ViralSweep supports two main contest formats — Sweepstakes and Instant Win. This guide covers how to set up prizes, choose how winners are selected, and configure the notifications that participants receive.
New to ViralSweep? Start with the Sweepstakes App Overview or the ViralSweep for Shopify: Getting started guide before following these steps.
Step 1: Set up your prizes
Prizes are configured inside your promotion under the Prize Settings section. For each prize, you'll need to provide:
Prize title — the name of the prize as participants will see it
Win message — the message shown to a participant when they win
Prize description — details such as how to claim the prize or what's included
Prize image (optional) — an image displayed to winners when they win
Important: Once a prize is saved, some settings cannot be edited. If you need to make changes, duplicate the prize, update it, and delete the original. Configure prizes carefully before saving.
Step 2: Choose a winner selection method
How winners are selected depends on your contest format.
Sweepstakes
Winners are drawn randomly at the end of the campaign. To draw winners, go to the Winners section of your promotion and select how many winners you want to draw. ViralSweep will randomly select from all eligible entrants.
Instant Win
Participants find out if they've won immediately upon entering. You can choose from three winner selection methods:
Random Odds — Set the odds for each prize (e.g. 1 in 100). Each entry has that probability of winning. You can set different odds per prize and define a maximum number of winners.
Random Times — ViralSweep randomly generates winning moments within your campaign's date range. The first participant to enter within the winning window wins the prize. You control how wide that window is (e.g. within 2 minutes, within 30 seconds, or anytime after the winning time is generated).
Unique Codes — Participants enter a code to win. You upload a list of winning codes; anyone who enters a valid code wins the associated prize. Participants without a valid code do not win.
You can also draw random winners at the end of an Instant Win campaign — for example, to award any prizes that weren't claimed during the promotion period.
If the ViralSweep team set up the official rules for your promotion, make sure to ask how many mail-in entries were received before the promotion ends. These need to be accounted for before drawing a winner.
Step 3: Configure participant notifications
ViralSweep lets you send automated emails to participants based on their outcome.
Winner notifications
For each prize, you can configure an automatic winner notification email that is sent as soon as someone wins. This email can include:
Confirmation that they've won
Details about the prize
Instructions for how to claim it
If the ViralSweep team set up the official rules for your promotion, the winner notification process works as follows: you reach out to the winner directly to notify them. Once the winner has been notified, the ViralSweep team will follow up with the winner to handle the required paperwork.
Non-winner notifications
For Instant Win campaigns, you can also configure notifications for participants who don't win:
On-screen losing message — the message shown immediately after a non-winning entry
Loser email (optional) — a one-time email sent to participants who didn't win. This is a good place to offer a consolation prize such as a discount code to keep them engaged.
Bonus entries and social actions
You can increase participation by rewarding entrants with additional chances for completing social actions — such as following a social account, sharing the promotion, or subscribing to your newsletter.
To set this up, go to the Social Actions section of your campaign and add the actions you want, along with how many bonus entries or chances each action earns.
Note: Bonus chances only apply to Random Odds and Random Times winner selection. If you're using Unique Codes, participants can complete social actions but cannot earn additional entries.
Running purchase-based and free-entry promotions together
Many sweepstakes regulations require you to offer a free method of entry alongside any purchase-based promotion. In ViralSweep, these must be set up as two separate campaigns running simultaneously:
Create a purchase-based promotion to reward customers who make a qualifying purchase.
Create a separate sweepstakes promotion for free entry methods (e.g. social follows, newsletter signups).
Run both campaigns at the same time.
After both campaigns end, combine the entries before drawing your winner.
Note that participants will not see a combined entry total while both campaigns are active. Once both campaigns have ended, go to the homepage of your promotion — at the bottom of the promo, next to the entries,analytics,etc you'll find the option to combine entries before drawing your winner.
Frequently asked questions
What if not all prizes are claimed by the end of an Instant Win?
You can manually draw random winners for unclaimed prizes. Go to the Winners section, scroll to the bottom, and enter the number of additional winners you want to draw.
Can I test my contest before it goes live?
Yes. Submit a test entry through your entry form. If your test entry wins a prize, you'll see it under the Winners section. To reset, delete your entry from both the Winners and Entrants tabs.
Can I run an Instant Win at a live event?
Yes. Set your campaign's spam filter to Events mode. This allows multiple participants to enter from a single device or IP address. After each entry, a reset button appears so the next person can enter.