7 Easy Contest Ideas Anyone Can Run (Even on a Busy Day)

Simple contest ideas are my go-to when I need engagement fast without spending hours planning. I’ve used them to grow email lists, boost social media activity, and bring in last-minute sales.

If you want results without a complicated setup, this list is for you. These contests are fun, quick to launch, and easy for people to enter.

Let’s walk through the easiest ways to run a giveaway that actually gets attention.

Quick List of Simple Contest Ideas

Want to skip ahead? Here are some of the easiest contest ideas anyone can run. Click to jump to the one that fits your audience best:

• Social Media Contest: Ask followers to like, share, or follow to enter.
• Caption This: Post a funny photo and let your audience write a caption.
• Photo Contest: Ask people to submit photos using a hashtag.
• Fill in the Blank: Share a sentence with a missing word and ask for creative answers.
• Guessing Game: Have people guess a number, item, or answer to a question.
• Voting Contest: Let your audience vote on entries or favorite products.
• Short Video Challenge: Ask for quick videos around a specific theme.

Why Do Simple Contests Work So Well?

Often, the easiest contests are the best because people are more likely to enter if it’s easy to do so. Essentially, when the requirements are simple, your audience will understand what you’re asking them to do.

For example, Agile’ Marketing Services ran a simple giveaway for their client, Basil Thai Cuisine, to grow their email list.

By giving away five $20 gift certificates, they thanked their customers and increased their email list by 52%! Plus, the giveaway got more people talking on Facebook, with 105 reactions, 11 comments, and 28 shares.

This proves a simple contest can go a long way. You don’t need anything fancy to see real results.

How to Choose the Right Simple Contest Idea

Not sure which one to try first? Think about how your audience already interacts with you. That’ll help you pick a contest that fits naturally.

• If they love photos: Try a hashtag photo contest or caption contest.
• If they prefer quick replies: Go with a guessing game or fill-in-the-blank.
• If you want shares or referrals: Use a “Refer a Friend” contest or short video challenge.

And if you’re just getting started, keep it easy — something you can post and manage in under 10 minutes.

Contest Type	Best For	Setup Time	Engagement Level
Caption Contest	Humor and quick comments	5 minutes	Medium
Photo Contest	User-generated content and hashtags	15 minutes	High
Guessing Game	Fast replies and interaction	2 minutes	Medium
Voting Contest	Repeat visits and community choice	10 minutes	High
Short Video Contest	Audiences active on TikTok or Reels	20 minutes	Very High

Simple Contest Ideas That Work

Now let’s look at some simple contest ideas that require a little more thought but are still easy to set up.

1. Social Media Contest

A social media contest is one of the easiest ways to boost engagement fast. It works because people can enter in seconds without leaving the platform, which keeps participation high.

Why it works

• Fast likes, shares, and follows
• No extra setup outside of the platform
• Perfect for quick reach and visibility

How to run a social media contest

1. Pick the platform where your audience is most active (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc.).
2. Decide on the entry method — follow, like, share, or tag a friend.
3. Post the contest graphic or video with clear instructions.
4. Choose a winner randomly or reward the most creative entry.
5. Announce the winner on the same platform and thank participants.

For example, Mountain Warehouse asked users to follow them on Instagram to enter — a quick contest that drove more followers and brand awareness.

Want more details? Here’s a full walkthrough on how to run a social media contest step by step.

2. Fun Photo Caption Contest

A caption contest works because it sparks humor, comments, and social shares. People love showing off their creativity, and you get strong engagement with very little setup.

Why it works

• Generates quick comments and replies
• Adds humor and relatability to your brand
• Boosts visibility in social feeds through shares

How to run a caption contest

1. Choose a funny, surprising, or brand-related photo.
2. Post it on your chosen platform with the instructions: “Caption this photo to win!”
3. Encourage followers to comment with their best ideas.
4. Select a winner based on creativity or pick randomly.
5. Announce the winner publicly and thank all participants.

For example, here’s a Facebook caption contest that generated lots of funny entries and comments.

Need more inspiration? Check out these caption contest examples you can copy for your own audience.

3. Simple Photo Contest

A photo contest is one of the best ways to collect user-generated content while engaging your audience. It works because people love sharing their own photos, especially when it’s tied to a theme or product they already enjoy.

Why it works

• Encourages user-generated content you can reuse
• Boosts reach with branded hashtags
• Creates a sense of community and connection

How to run a photo contest

1. Decide on a theme related to your brand or products (e.g., pets, plants, lifestyle).
2. Ask your audience to share their photos on social media using a specific hashtag.
3. Monitor the hashtag or entries to track participation.
4. Pick a winner based on creativity or select randomly.
5. Announce the winner and showcase some of the best entries.

For example, this pet brand ran a Twitter photo contest where dog owners submitted fun pet pictures using a hashtag.

If your audience enjoys sharing photos, this is one of the easiest contests to run. For setup help, see our guide on how to run a photo contest.

4. Fill in the Blank

A fill-in-the-blank contest is quick, fun, and easy for anyone to join. It works because people enjoy giving short, creative answers without needing special tools or visuals.

Why it works

• Encourages fast, low-effort participation
• Sparks creativity and conversation
• Easy to manage without extra setup

How to run a fill-in-the-blank contest

1. Create a simple sentence or phrase with one word missing.
2. Make sure it relates to your brand, product, or niche.
3. Post it on your chosen platform and ask people to comment with their answers.
4. Review responses and pick a winner based on creativity or choose randomly.
5. Announce the winner and highlight a few of the best replies.

Here’s an example of a Facebook fill-in-the-blank contest that generated lots of fun and creative answers.

This type of contest is perfect when you want quick replies without needing complex visuals or setup.

5. Guessing Game Contest

A guessing game contest is simple, interactive, and highly engaging. It works because people love testing their knowledge or making quick guesses, and the low barrier to entry encourages lots of participation.

Why it works

• Interactive and fun for any audience
• Encourages quick comments and responses
• Creates anticipation as people wait for the answer

How to run a guessing game contest

• Choose a question or item to guess, such as “How many items are in this jar?”
• Make sure it’s relevant to your brand, product, or campaign theme.
• Share a clear photo or clue and ask your audience to comment with their guesses.
• Set a deadline for entries and reveal the correct answer at the end.
• Select a winner from the closest correct guesses.

For example, here’s a guessing game contest where participants had to guess the number of items in a jar, which drove plenty of comments and interactions.

Use this format when you want something fast, fun, and interactive that gets people thinking and commenting right away.

6. Voting Contest

A voting contest works well because it engages your audience twice. First when people submit entries, and again when others come back to vote. This format creates excitement and repeat visits.

Why it works

• Encourages both participation and sharing
• Drives repeat traffic as people return to check results
• Makes your audience feel directly involved in the outcome

How to run a voting contest

• Pick a theme and ask your audience to submit content or entries.
• Collect submissions and showcase them on your website or social media.
• Ask your audience to vote for their favorite entry or product.
• Keep voting open for a set period to build anticipation.
• Announce the winner and highlight the most popular choices.

For example, Flanigans ran a Twitter voting contest asking their audience to pick their favorite menu item, which generated plenty of engagement and shares.

To make this easy, you can use a social media poll or a simple survey plugin. This format is ideal when you want your audience to feel invested and excited about the results.

7. Short Video Contest

A short video contest is just like a photo contest, but with video clips instead. It works because video is highly engaging, and platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels make it easy for people to participate and share.

Why it works

• Video content gets higher reach and engagement
• Perfect for audiences active on TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts
• Creates authentic, shareable content around your brand or cause

How to run a short video contest

• Pick a theme that’s fun, clear, and easy to film.
• Ask participants to post short videos on their social channel with a unique hashtag.
• Make sure to give clear rules on length, topic, and deadline.
• Track entries using the hashtag or submission form.
• Select and announce a winner, then share some of the best videos with your audience.

For example, the University of Malaya ran a TikTok video contest to raise awareness about prostate cancer, showing how short clips can spread important messages while boosting engagement.

If your audience is already creating short videos, this contest is a natural fit. For more setup help, check out our guide on how to run a video contest.

Best Prize Ideas for Simple Contests

You don’t need a huge prize to get attention. In fact, smaller but relevant prizes often work better, especially for quick contests.

• Gift cards: Always popular and easy to deliver
• Free product or service: Great if you’re promoting your own brand
• Exclusive discount: Works well for ecommerce stores or memberships
• Shoutouts or features: Perfect for artists, creators, or communities

The key is to offer something your audience will actually care about, not just something expensive.

How to Run Simple Contest Ideas on Your Website

While there are many ways to run a contest, they often involve a lot of complicated steps and rules that can be overwhelming.

Running a contest directly on social media might seem simple at first, but it quickly becomes difficult to manage all the entries and keep track of the people who have entered. And while using a web-based giveaway tool is another option, you don’t have full control over your data or the design.

So, what’s the best way to run a simple contest?

The easiest way to manage your contest is to run it directly from your own website, where you can have full control over the design and how you capture entries.

If you have a WordPress website, one of the easiest ways to run your simple contest ideas is by using a dedicated giveaway plugin like RafflePress. It makes setting up contests incredibly simple and easy.

Here are just some of the benefits of using RafflePress to run your contest:

• Easy Drag-and-Drop Builder: Makes it super simple to create your contest without any coding knowledge.
• Pre-built Templates: Provides a variety of giveaway templates to help you quickly create different types of contests.
• Variety of Entry Actions: Supports a wide range of entry options, such as following on social media, leaving comments, and more.
• Mobile-Friendly Design: Ensures your contest looks great on any device, like phones and tablets.
• Full Control: Gives you everything you need to run and manage easy contest ideas from your own site.
  

For help getting started, see our guide on how to run an online contest in WordPress using RafflePress.

Simple Contest Ideas FAQs

Want even more ideas? Here are a few bonus collections you can explore based on the season, platform, or campaign type.

• Video Contest Ideas
• Twitter Giveaway Ideas
• Social Media Contest Ideas
• Photography Giveaway Ideas
• Instagram Story Giveaway Ideas
• Facebook Giveaway Ideas
• Small Business Giveaway Ideas
• Easter Giveaway Ideas
• Halloween Giveaway Ideas
• Summer Contest Ideas

Run Your Simple Contest with Confidence

Running a contest doesn’t have to be hard. Even the simplest ideas can lead to real results.

Now that you’ve seen what works, from photo captions to short videos,you’re ready to launch something fun, fast, and effective.

And if you’re using WordPress, RafflePress makes the whole process even easier.

Ready to run a simple, yet effective contest?

Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to follow us on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook for more great tips and tutorials.