Simple Contests That Spread

Contests work when they’re easy to understand and easy to share. One page. One main prize. One small milestone reward so people feel progress fast. Keep the rules plain. Keep the follow-ups short. If you do that, readers will pass it to friends because it feels simple and real.

 

Why simple wins

People share when the path is obvious. A clean page with one photo, a short headline, a short form, and a clear prize beats a long pitch every time. You’ll also get better names and emails because the promise is clear. That makes your list stronger after the contest ends.

 

Set up the one-page flow

• Headline: keep it local and plain. “Win a weekend stay downtown + dinner for two.”
• Hero image: real photo from your town (hotel front, a dish from a local place).
• Short form: name + email. No extra fields.
• How to earn: “1 entry for joining. +1 for each friend who joins.” Use one short line, not a wall of text.
• Dates: start, end, winner picked (and how you’ll announce).
• Rules link: plain text page with basics (eligibility, how to claim, odds, privacy note).

 

Pick rewards that move locals

Main prize: make it feel real. A 3-day hotel stay or a local experience (tasting menu, show tickets). Work with a friendly partner. Local beats flashy.

 

Milestone reward: give a small win at a reachable number (for example, 10 referrals = restaurant certificate). That little nudge gets people to share again without you pushing.

 

Tracking and points (keep it light)

Use one share link per person so referrals are counted. ShareBirdy supports points, keep it simple: +1 for a join, +1 per referral. Don’t stack a long list of actions. One or two actions are enough. ShareBirdy will show their progress so people can see they’re close to a milestone. That visual hint is powerful.

 

Follow-ups in GC (short and useful)

• Welcome: “You’re in. Here’s the prize. Here’s how to earn the small reward.” Link back to the contest page.
• Halfway nudge: “You’re close to your milestone. Share your link.” Include the share link button.
• Reward unlocked: a simple claim note with clear steps. When the goal tag fires, let the workflow end for that person so you’re not flooding them with more pushes.

 

Run two or three angles to one prize

Create separate pages for different groups, but feed them into the same prize pool. Example angles: food lovers, families, weekend explorers. You’ll see which page spreads the fastest. Keep the winner; retire the slow one. Your prize doesn’t change, but your message fits more people.

 

Make it fair and friendly

• Post rules clearly. Keep them short and readable. Link from the page and the confirmation email.
• Pick winners on time. Announce how you draw and when. Then do it.
• Make claiming easy. A simple form or a reply works. Don’t bury the steps.
• Say thanks in public. With permission, post a small winner note in your newsletter or group.

 

What to measure each week

• New signups: the list is the main asset.
• Shares and top referrers: who to thank or spotlight.
• Best angle: which landing page pulled more joins.
• Quality check: open rate and clicks on the next two newsletters.

 

Simple schedule (14 days)

• Day 1: launch page + welcome email. Post to your page. Share to your group.
• Day 3: friendly nudge in the newsletter (“you’re close to your milestone”).
• Day 7: short update post (“halfway done”). Thank top referrers by name if allowed.
• Day 12: last-call note; remind of the small reward at 10.
• Day 14: draw winner; send reward emails; post a thank-you photo next issue.

 

Local partners (how to ask)

Be direct and kind. “We run a local newsletter. We’re doing a simple contest to bring people into town. Can we feature your hotel/restaurant as the main prize? We’ll send traffic to your page and thank you in the issue.” Many owners will say yes if the ask is clear and you keep it easy to fulfill.

 

Pitfalls and quick fixes

• Too many steps. Fix: one page, two actions (join + share).
• Vague prizes. Fix: choose one real local reward with a photo.
• No small wins. Fix: add a milestone reward at 10 to spark sharing.
• Confusing emails. Fix: 3 short emails only (welcome, nudge, reward).
• No follow-through. Fix: pick winners on time, send rewards fast, and post a thank-you.

 

Where ShareBirdy fits

ShareBirdy is built for this style of contest—simple page, clear prize, and share tracking—so you don’t have to duct-tape tools. It’s rolling out to Entourage Mastermind members first. Vacation-reward integrations are in development. You can start with local prizes now and add those options when they’re live.

 

Bottom line: A simple page, one real prize, a small milestone reward, and three short emails can turn readers into steady referrers. Keep it local. Keep it friendly. Do it once a month and your list will grow without stunts.