Use this checklist before you launch any ViralSweep campaign. Steps marked Purchase promotions apply only to Shopify purchase-based campaigns.
Step 1: Build the Promotion
Entry setup
Set the title, description, and start and end dates.
Add form fields (name, email, phone). Fewer fields mean higher conversion.
Add newsletter opt-in or consent checkboxes if required.
Authenticate your email so you can send post-entry notification emails. See Email Notifications.
Growth and security
Add bonus entry actions (referral, social, polls, video) and their values.
Set spam and fraud protection (one entry per IP, CAPTCHA, verification).
Geo-target by country or state.
Step 2: Design and Branding
Apply colors, fonts, and button styles from a template or the design section.
Preview the full page, widget embed, and lightbox.
Step 3: Official Rules
Add your official rules: Viralsweep provides an official rules template to help you get started. You are responsible for reviewing, customizing, and ensuring that your official rules comply with all applicable laws and regulations. The legal responsibility for your promotion, including its official rules and compliance, rests with you.
Prize value over $5,000: Bonding and registration in New York and Florida may be required unless you exclude entrants from those states.
Purchase element in your sweepstakes: You must include a free alternate method of entry (AMOE), typically mail-in. You can also connect a free-entry sweepstakes.
Prize or winner over $2,000: Winner affidavits and/or a 1099 tax form may be required.
Need legal assistance? ViralSweep offers separate legal services for an additional fee. Contact our team for more information about available services and pricing.
Important: ViralSweep's official rules template is provided as a starting point and does not constitute legal advice. You are responsible for ensuring your promotion complies with applicable laws. Viralsweep's legal services are available separately and are subject to additional fees.
Step 4: Email Integrations (optional)
Connect your email or CRM platform (Klaviyo, Postscript, Salesforce, Mailchimp) for real-time entry syncing. Purchase entrants aren't sent to Klaviyo.
Purchase promotions: no tracking snippet is needed. Orders come in through your connected Shopify store.
Step 5: Installation and Embed
The installation process depends on the type of promotion you're creating.
Sign-up Sweepstakes on Shopify: Follow the Installing the ViralSweep Widget on Shopify guide to install and embed your sweepstakes.
Sign-up Sweepstakes on a Custom Website: Follow the Install ViralSweep on a Custom Website guide to add your sweepstakes to your website.
Shopify Purchase Promotions: Purchase promotions require a different setup process. Follow the Shopify Purchase Promotions Setup guide to install and configure your promotion in Shopify.
Step 6: Tracking Setup (optional)
Generate tracking URLs for each channel (email, paid ads, influencers, QR).
Generate QR codes for in-person and physical placements (events, packaging, hang tags).
Assign a unique link to each influencer for multi-collaborator campaigns.
Step 7: Final Pre-Launch Review
Confirm the start and end dates, times, and timezone.
Preview the front end as a test user and check that the rules link works.
For Regular Sweepstakes: submit a test entry and confirm it reaches ViralSweep and your integrations (check the Entrants tab).
For Purchase Promotions: place a real paid order above $0 (test-mode orders aren't tracked), confirm the entries appear, then delete the test entrant.
You're Live
Legal is in place, the promotion is installed, and integrations are connected, so you're ready to launch. From here on, it's marketing execution.