winners and showcase entries

Once the contest is over, announce the winners and showcase the top entries. Highlight the winning videos on your website, social media channels, and other relevant platforms. This will not only provide recognition to the winners but also generate additional exposure for your contest.

Unleashing the Power of Engagement

Planning the Viral Video Contest

1. Setting Clear Objectives

Before launching a viral video contest, it is crucial to define the objectives. Common goals include increasing brand visibility, driving website traffic, expanding social media reach, or generating user-generated content.

2. Defining the Target Audience

Understanding the target audience is essential for crafting compelling contest content and reaching the right participants. Consider demographics, interests, and online behaviors when determining the target audience.

3. Establishing Contest Rules and Guidelines

Clearly outline the contest rules, submission requirements, and deadlines. Make sure the guidelines are easily understandable and accessible to potential participants.

4. Determining Prizes and Incentives

Select prizes that align with the target audience's interests and aspirations. Offering valuable incentives encourages participation and increases the chances of creating viral content.

Creating Engaging Video Contest Content

1. Developing a Captivating Theme

Choose a theme that tells your brand’s motto. A compelling theme helps participants connect with the contest and motivates them to create unique and engaging videos.

2. Crafting a Compelling Video Brief

Provide participants with a clear and concise video brief that outlines the theme, requirements, and guidelines. Include examples and suggestions to spark creativity while maintaining clarity.

3. Encouraging Creativity and Authenticity

Inspire participants to showcase their originality and authenticity..Encourage them to create unique content that attracts and connects with the audience. 

5. Launching the Viral Video Contest

1. Utilizing Social Media Platforms

Leverage popular social media platforms to promote the contest and reach a wider audience. Develop a comprehensive social media strategy that includes engaging posts, paid advertisements, and collaborations with influencers.

2. Leveraging Influencer Collaborations

Partner with influencers relevant to the target audience to amplify the contest's reach. Engage influencers to create and share their own contest videos, encouraging their followers to participate.

3. Implementing Email Marketing Campaigns

Leverage email marketing to engage with existing subscribers and reach potential participants. Craft personalized and compelling emails to promote the contest, highlight prizes, and provide submission instructions.

Maximizing Contest Participation

1. Promoting User-Generated Content

Encourage participants to share their contest entries on social media, generating user-generated content and increasing brand exposure. Offer incentives for sharing, such as bonus entries or exclusive discounts.

2. Harnessing the Power of Hashtags

Create a unique and memorable hashtag for the contest. Encourage participants and their social networks to use the hashtag when sharing videos, creating a cohesive online presence for the contest.

3. Encouraging Social Sharing

Make it easy for participants to share their videos on various platforms by providing social sharing buttons. Enable seamless sharing across popular social media channels to maximize visibility.

Evaluating and Selecting Winning Entries

1. Setting Judging Criteria

Establish clear and fair judging criteria aligned with the contest's objectives. Consider aspects like creativity, originality, relevance to the theme, and overall production quality.

2. Enlisting a Panel of Judges

Assemble a panel of judges with expertise in video production, marketing, or the contest's subject matter. Ensure they possess a deep understanding of the judging criteria and maintain objectivity.

3. Involving the Community

Consider including a community voting component to engage participants and their networks further. Encourage voting through social media platforms or a dedicated voting platform to determine popular choice winners.

Announcing and Celebrating the Winners

1. Publicly Revealing the Results

Announce the contest winners through various channels, such as social media, email newsletters, and the contest website. Create anticipation and excitement around the announcement to maintain engagement.

2. Showcasing Winning Entries

Feature the winning videos on the contest website, social media accounts, or other relevant platforms. Highlight the creativity and talent of the winners while providing exposure for their work. So, this is how it all works. 

Are Viral Video Contests Beneficial?

Viral video contests are a great way to attract audiences and create a social media audience base. These contests encourage participants to create and share videos that have the potential to go viral, generating widespread attention and increasing brand visibility. But are viral video contests truly beneficial? Let's delve into the advantages they offer and explore their impact.

1. Increased Brand Awareness

One of the significant benefits of running a viral video contest is the opportunity to enhance brand awareness. When participants create and share videos related to your contest, they effectively become brand ambassadors, spreading the word about your products or services. As these videos are shared across various social media platforms, they reach a wider audience, exposing more people to your brand and generating organic reach and impressions.

2. Audience Engagement and Interaction

Viral video contests have the power to captivate and engage audiences in a unique way. By inviting participants to create videos, you tap into their creativity and enthusiasm, encouraging them to interact with your brand on a personal level. This active participation fosters a sense of connection and loyalty, as individuals feel personally invested in the contest and your brand. Participants often share their videos with friends and family, sparking conversations and creating a ripple effect that amplifies your brand's reach.

3. User-Generated Content

One of the greatest advantages of viral video contests is the abundance of user-generated content they generate. Participants contribute their unique perspectives and creativity, resulting in a diverse range of videos that showcase your brand in different ways. User-generated content also serves as social proof, demonstrating to potential customers the positive experiences and engagement associated with your brand.

4. Social Media Exposure

Viral video contests are intrinsically linked to social media platforms, where the sharing and engagement happen. The power of social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook is unmatchable . Contestants can upload their videos and share them on these platforms to gain fame. The viral nature of these contests often leads to increased followers, likes, shares, and comments, boosting your brand's social media presence and visibility. Moreover, the user-generated content created during the contest can attract new followers and fans, expanding your reach and fostering a community around your brand.

5. Data Collection and Insights

Running a viral video contest provides an opportunity to collect valuable data and gain insights into your target audience. Through registration forms or submission processes, you can gather information such as email addresses, demographics, and preferences. This information can be utilized to enhance future marketing strategies, and enhance content.  

6. Viral Potential and Online Votes

Perhaps the most enticing aspect of viral video contests is the potential for videos to go viral and attract a significant number of online votes. Many users will get attracted to user-generated content and well-executed content. The viral nature of these videos can lead to exponential growth, as viewers share them with their own networks, resulting in increased online votes and exposure. Winning a viral video contest can propel participants into the spotlight, boosting their own personal brand and credibility.

In conclusion, viral video contests offer numerous benefits to businesses and individuals seeking to increase brand awareness, engage their audience, and generate online votes. These contests tap into the power of user-generated content, social media exposure, and audience interaction, resulting in increased visibility and potential for viral success. When executed strategically and supported by a comprehensive marketing plan, viral video contests can be a valuable tool in today's digital landscape.

Conclusion

Running a viral video contest can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor if executed thoughtfully. You have to follow these 8 tips given in this article to increase your chances of achieving success. 

Remember to set clear objectives, create compelling contest guidelines, promote through multiple channels, leverage influencers, encourage user-generated content, engage with participants, and track your results. Embrace the power of viral video contests and unlock the potential to create a buzz around your brand or cause.