How to Create Custom Giveaway Images for Free

Making giveaway images can feel hard, especially when you’re just starting out. And it’s true – posts with pictures can get up to 94% more views than those without, so they’re super important.

But, creating good-looking graphics on a budget doesn’t have to feel impossible. With the free tools I’ve found and use regularly, it’s actually much easier than you might think.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to make giveaway graphics for free that actually get you results.

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When you use professional-looking graphics, your message is clearer, performs better on social media, and attracts more entries to your giveaway.

Here’s a great example from WPBeginner’s 15th birthday giveaway:

It nails the essentials by showing the prize, festive graphics, and clearly shows the brand’s logo and colors. The dark background makes the text easy to see, and even though there’s a lot going on, it’s not cluttered.

You can make great-looking images in just a few minutes, even if you’ve never designed anything before. The free version has all you need to make images for Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media.

Adobe Express (used to be called Spark) is also really good. It’s even easier than Canva, but still lets you make great giveaway images.

It works especially well for making Instagram and Facebook posts.

Fotor is great for making your photos look better.

It has simple filters and effects that can make any photo look more professional. This is really helpful when you want to make your giveaway prize look its best.

How to Create Giveaway Images with Canva (Step-by-Step)

For this guide, I’ll be using the free version of Canva to walk you through designing images for your giveaway. Of the tools I mentioned earlier, it’s by far the easiest to use and offers the most customizable templates.

First, head to the Canva website and login or create a free account.

After logging in, type “giveaway” in the search bar, which allows you to find a template for your design.

You’ll see plenty of free templates made just for giveaways. You can also try searching for “contest” or “promo” to find more options.

Scroll through the designs until you find a template you like and select it. Then, click the “Customize This Template” button.

The template will open in Canva’s drag-and-drop editor where you can add your own personal touches.

Let’s start by adding a photo of your prize. In the sidebar, click the “Upload” option. Then, select “Upload Files” to choose an image from your computer.

From there, drag and drop the photo onto your design.

Next, click the text on your design to customize the entry instructions. The best approach is to keep this simple and provide more detailed instructions in your giveaway post caption.

Now add your logo and brand colors to make the image match your style. You can find your logo under “Uploads” and use the color picker to match your brand colors exactly.

Continue customizing your design until you’re happy with how everything looks.

When you’re ready to download your image, click the Share icon in the top-right corner and select the Download option.

From there, pick PNG or JPG as the file type. PNG is best if your image has a transparent background and click Download.

That’s it! Your giveaway image will now download to your computer, where you can use it in your promotions.

How to Use Your Giveaway Images

Now that you’ve created your giveaway image, let’s put it to work for your campaign. First, let’s add it to your giveaway tool. There are many social media contest tools available, but to keep things simple, I’ll focus on RafflePress.

If you haven’t heard of RafflePress before, it’s a popular WordPress plugin that helps you run giveaways on your website to grow your email list and social media following.

It comes with a drag-and-drop builder that makes setting up a giveaway in WordPress easy without code. If you’re new to RafflePress, see this guide to learn how to create an online contest in WordPress.

Note: To add prize images, you’ll need a RafflePress Plus plan or higher.

Adding your custom image to RafflePress is quick and easy.

First, open your giveaway in RafflePress and click the “Details” tab. Then, click the image placeholder labeled “Insert Your Prize Image”.

Look for the “Select Image” button under the placeholder. Click it to open the media uploader, then choose the giveaway graphic you just created to add it to your giveaway.

You’ll see it appear right away in the preview.

Remember to save your changes before completing your campaign setup.

You can also use this same image when you post about your giveaway on social media.

Just add it to your posts with an engaging caption that explains how to enter. This helps spread the word about your giveaway and brings in more entries.

Where to Find Free Images and Graphics

Creating great giveaway images is easier when you have the right resources. Here are some of my favorite places to find free photos and graphics you can use in your designs.

Type	Website	Description
Free Photos
	Unsplash.com	Beautiful, free photos with flexible usage rights.
	Pexels.com	Millions of free stock photos and videos.
	Pixabay.com	Free photos and illustrations.
Free Graphics
	Flaticon.com	Icons
	The Noun Project	Simple, clean icons for various purposes.
	Canva	Graphics library within the Canva design platform.

Note: Always check image licensing rules before use. While many sites offer free images, even for commercial purposes, double-checking is crucial. Remember to credit creators of icons and graphics when required.

Drive Entries With Better Giveaway Images

Making your own giveaway images is easier with the free tools in this guide. Just remember to keep your designs simple, show your prize, and make sure people can read your text easily.

When you take time to create good images, you’ll get more entries and shares for your giveaway.

Ready to start? Read these other guides to make your next giveaway stand out:

• How to Write Giveaway Rules Like a Pro
• How to Use Good Giveaway Copywriting to Drive Entries
• How to Use Contest SEO to Boost Your Website’s Rankings
• How To Run A Photo Contest in WordPress The Simple Way

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