Here are the top 10 most popular Marden-Kane posts from 2016, as ranked by traffic and searches.
1. Criteria for Judging a Photo Contest
I would like to expand the list of suggested Contest Judging Criteria as it applies specifically to Photo Contests to include updated entry methods, social media trends and promotional knowledge acquired in the past 2 years. Continue reading →
2. Sweepstakes Winners: W-9’s and 1099’s
Sponsors of Promotion Games of Chance offering and awarding prizes valued at $600 or more should be aware that they are responsible to obtain a signed, legible copy of an IRS form W-9 from every winner that they issue a prize to. This means that any eligible entrant who has been verified as a prize Winner you issue a prize of $600 or more to, will need to fill out a W-9 form. Continue reading →
3. The Facts About Prizes Revealed
Research shows that more than half of all adults in the U.S. enter at least one sweepstakes every year, and this amount increases exponentially. Promoting Sweepstakes and Contests are an excellent way to engage and retain your customers and a properly structured prize offering will definitely enhance your endeavor. Let’s face it, the chance of winning an expensive and alluring prize is just too tempting to resist! Continue reading
4. Snapchat Promotion Guidelines: A Guide to Running Sweepstakes and Contests on Snapchat
If you are thinking of running a sweepstakes or contest on Snapchat, you should make sure you are following the Snapchat promotion guidelines. These guidelines make it very clear that any sweepstakes, contest, instant win game or other promotion (coupon, giveaway, etc.) MUST do the following things. Continue reading →
5. 2016 Instagram API Changes and Hashtag Contests
Did you suddenly lose the ability to track hashtags due to Instagram changes this month? Here’s why: Back in November 2015, Instagram announced they would be changing their application policy in an effort to curtail malicious apps. On June 1, 2016 ALL apps or programs that had not gone through the new approval process and approved by Instagram were rendered unworkable. Continue reading →
6. #Hashtag Contests 101
The buzzword in contests right now are hashtag contests (or hashtag sweepstakes). These types of promotions are easy to run, less expensive than setting up a contest web site, and don’t require a lot of lead time. The simplicity and low cost appeals to a lot of businesses anxious to expand their social channels, but you will still need to follow some best practices to ensure that you don’t run into any issues. Continue reading →
7. Skill Testing Question in Canada: Why Is It Required?
If you are a Canadian resident and enter a Sweepstakes you will be required to correctly answer a mathematical skill testing question in order to be eligible to enter and possibly win a prize. Residents of the United States do not have this prerequisite, as this rule is specific only to Canadian residents. Why is it a requirement? The skill question is a requirement as set by Canadian Sweepstakes law. Continue reading →
8. 4 Reasons Brands Should Embrace Sweepstakers
Sweepstakers, also known as “sweepers” and even as “compers” in the UK, are the people who put hours each day into entering sweepstakes and contests. Many of them consider it a full-time job. These people take promotions very seriously, and are frequently more well-versed in the ins and outs of sweepstakes industry than some brand marketers. Not all brands like the thought of a bunch of professional sweepstakers entering their promotions, though. They believe that people who are only in it for the prizes will not be brand loyal, won’t subscribe to their emails and won’t help the bottom line. Continue reading
9. What the Heck is an AMOE?: A Guide to Sweepstakes Acronyms
Sweepstakes rules frequently contain acronyms that are not easily deciphered, like SASE or AMOE. Here is a guide to the most common sweepstakes acronyms that you might come across in a set of sweepstakes rules. Continue reading →
10. How to Contact Winners in Social Media Contests
Running a promotion on Twitter or Instagram or other social platform is fairly easy. You basically follow the social platform guidelines, post rules, collect entries and select winners from valid posts or tweets or pins. The hard part can be contacting and clearing winners. In a traditional contest where a form is used to collect data you typically collect address and phone or email so contacting winners is easy. Continue reading →
What were your top blog topics of 2016? Anything you would like to know about contests, sweepstakes or loyalty programs? Contact us and let us know!
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