Top 10 Food and Beverage Contest Ideas
A recent emarketer report revealed that consumers turn to digital media when they want to share food and drink experiences, and it’s also where they look for meal inspiration and solutions from people like themselves. Are you surprised by this?
Brands that want to connect with users on a more human scale and promote brand loyalty can leverage this naturally occurring behavior by:
- being searchable and accessible online
- paying attention to mentions, tags and conversations on social networks
- promoting loyalty through rewards programs and social promotions
- delighting customers who post about your restaurant or brand with through acknowledgement or prizes
- rewarding your most loyal and active customers
Here are ten ways brands in food and beverage are using social media and sharable content to connect with their customers and nurture brand loyalty.
1. Vega
Get Energized
Vega promoted their new line of smoothies through a fun photo contest. Vega’s community had the chance to show how Vega’s products help them lead healthy lives. An impressive 357 people actively shared their photos, but one entrant in particular stood out. Their top influencer (and eventual grand prize winner) brought over 3,000 people to the contest site through shared posts on Facebook, Twitter and email. View the case study.
The Ask: Submit a photo of yourself doing something active and fill in the blank: “I am energized while…”.
Prizes: 111 total; 1 grand prize winner won a 6-night, 7-day yoga and surf retreat for two in Puerto Vallarta worth 945; 9 finalists won a prize pack worth 50, 20 runners up got a prize pack worth 50; 80 weekly winners selected at random won a prize pack worth 35.
Selection Process: Voting to judging; the top 10 voted entrants moved to the judging round where Vega’s team selected the grand prize winner.
Channel: Facebook Contest App
2. N_k_d Pizza
Liv Wild Liv NKD sponsored by Wild Guanabana and Dubai 92
To promote their new location opening up in Dubai, Naked Pizza ran a video contest with the help from a handful of local sponsors. Over 100 people shared videos of themselves doing something adventurous in order to win an adventure experience from weekly sponsors.Visit the Facebook contest app..
The Ask: Submit a video of yourself doing something wild and adventurous!
Prizes: 7 total: The grand prize winner won an ultimate adventure experience with Wild Guanabana while six weekly winners won adventure experiences from local tourism companies.
Selection Process: Voting to Judging and random; the top 4 voted entrants moved to the judging round where a panel of contest admin selected the grand prize winner
Channel: Facebook Contest
3. Culver’s
Hit the Sweet Spot (Agency: Hiebing)
Culver’s incredibly devoted fan base have come to love interactive games and promotions. This creative sweepstakes incorporated a flash-based game where the user would aim their sling shot at a target to ‘Hit the Sweet Spot’ to reveal the entry form and upon submission, the user got a coupon off sweet potato fries and a chance to win a 00 gift card. Over 130,000 people played and entered over two weeks.
The Ask: ‘Hit the Sweet Spot’ and enter the form.
Prizes: 130,000+; each entrant received a coupon and one grand prize winner received a 00 gift card.
Selection Process: Giveaway and random.
Channel: Facebook Sweepstakes App
4. Le Sutra
Labor Day Weekend With Timbaland & Friends
This sweepstakes that offered VIP treatment at an exclusive event in Miami drove 785 people to enter over two weeks.
The Ask: Like Le Sutra on Facebook and fill out the entry form.
Prizes: 1 total; one winner got roundtrip airfare for 2 to Miami, Florida, VIP transportation in Miami, 1 night’s stay at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, VIP access to the Le Sutra launch event and a meet and greet with Timbaland.
Selection Process: Random.
Channel: Facebook Sweepstakes
5. Freebird Burritos
AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic Sweepstakes
This Facebook Sweepstakes helped Freebird Burritos gain 2,268 entries and over 2,000 new Likes in just two weeks. They encouraged more entries by enabling Strutta’s double-up entry feature.
The Ask: Like-gated sweepstakes; Like Freebird Burritos on Facebook and fill out the entry form.
Prizes: 2,269; all entrants received a coupon and 1 grand prize winner got 2 tickets to the then sold out AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic in Arlington Texas plus airfare, lodging and meals.
Selection Process: Random; 1 winner was selected at the end of 2 weeks.
Channel: Facebook Sweepstakes App
6. Good Earth Tea
Untamed Moments Contest
Over 250 people have shared their “untamed moments” in this photo contest.
The Ask: Upload a photo and write a caption of 140 characters or less that captures your most untamed moments.
Prizes: 1 grand prize winner won an 8-day, 7 night “Glamping” (glamourous camping) trip-of-a-lifetime for two, from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon and beyond!
Selection Process: Judging only.
Channel: Microsite Contest
7. Murray’s Cheese
NYC EATAWAY SWEEPSTAKES
This sweepstakes lived on Murray’s Cheese’s website as an iframe and attracted nearly 2,000 entries over one month. Visit the contest site.
The Ask: Mandatory Like enabled Sweepstakes; Fill out the entry form (Strutta ensures the entrant Likes Murray’s Cheese at submission)
Prizes: 1 grand prize winner got a dream trip for two with airfare to New York, 2 nights at the Dream Downtown hotel and Dinner at Murray’s Cheese Bar and a private tour of their Cheese Caves.
Selection Process: Random; 1 grand prize winner was selected at random at the end of the promotion.
Channel: Iframe Sweepstakes - embedded in Murray Cheese’s website
8. FreshDish.com
FreshDish.com 30 Days of Delicious Giveaways
This Fan-gated sweepstakes helped FreshDish get hundreds of new potential customers and fans in one month.
The Ask: Fan-gated sweepstakes; Like FreshDish on Facebook and fill out the entry form.
Prizes: 30 total; one meal kit was given each day for 30 days.
Selection Process: Random; 1 winner was selected each day during the promotion.
Channel: Facebook Sweepstakes
9. Maggiano’s
Bliss List Photo Contest (Agency: Reap Marketing)
This photo contest which was targeted at recently engaged couples attracted 8,850 visitors in just one day. View the case study.
The Ask: Enter a photo and essay that lists the top five thing you’d like to experience with your partner during your marriage.
Prizes: 3 total; 1 grand prize winner got a 4 night trip for two at a Sandals Luxry Included Resort, 1 second prize winner got a ,500 Credit toward a Rehearsal Dinner at any Maggiano’s Restaurant, 1 third prize winner won a ,500 Credit toward a Bridal Shower/Brunch at any Maggiano’s Restaurant.
Selection Process: Voting and Judging; the top 10 entrants moved to the judging round where a panel of judges picked the 3 winners.
Channel: Microsite Contest
10. Schneider’s
Country Naturals Picnic Anywhere
This cause marketing campaign allowed people to team up with local non-profits and submit a project proposal that would create a green and kid-friendly space in their communities.
The Ask:Submit a project proposal in the form of three photos and details or a video explaining the proposal.
Prizes: 1 total; one grand prize winner won 00,000 to put their proposal into action!
Selection Process: Judging and Voting; a panel of judges selected 5 finalists from all entries submitted to go to an open voting phase. The top voted finalist won the grand prize.
Channel: Facebook Contest
I hope these food and beverage contest ideas help jumpstart your social media campaign strategies! Ready to get your year-long success plan going with coupons, sweepstakes and contest promotions? See how Strutta can help or contact us to see how we can help you!