Ideas for formal (prom) suit & dress giveaway contest

[Static_Shift]

Hi fellow Mozzers,

I'm hoping to do a bit of brainstorming if you don't mind helping out. We've never done a contest for our clients before, so want some ideas on how to get the most out of it.

In Australia it is coming up to formal (Prom) time, and our client sells boys suits and girls formal dresses, so I figured it was a great time for a contest. It's a brand new SEO client, so it's quite late notice...the competition can only go for about 3 weeks because most of the school formals are around late November, early December. (Not ideal I know)

The client is willing to give away one free suit, and one free dress, and I want to brainstorm some ideas on the format of the contest, e.g. what should people have to do to enter the draw?

Avenues we plan to promote are: Facebook (they have 600 likers), Twitter (currently not many followers), I'm thinking Australian mummy bloggers, free contest listing websites, email database. Any other ideas for promotion?

The goal for the contest is to increase brand exposure, and to attract lots of links.

Looking forward to hearing your suggestions.

Thanks,

Karl

[Static_Shift]

Thanks for getting things rolling Daniel!

Sorry, I didn't explain..."how should people win" is one of the things I want to brainstorm. whether they win based on a judges decision, or a random draw is something that we can figure out when we know what the contest involves.

The client is giving away a suit and a dress forever and ever. Also I should have mentioned. they don't have a bricks and mortar store, they're an online-based store.

I like your ideas! They will help to get a bit more engagement, which is what we're after here

And yes, what a past you do have!

[DanielFreedman]

But how do contestants win?  Is it just a random draw?  Why limit yourself to that?

Perhaps give bonus entries for people who send in pictures of themselves dressing formally for everyday occasions:

• going to the supermarket

• walking the dog

• going to school

• running a race

• going to the beach

• gardening

• bar-b-cueing

• playing cricket

And offer double bonus entries for people who send in videos.

I presume it's the Mums and Dads who pay for the suits and dresses, so try to think of things that appeal to them as well.

What exactly is your client giving away : a rental or the actual suit and dress to keep, forever and ever? If it's a keeper, perhaps pitch the idea of how handy the suits and dresses will be even after the formal.  This is, of course, false and ridiculous -- but you could have a lot of fun with it.

And don't forget the offline component: maybe coupons in the stores promoting the contest and offering refunds to people who have already bought, if they send it pics.

Ideally, you would come up with a viral way of sharing and promoting through mainstream media. If you have great pics, this could appeal to the mainstream media on a slow news day.

Your Canadian Mate,

-Daniel

(former game show producer and publlc broadcasting executive -- oy, do I have a past!)