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

Simple contest ideas are quick, low-effort giveaways like caption contests, trivia, or photo uploads. They help brands boost engagement, grow followers, and collect leads with minimal setup or rules, making them ideal for marketers who want fast, measurable results.

In this guide, I’ll share the easiest contest ideas you can launch today. They’re both fun for your audience and simple for you to manage.

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?

Simple contests work well because they have a low barrier to entry, which encourages more people to participate. The easier it is to join, the higher the engagement and conversion rates tend to be.

For instance, one campaign offering five $20 gift certificates for Basil Thai Cuisine grew their client’s email list by 52% and generated 105 reactions on Facebook, proving that even small rewards can drive strong 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 a giveaway hosted on a platform like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok where users enter by performing actions such as liking, sharing, or following. Its simplicity keeps participation high because people can join directly on the platform in just a few seconds.

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 is an interactive giveaway where a brand posts an image and asks its audience to submit a creative caption in the comments. This format sparks humor, encourages quick participation, and builds strong engagement through likes, replies, and shares.

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 a user-generated content campaign where participants submit their own photos based on a specific theme or branded hashtag. It works well because people enjoy sharing personal photos, helping your brand collect authentic content and increase visibility across social platforms.

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 a simple giveaway where a brand posts a sentence with a missing word and asks followers to complete it with creative answers in the comments. It works because it’s fast, fun, and encourages participation without requiring extra tools or setup.

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 an interactive giveaway where participants try to guess a specific number, item, or answer to a question. This format is engaging because it invites quick responses, builds anticipation for the reveal, and works across any audience or platform.

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 is a multi-stage giveaway where a brand first collects user submissions, such as photos or ideas, and then asks the audience to vote for their favorite entry. This format drives strong engagement by encouraging participation, sharing, and repeat visits to check results.

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 a user-generated content campaign where participants create and share brief videos on a specific theme, often using platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts. This format works well because video content naturally earns higher engagement and helps brands reach wider audiences with authentic, shareable clips.

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

The best way to run simple contest ideas is directly from your own website, where you have full control over design, data, and entries.

Instead of relying on social media posts or third-party platforms, you can streamline everything using a dedicated giveaway plugin like RafflePress, which is a WordPress plugin designed to create and manage online contests with a drag-and-drop builder.

RafflePress makes it easy to launch contests in minutes. You can use pre-built templates, customize entry actions like following or commenting, and track all participants from one dashboard. Its mobile-friendly design ensures your contest looks great on any device.

By hosting contests on your website, you keep complete ownership of your data, strengthen your brand’s credibility, and offer a smooth experience for participants.

For detailed steps, see our full guide on how to create 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

Simple contests are an effective way to boost engagement and grow your audience quickly. By choosing the right format for your goals and using a dedicated tool like RafflePress, you can plan, launch, and manage a successful giveaway directly from your website with ease and confidence.

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