Every entry rule you set is really a lever that produces a different kind of engagement. Choose them on purpose, not by copying someone else, and you can aim your giveaway at exactly the result you want — more reach, more comments, or more followers.
What each rule actually does
- Follow to enter → converts visitors into followers. The core growth rule.
- Like the post → easy engagement that boosts the post's ranking.
- Comment to enter → the heavy signal; drives the post toward Explore.
- Tag a friend → brings brand-new people to your post. Each tag is free reach.
- Share to your Story → the biggest reach multiplier, but a higher-effort ask.
The sweet spot
The reliable winner is follow + like + comment-and-tag. It captures follows, the all-important comments, and viral reach through tags — without so many steps that people quit. Ask for genuine interactions: a real comment, plus a tag of a friend who'd actually like your prize. Authentic entries are worth far more to you than a high count.
Don't break the rules that matter
Two cautions. First, Instagram's own guidelines say you shouldn't require inaccurate tagging ("tag yourself in this photo"). Keep it honest. Second, avoid "follow 10 other accounts" loop-style requirements unless you understand the trade-off — they inflate follows with people who'll leave. For a healthier version of collaboration, see Lesson 19.
Make the comment rule count
Comments are your strongest signal, so make commenting the centerpiece — but ask for something genuine. A real question — "What do you love most about our [product]?" or "Where would you take this prize?" — gets you authentic answers, useful feedback, and the people who actually care about your brand. You can run a keyword giveaway instead, asking everyone to comment one specific word, and a picker can filter entries by that keyword — but a genuine question gets you far more in return. Lean toward genuine prompts when you can.
However you word it, the more comments you gather, the more you'll want a fast, fair way to pick from them — which is exactly the next lesson's topic.
Lots of entries? Pick fairly in seconds
Easy Giveaway draws a random winner from your comments and can filter by tags and keywords — no login required.
Next — the most important lesson in this whole module: why consistency beats the one-off giveaway.