You know why giveaways work. Now let's run one properly. Here is the complete process, start to finish.
1. Pick a prize your real audience wants
This is the most important decision. A generic prize (cash, an iPhone) attracts prize-hunters who unfollow the moment it's over. A prize tied to your niche — your own product, a relevant gift card, a collaboration item — attracts people who actually want what you post. That single choice does more to keep your new followers than any other step.
2. Decide simple entry rules
Keep it easy. The classic combination is follow + like + comment (often tag a friend). Don't pile on so many steps that people give up. We break down which rules drive the most engagement in Lesson 15.
3. Write a clear giveaway post
State the prize, the rules, the deadline, and when you'll announce the winner — plus a line inviting people to follow for future giveaways. The exact wording matters a lot, so we give you a fill-in template in the perfect giveaway post.
4. Launch and promote it
Post at your audience's peak time, then push it in Stories with countdown stickers and reminders. The first hours decide how far it spreads.
5. Pick a winner fairly
When the deadline hits, you need to choose a winner randomly from everyone who entered — and be able to show it was fair. Scrolling and "eeny-meeny" doesn't cut it once you have hundreds of comments. This is exactly what a comment picker is for (next lesson on fairness covers it in depth, Lesson 17).
6. Announce, then keep the momentum
Announce the winner publicly, thank everyone who entered, and immediately tell them when the next giveaway is coming. That hand-off is what turns a one-time spike into ongoing growth — the core idea of Lesson 16.
Pick your winner in seconds
Paste your post link and Easy Giveaway draws a fair, random winner from the comments — no login required.
Next, the part people get wrong most often: writing the actual giveaway post.