Is a Valentine’s Day Giveaway Really Worth the Trouble?

“Is a Valentine’s Day giveaway worth the trouble?”

Honestly, I used to wonder the same thing. It feels like adding another layer to an already busy season.

But I’ve seen the results firsthand: while most companies are just competing on prices and products, giveaways turn browsers into fans and loyal customers.

Plus, it taps into the massive spending happening around Valentine’s. Nearly $26 billion, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).

You need to know if it’ll be worth it, and I get that. That’s why I wrote this guide. You’ll leave here knowing if a Valentine’s Day giveaway is right for your business and if so, how to nail it.

In this guide:

Is Valentine’s Day Marketing Worth It?

Let’s be honest, Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romance anymore. It’s a major retail event, and smart businesses are taking note.

It’s time to think beyond the typical roses and chocolates. Consumers aren’t just shopping for their significant others. They’re buying for their kids, friends, co-workers, and even their pets.

In fact, the NRF reports that shoppers spend a whopping $25.9 billion over Valentine’s Day across multiple categories:

• $6.4 billion on jewelry
• $4.4 billion on nights out
• $2.8 billion on clothing
• $2.2 billion on candy
• $2.1 billion on flowers
• $1.4 billion on gift cards

But here’s where it gets really interesting for you: Online Valentine’s Day shopping has skyrocketed, with 40% of consumers planning to make their purchases online. This is a massive opportunity for brands like yours.

So, why is Valentine’s Day marketing so effective?

• Increase Brand Awareness: Your audience is actively searching for ideas and inspiration, and a well-timed giveaway gets you noticed.
• Drive Website Visitors: Valentine’s Day searches begin to pick up in late January. A giveaway gives people a compelling reason to visit your site.
• Boost Leads: People are more open to sharing their information when they have a chance to win something special. It’s a fantastic way to grow your list.
• Higher Sales Potential: Even if someone doesn’t win, they’ve been introduced to your products and are more likely to buy from you – not just for Valentine’s Day, but all year.

Want proof that Valentine’s campaigns really work?

Buds & Berries ran an 8-day Valentine’s promotion that reached 2.8 million people. They got over 33,000 likes, comments, and shares on social media, and their store visits went up by 500+.

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A post shared by Buds & Berries (@budsandberries.in)

Instead of typical Valentine’s Day messages about couples, they focused on self-love – and it worked!

The bottom line is this: Valentine’s Day is a great chance to engage new customers and build stronger bonds with your existing ones.

The real question isn’t if you should do Valentine’s Day marketing, but how can you take full advantage of it?

What Are the Challenges of Valentine’s Day Giveaways?

Before I show you just how simple running a Valentine’s giveaway can be, let’s tackle those nagging doubts you might have. Believe me, I’ve heard them all, and they’re far less daunting than you think.

• It’s Too Much Time and Effort: This is the biggest worry I hear. With everything else on your plate, another marketing campaign can feel overwhelming. You’re probably picturing hours of planning, monitoring, and promotion, right?
• It’s Too Technical: Maybe the tech side has held you back. Will you need to code something? What if you mess up your website? How do you track entries?
• No One Will Participate: I understand the fear of launching a giveaway and hearing crickets. Will you get enough entries? Will people even care about your prizes?
• The Rules are Too Complicated: Legal requirements can be intimidating. You’ve probably heard horror stories of businesses running into trouble for not following guidelines.

Here’s the thing: those fears are based on how things used to be. Now, giveaways are straightforward thanks to modern tools. They’re like a pre-made meal instead of a 10-step recipe.

The truth? You can set up a Valentine’s Day giveaway in less than 30 minutes, with zero technical knowledge, and have all the legal bases covered automatically.

Why Running a Valentine’s Day Giveaway is Easier Than You Think

Remember the challenges we just discussed? Let me show you how easily you can put them aside.

Instead of battling complicated tech setups, imagine dragging and dropping elements onto a page. That’s how user-friendly modern giveaway tools like RafflePress are.

RafflePress, a popular WordPress giveaway plugin, makes running a giveaway in WordPress ridiculously easy.

Here’s a sneak peek at how simple setting up your Valentine’s Day giveaway with RafflePress actually is:

• Choose a ready-made giveaway template (they’re designed to meet your goals)
• Add your prize details (it’s as simple as filling in a form)
• Select your entry methods (just click the options you want)
• Brand it with your style (it’s all click and type)
• Hit go and it’s live!

No coding or complicated tech, and no need to worry about the legal stuff.

Want to rapidly grow your email list? Just click to link it with your favorite email service.

Want to supercharge your social media engagement? Just pick the platforms you want to focus on.

But here’s where it gets really exciting: your giveaway can grow itself.

Built-in sharing tools encourage participants to share it with their friends. This turns your audience into a much bigger one, all by itself.

Even the legal side is taken care of. Those tricky terms and conditions? They’re built in. The random winner selection? Automated. Tracking entries? No need to worry.

I’ve watched complete newbies set up professional-looking giveaways in less time than it takes to order a coffee. If you can send a basic email, you can run a giveaway with RafflePress.

How to Run a Valentine’s Day Giveaway in WordPress

Now that you know how straightforward running a giveaway can be, let’s walk through exactly how to set up yours for success. I’ll show you step by step how to create a Valentine’s Day giveaway that gets real results.

Step 1. Set Your Goals

Before you think about prizes or promotion, let’s map out what you want to achieve. Just like planning a special Valentine’s Day, you’d never just go with the flow, right?

Your giveaway goals need to be SMART:

• Specific: Don’t just aim to “grow your email list.” Instead, aim to “add 500 qualified subscribers”.
• Measurable: Pick goals you can track, like follower counts or email signups.
• Achievable: Be ambitious, but also realistic considering your audience.
• Relevant: Make sure your goals connect directly to your broader business strategy.
• Time-bound: Give your giveaway a definite start and end date.

For instance, a SMART goal might be: “Add 200 new email subscribers and get 300 Instagram followers during our 2-week Valentine’s Day giveaway.”

The key is understanding what resonates with your audience. Are they looking for romantic dinner vouchers? Spa packages? Tech gadgets? Your goal should align with what your target audience actually wants.

Remember: A clear goal makes every other decision easier. From choosing prizes to selecting entry methods. Let’s look at how to set that up next.

Step 2. Pick the Perfect Prize

Now that you’ve set your goals, you’re ready to pick a prize that works for your audience. It needs to be exciting for them, relevant to your brand, and appropriate for Valentine’s Day.

As I mentioned earlier, people are spending a lot during this season. From jewelry to gift cards, the numbers show what people are actually buying.

This gives us a great idea of what consumers value right now.

But, don’t feel restricted to typical gifts. Think about what would really make your audience jump for joy. 

For instance:

• A fitness brand could offer a “Couples Fitness Challenge”
• A local restaurant might provide a “Chef’s Tasting Menu for Two”
• A beauty brand could offer a “Luxury Self-Care Spa Set”

If you have the budget, you can even bundle smaller items together to create a more enticing prize. A “$300 Valentine’s Day Giveaway Bundle” looks way more attractive than individual items adding up to the same amount.

Looking for more ideas? See our Valentine’s Day giveaway ideas for even more prize inspiration.

Step 3. Decide on Your Giveaway Rules

Let’s talk about rules. I know, not the most exciting part of running a giveaway, but getting them right protects both you and your participants.

Keep your rules clear and simple. Here’s what you need to cover:

• Entry dates (when it starts and ends, including timezone)
• Who can enter (age, location, eligibility requirements)
• How to enter (what actions count as entries)
• Prize details (exact description, retail value, any restrictions)
• Winner selection (date, method, number of winners)
• Winner notification (how and when you’ll contact them)
• Prize delivery (shipping details, claiming deadlines)

Giveaway rules are your safety net. They help avoid confusion and make sure everyone knows exactly what to expect. Plus, they protect you from potential headaches down the road.

Luckily, RafflePress handles most of this automatically. The plugin includes a built-in generator for terms and conditions that cover all the legal basics. You just need to add your details.

Want to make sure you haven’t missed anything? Check out our complete guide to writing giveaway rules for an in-depth look at creating foolproof contest rules.

Step 4. Set Up Your Giveaway in WordPress

Now let’s set up your giveaway. The process is super easy with RafflePress, and as I mentioned earlier, it takes just a few minutes.

The basic steps are:

• Install and activate RafflePress
• Choose your Valentine’s Day template
• Add your prize details
• Select your entry methods
• Customize your design
• Publish your giveaway

For detailed instructions with screenshots, follow our step-by-step guide on how to create an online contest in WordPress.

Step 5. Promote Your Valentine’s Day Giveaway

A great giveaway needs people to know about it. Even the best prize won’t get entries if no one sees it. 

Here’s what works best for each way to promote your Valentine’s Day giveaway:

Where to Share	What to Do
Social Media	• Post several times a day • Add Valentine’s Day hashtags • Reply to comments • Share photos and videos • Keep post at top of your page
Email	• Tell people when it starts • Send friendly reminders • Update on time left • Write eye-catching subject lines • Make instructions clear
Your Website	• Put a banner up top • Add a popup • Show an announcement bar • Add to your menu • Put it in your sidebar
Team Up	• Work with other businesses • Contact small influencers • Share in Facebook groups • Connect with local shops • Ask suppliers to share

For even more inspiration, see our guide on the top contest promotion ideas.

Don’t forget to keep sharing throughout your giveaway, not just on day one. This keeps people excited and entering until the end.

Step 6. Choose & Announce the Winner

Picking your winner is easier than you might think. RafflePress handles the random selection automatically, so you know it’s completely fair.

From your WordPress dashboard, simply find the relevant giveaway, select the “Needs Winners” option and click the button to choose winners randomly.

Now it’s time to announce the winner. Share the news on social media, send the winner an email, and put it on your website. Remember to thank everyone who took part, as they could all become customers.

Give the winner easy instructions for getting their prize, including any deadlines. Many businesses also offer a special deal to those who didn’t win; it’s a smart way to get more customers.

Lastly, make sure you show off the results. Share photos of the winner with their prize (if they say it’s okay). It helps get people excited for future giveaways.

Step 7. Analyze Your Results

After your giveaway wraps up, it’s important to look at how well it did. This information helps you see what went well, what could have been better, and how to improve future giveaways.

Let’s start with the easy part: RafflePress’s built-in reports. These reports show you exactly how many people entered your giveaway, and which entry methods were most popular.

This is extremely useful for planning your entry options next time.

Let’s dig a bit deeper with Google Analytics. This tool tells you even more about your giveaway’s success. 

You can see:

• How many people viewed your giveaway page
• Where they came from
• How long they stayed on your site
• What they looked at next,
• Whether they took any other actions.

This will help you determine if your giveaway brought in the right kind of traffic—people who are actually interested in your brand. For help getting started, see our guide on how to add Google Analytics to WordPress.

Also, be sure to look at your social media stats. These insights show you how your social following grew, which posts got the most likes, and how many people shared your content. 

You can even see who these people are, so you know whom to target for future giveaways.

With all this info, you can fine-tune your strategy.

For example, If the data shows that Instagram entries worked much better than Facebook entries, you might put more effort into Instagram in the future. If certain prize announcements got more shares, you’ll know which type of content your audience really likes.

Bonus: Guides to Make Your Giveaway a Success

If you want to dive deeper into running successful giveaways, you’ll find the following guides helpful:

• How to Use Good Giveaway Copywriting to Drive Entries
• How to Use Contest SEO to Boost Your Website’s Rankings
• How Long Should a Giveaway Last? (Explained)
• Proven Giveaway Prize Ideas for Viral Giveaways
• How to Create a Daily Giveaway With Multiple Entries
• How to Set Up a Thank You Page in WordPress
• Best Online Sweepstakes Websites to Promote Your Contest

Run Your Valentine’s Day Giveaway

As you can see, running a Valentine’s Day giveaway is easier than you might think. With the right tools, you can set one up quickly.

RafflePress does the hard work for you. It helps you set up entries, pick winners, and track results. Everything you need is built right in.

Get RafflePress today and turn your February visitors into loyal fans.

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