How to Use Good Giveaway Copywriting to Drive Entries

Have you ever run a giveaway that didn’t get much attention? The problem might be your giveaway copywriting.

To get people interested in your giveaway, you need to write about it in a way that grabs their attention and makes them want to enter. This means using language that’s clear, exciting, and easy for your audience to understand.

In this guide, I’ll teach you how to write better copy for your giveaways, so you can get more entries, increase engagement, and see better results overall.

Giveaway Copywriting Essentials:

Let’s start with the foundation of any successful campaign: knowing your audience.

Understanding Your Giveaway Audience

Knowing your audience is key to writing great giveaway copy. It’s like telling a joke – if you don’t know your audience, it’ll likely fall flat.

When I started running giveaways, I thought one message would work for everyone. That was a big mistake. I quickly learned that understanding was the only way to create messages that truly connect.

Here are some tips to help you get to know your giveaway audience:

• Analyze your data: Check your website analytics, social media insights, and customer database. Who’s engaging with your brand? What are their interests?
• Create audience personas: Build profiles of your ideal participants. Give them names and backstories. This helps you write as if you’re talking to a real person.
• Run surveys: Ask your followers what giveaways they like. You might be surprised by what you learn.
• Study competitors: Look at giveaways from similar brands. What’s working for them? What language do they use?
• Use social listening: Monitor online conversations about your brand or industry. What are people talking about? What problems can your giveaway solve?

The goal is to understand what motivates your audience. Do they want exclusive experiences, to try new products first, or just to win big?

For example, Smash Balloon used RafflePress for a giveaway aimed at WordPress users interested in social media.

By tailoring their approach, they grew their email list by over 3,000 subscribers in just two weeks. This shows the power of knowing your audience and designing your giveaway to match their interests.

How to Write Copy for a Giveaway That Sells

Now that you know your audience, it’s time to write copy that gets them excited. Let’s start with the first thing they’ll see: your headline.

1. Write Attention-Grabbing Headlines

Your headline is prime real estate. It’s your one shot to make a strong first impression and entice people to enter your giveaway. A powerful headline can be the difference between a flood of entries and a trickle.

Interestingly, research shows that even slightly negative or unexpected language can pique readers’ interest. A study of over 105,000 Upworthy headlines found that each additional negative word increased the click-through rate by 2.3%.

While you don’t want to be overly negative, don’t shy away from using words that create urgency or highlight what people might miss out on if they don’t enter.

Here’s how to craft headlines that hook your audience:

• Use Clarity: Tell people exactly what they can win. Instead of “Enter our giveaway,” try “Win a Brand-New iPhone!”
• Inspire Action: Use words like “limited time,” “ending soon,” or “don’t miss out” to create FOMO (fear of missing out).
• Show Value: If your prize is awesome, shout it from the rooftops! “Win $1000 Cash” or “Trip to Hawaii Up for Grabs” is sure to turn heads.
• Build Excitement: Use words like “free,” “win,” “exclusive,” and others that resonate with your target audience.
• Keep it Short: Aim for 6-12 words. Brevity is key when people are scrolling.
• Speak Their Language: Use words and ideas that resonate with your specific audience. For example, a giveaway for pet lovers needs a different headline than one for foodies.

Remember, your goal is to make people think, “Wow, I need to enter this!”.

2. Sell Your Giveaway Prize Descriptions

The way you describe your prize also impacts your giveaway’s success. Ever seen a “meh” prize get tons of entries? That’s the power of great copy. On the flip side, even amazing prizes can fall flat if the description is boring.

Don’t just tell people about the prize – make them experience it through your words. For example, research published in The Journal of Consumer Research found that when advertising used vivid, multisensory language, people rated the taste of food and drinks as more appealing.

Apply this same principle to your giveaway descriptions to make them stand out. Ditch the dry lists of features and paint a picture that excites all the senses.

Here’s how to make people excited to win:

• Don’t be boring: Tell people how awesome their life will be with the prize. For example, instead of saying, “Win a digital camera,” say, “Capture incredible memories with this easy-to-use digital camera!”
• Paint a picture: Use words that help people imagine seeing, feeling, and experiencing the prize.
• Make it exclusive: If it’s rare or limited-edition, say so. People love feeling like they’re getting something special.
• Show the value: Don’t be afraid to mention how much the prize is worth (especially if it’s a lot).
• Break it down: If it’s a prize package, list everything included so people realize how much they could win.
• Namedrop if you can: If the prize won awards or is from a famous brand, mention that to build trust.
• Make it emotional: Connect with people’s feelings. How will winning this prize make their lives better or happier?

Here’s an example of how one influencer used emotive language to make her giveaway stand out. Note how she uses “Pinch Me” to grab attention, then phrases like “gorgeous”, “30 seconds to enter”, and “we check” to instill emotion, urgency, and personality.

And if you’re struggling to find a good prize, these giveaway prize ideas are sure to help.

3. Tailor Your Copy for Different Platforms

Each social media platform attracts a slightly different audience. Therefore, you’ll need to tailor your language for each platform you use to promote your giveaway.

For example, a tweet should be short and emoji-rich, while your website or landing page can discuss the prize’s value in more detail.

Here’s a quick look at what to focus on for each platform:

Social Media

• Think short, attention-grabbing phrases. People are scrolling, so hook them fast.
• Add some fun and visual appeal with emojis to help your post stand out in a crowded feed.
• Tell people exactly how to enter with a call to action – the easier, the better.
• Increase your giveaway’s reach and make it discoverable with the top giveaway hashtags.

Example:

✨ Want to win a $500 Amazon shopping spree? ✨ It’s easy! 1️⃣ Follow us 2️⃣ Like this post 3️⃣ Tag a friend! Ends Friday. #GiveawayAlert #AmazonGiveaway

Website & Landing Pages

Here, you have more room to share details and persuade people.

• Your giveaway page headline should instantly convey how awesome your prize is.
• Use subheadings to break up text and make it easier to read.
• Describe the prize’s benefits in detail. Make people crave it.
• Feature testimonials or past winners as social proof to build trust and excitement.
• Your entry form should be front and center – don’t make people hunt for it.

My favorite way to create a giveaway landing page is using RafflePress. The giveaway widget displays everything you need to encourage users to enter, including a headline, description, image, entry options, and more.

So all you need to do is select the landing page option and click publish. This saves you from building a landing page from scratch.

Email Marketing

Email gives you a direct line to your audience’s inbox. Make the most of it with these tips:

• Your subject line determines whether people even open your email. Make it enticing.
• “Hi [Name],” feels more genuine than a generic greeting, so personalize your emails where you can.
• Clearly explain why users should enter your giveaway.
• Use limited-time offers to encourage quicker action.
• Make your call to action button clear and clickable.

Example:

Subject: [Name], You Deserve a Relaxing Spa Day!
Body: Hi [Name],
Ready to unwind? Enter for your chance to win a luxurious spa day at [Spa Name] – a $500 value!
You’ll enjoy:

A 60-minute massage
A rejuvenating facial
A pampering mani-pedi
And a delicious, healthy lunch!

But hurry, this offer ends in 48 hours! [Button: ENTER TO WIN]

No matter where you promote your giveaway, remember to focus on your audience and what matters to them. Make it irresistible.

4. Create a Real Sense of Urgency

One of your most powerful tools in giveaway copywriting is urgency. When done right, it can significantly boost your entry rates. Here’s how to create genuine urgency that motivates people to act.

Use Time-Limited Language

Words and phrases that emphasize limited time, especially power words like “free,” “new,” and “instant,” can spur quick action and increase conversion rates by up to 12.7%.

Here are some urgency phrases you can use in your giveaway copy:

• “Ending soon”
• “Last chance”
• “Only 24 hours left”
• “Don’t miss out”

In this example, the giveaway duration of “one week” is clear to see, emphasizing the urgency of entering before the time runs out.

Show a Countdown Timer

Visual cues are super effective in driving action. In fact, a Sharethrough study found that banner ads with countdown timers increased awareness of a promotion’s end date by a whopping 106%.

If your platform allows it, add a countdown timer to your giveaway. This creates a tangible sense of time passing and can increase last-minute entries.

Highlight Limited Entries

If you’re capping the number of entries, make this clear in your copy. For instance, if you only have 100 spots left for a VIP concert experience giveaway, you need to communicate this in your giveaway post.

Similarly, if you’re running a referral contest that limits the number of people you refer, you also need to make this clear. Luckily, RafflePress has this feature built-in.

In the giveaway builder, you can limit referrals to a set number:

This information is then displayed clearly on the widget before completing the action.

Use FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

Tap into people’s natural desire to be included and fear of missing opportunities.

• Show how many people have already entered. Example: “Join over 5,000 entries for a chance to win…”
• Position the giveaway as a special opportunity. Example: “Don’t miss this exclusive chance to win…”
• Frame the message around what participants stand to lose. For example, “Don’t miss your chance to win a luxury spa day! Thousands have already entered—don’t be left out.”
• Use a FOMO plugin to display real-time entry notifications. This adds social proof and reinforces the giveaway’s limited-time nature.

Pro Tip: Test different urgency tactics to see what resonates best with your audience. What works for one giveaway might not work for another, so always be ready to adjust your approach.

5. Make Your Calls-to-Action (CTA) Concise

In giveaway copywriting, your Call-to-Action (CTA) guides your audience from interest to action. A well-crafted CTA can make the difference between someone entering your giveaway or scrolling past.

Your CTA:

• Tells people what to do: Instead of just reading about your giveaway, your CTA tells them exactly how to enter.
• Creates urgency: A good CTA makes people feel like they need to enter right now before they miss out.
• Reminds them of the prize: It reinforces how awesome the prize is and why they should enter.

To make your CTA really work, it must be impossible to ignore. Make it big and bold, and use colors that pop. Put it somewhere so people can easily see it without having to scroll around. The goal is to make it super easy and tempting for people to enter your giveaway.

I love how in this example, Thrive Themes put their CTA right in the header with the words “I’m Feeling Lucky”. It’s direct, actionable, and impossible to miss.

Here are some effective CTA examples to get you started:

CTA	Why it works
“Enter Now to Win!”	Urgent and clear
“Claim Your Chance”	Creates a sense of opportunity
“Join the Giveaway”	Simple and inviting
“Start Your Entry”	Clear about the next step
“Win Big Today”	Highlights the benefit
“Don’t Miss Out – Enter Here”	Plays on FOMO
“Secure Your Spot”	Implies limited availability

Notice how each of these is short, action-oriented, and clear about what happens next.

Now let’s look at some tips for writing your own CTA:

• Keep it concise: Aim for 2-5 words that pack a punch.
• Use action verbs: Start with words like “Enter,” “Win,” “Claim,” or “Join.”
• Create urgency: Words like “Now,” “Today,” or “Before it’s Gone” can boost immediate action.
• Be clear: Make sure it’s obvious what will happen when someone clicks.
• Make it stand out: Use contrasting colors, larger font sizes, or button designs to draw attention.
• Place it strategically: Your CTA should be visible without having to scroll or search.
• Test different versions: Try A/B testing to see which CTA resonates best with your audience.

Remember, your CTA is not the place for subtlety or clever wordplay. It should be direct, actionable, and compelling.

6. Keep Your Language Simple and Engaging

When it comes to giveaway copywriting, it’s important to keep things simple and make it irresistible. By using clear, concise language, you’ll ensure more people understand your giveaway, feel compelled to join, and take action.

This is exactly how The Standard approached their giveaway page. The copywriting is clear and direct, and the formatting is great, making it easy to digest.

When writing your giveaway copy:

• Use short sentences: Aim for 15-20 words max per sentence.
• Choose common words: Avoid jargon or complex terms.
• Write in active voice: It’s more direct and easier to read.
• Address the reader directly: Use “you” and “your” to make it personal.
• Break up text: Use bullet points, short paragraphs, and subheadings.
• Read it aloud: If it sounds natural, it’s probably good.

Let’s look at some before and after examples to see simpler copywriting in action:

Before	After
“Participants in our exclusive promotional event have the opportunity to acquire a state-of-the-art technological device.”	“Enter now for a chance to win the latest iPhone!”
“The culmination of our giveaway will result in the random selection of one fortunate individual who will be the recipient of our grand prize.”	“We’ll pick one lucky winner to get our awesome prize!”
“To be considered for entry, interested parties must complete the requisite form with all pertinent personal information.”	“Want to join? Just fill out this quick form!”

7. Disclose Terms and Conditions Clearly

Clear, transparent terms and conditions are crucial for any giveaway. They build trust with your audience and ensure everyone understands the rules.

Your giveaway rules should cover:

• Eligibility: Who can enter? (age, location, etc.)
• Entry methods: How to participate
• Contest period: Start and end dates
• Winner selection: How winners will be chosen
• Prize fulfillment: What winners receive and how

When putting your rules together, don’t forget to include:

• Any restrictions on prize redemption
• How and when winners will be notified
• What happens if a prize goes unclaimed
• Any rights you retain (like using winners’ names in announcements)

You should also make these rules easy to find.

For example, you can link to the full rules from your giveaway post or create a page on your website. You can even use a pop-up or overlay with key terms when someone enters.

If you’re using a giveaway plugin like RafflePress, you can automatically generate giveaway rules and display them on your giveaway widget.

That way, users can read them in full before entering.

8. A/B Test Your Giveaway Copy

Okay, you’ve put a lot of work into writing great headlines, descriptions, and buttons for your giveaway, but how do you know what really works best?

That’s where A/B testing comes in. Think of it like an experiment:

1. Set a Goal: What do you want to improve? More entries? More clicks? More people sharing?
2. Pick One Thing to Change: Don’t change everything at once! Focus on just the headline, the description, or the button, for example.
3. Make Two Versions: Come up with two different ways to write or design the thing you’re testing. Be creative!
4. Test Them at the Same Time: Show one version to half your audience and the other version to the other half.
5. Use Tools to Help: Many social media, email, or website tools have built-in A/B testing features.
6. Check the Results: After your test runs, see which version did better based on your goal (more entries, clicks, etc.).
7. Go with the Winner: Use the version that worked best for your main giveaway.

Here’s what you can A/B test:

• Headlines: Try different lengths, exciting words, and ideas that make people feel something.
• Descriptions: Experiment with highlighting different benefits of the prize, using words that appeal to the senses, and mentioning any positive reviews or famous people who like it.
• Buttons: Test out different action words, phrases that create urgency (“Don’t miss out!”), and how the button looks.
• Pictures: Try different images to see what catches people’s eyes and makes them want to click.

For more information, check out these A/B testing best practices.

By regularly A/B testing your giveaway, you’ll learn what your audience loves and get better results every time. Remember, even tiny changes can make a big difference.

9. Always Proofread Before Publishing

You’re about to launch your awesome giveaway – exciting. But before you do, there’s one super important step: checking for mistakes.

Imagine sending out a birthday invite with typos—not the best look, right? The same is true for your giveaway. Errors make your campaign look sloppy and can confuse people.

Here’s how to make sure your giveaway text is clear and mistake-free:

• Take a Break: Step away from your writing for a bit. Come back to it later with fresh eyes to spot mistakes.
• Read Out Loud: Slowly read your text aloud. Do you stumble over any parts? Hearing it helps you find awkward phrases or missing words.
• Use a Helper Tool: Websites and programs like Grammarly can spot errors. Just double-check what they suggest, as they’re not always right.
• Ask a Friend: Get someone else to read your copy, especially if you often miss your own mistakes. A fresh pair of eyes is super helpful.

By taking the time to double-check everything, your giveaway will look professional, your message will be clear, and people will be excited to enter.

Ready to Run Giveaways People Love?

You now know how to write giveaway messages that get people excited and bring in tons of entries.

To Recap:

• Know your audience
• Write catchy headlines
• Showcase the prize’s value
• Create urgency
• Use clear buttons
• Keep it simple
• Experiment
• Always double-check your work.

Now go out there and create a giveaway that people will love.

Want to make running your giveaway super easy and get access to awesome features like easy sharing and simple entry options?

You may also find the following giveaway guides helpful:

• How to Do a Giveaway to Grow Your Email List
• How to Do a Giveaway on Facebook
• How to Do a Giveaway on Instagram
• How to Do a Giveaway on YouTube
• Social Media Contest & Giveaway Ideas

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