Create More Spark This Valentine’s Day With A Mobile Photo Contest

Is your relationship with your consumers missing that special something?

Have they grown tired of your usual routine?

Are they frustrated by your inability to give them what they really want?

Well as Valentine’s Day inches closer, the North Social team is here to give your brand some timely relationship advice.

Let’s face it, brand holiday promotions on Facebook have become a little cliche. A simple shout out on your news feed that says, “Happy Valentine’s Day” is nice enough, but it’s precisely that type of generic shout out that tends to sink into the sea of holiday sameness.

Consumers want more. They expect more. It’s time to think beyond the usual flowers or chocolate for your recipients. The goal is to make it a two-way relationship, so quit talking about yourself so much and let them participate in the conversation.

When executed properly, user-generated photo contests can be the perfect promotional concept to rile up your fan base. But before your brand can truly generate meaningful results from a photo contest, you must first make sure your:  1) concept is simple; 2) the reward to participate meaningful; 3) contest ties in well with your brand and Valentine’s Day; and lastly 4) the entry mechanism for the contest fits your on-the-go consumer’s lifestyle (psst…works seamlessly across all devices and social networks).

To make your brand’s Valentine’s Day campaign one to remember, below we’ve put together a live example for how you could execute a smart mobile photo contest.

MOBILE PHOTO CONTEST INSPIRATION: Consumer Packaged Goods

PROMOTION CONCEPT: Spot A Heart

This is a Valentine’s Day themed mobile photo contest where consumers are encouraged to take and send in a clever photo of a heart for a chance to win a year’s supply of product.

HOW IT WORKS:

1) Generate buzz for your mobile promotion by placing your unique mobile-ready URL and a strong call to action on all of your available consumer touchpoints – print, online, broadcast, PR, social ads, mobile ads, outdoor, POS, and of course on your packaging itself (our apps also allow you to embed your promotions on websites, blogs, or other online properties).

2) The consumer uses their phone to visit the unique URL, uploads their heart photo, enters the name and email, and shares the promotion with their personal network.

3) Consumer is immediately sent an autoresponder that 1) thanks them for participating; 2) gives them a nice incentive for playing (digital coupon code, etc.); and 3) encourages their friends to visit the desktop photo gallery to vote for their photo and enter the contest themselves.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The above execution is just one way you can turn your fan base into camera phone-wielding paparazzi. Other possible executions would be; 1) brand spotting contests where consumers are asked to take photos of the brand they love in action; 2) skill competitions where you ask fans to submit their best photograph of a Valentine’s Day inspired image; 3) cute pet or baby photo contests never seem to grow old; or 4) giving your fans an opportunity to be famous by asking them to post pics of themselves using your product or showing off the results from using your services.

Let’s face it, everyone (yes, including your consumers) wants their 15 minutes in the spotlight. So give ‘em a shot.

To demo this particular mobile-entry-ready photo contest app and turn your brand from liked-to-loved, click on the big blue button below or visit www.spotaheart.com on your mobile handset.