What is Instagram Giveaways? 

What is Instagram giveaways? They are powerful tools for growing your brand, engaging with your audience, and increasing sales. Whether you’re an influencer, a business, or just an individual looking to build your presence, hosting an Instagram giveaway can be a game-changer. But to truly excel in 2025, giveaways must be strategic, well-planned, and goal-driven.

What is an Instagram Giveaway?

What is an Instagram giveaway? It is a promotional contest where a person, page, business, or influencer gives away a product or prize in exchange for audience engagement. Whether you’re aiming to grow your followers, boost engagement, or drive traffic to your website, giveaways are a proven strategy for building your Instagram presence. They are an exciting way to give back to your audience, but they also serve as a marketing tool that drives measurable results.

Key takeaway: Instagram giveaways are win-win—you engage with your followers, and they get a chance to win something valuable!

What Are Instagram Giveaways?

Instagram giveaways come in many forms, but they all share one goal: engagement. Essentially, they are contests where followers can participate by completing specific actions like commenting, tagging friends, sharing posts, or following your account.

In this guide, we’ll dive deep into everything you need to know about Instagram giveaways: from defining what they are to giving you actionable steps for running the most successful giveaway campaigns. Let’s ensure you can elevate your Instagram strategy to the next level!

Now let’s explore the most used and effective types of Instagram giveaways that have been trending for years and are still highly effective in 2025.

Most Used & Effective Instagram Giveaways Over the Years
(In-Depth Details)

Instagram giveaways have been one of the most powerful ways for brands, influencers, and businesses to gain followers, increase engagement, and drive sales. Over the years, different giveaway types have emerged, evolved, and remained effective based on Instagram’s algorithm changes and user behavior trends.

You can read the official Instagram Promotional Guidelines to avoid any mistakes.

Below are the most used and effective types of Instagram giveaways that have proven their success.

1. Like & Comment Giveaway (Simple Yet Powerful)

How It Works:

• Participants must like the giveaway post and comment (usually tagging a friend or answering a question).
• The winner is picked randomly from the comments using a giveaway picker tool.

Why It Works:

• Super Easy to Enter – Minimal effort means high participation.
• Boosts Engagement – Likes and comments signal activity to Instagram’s algorithm, increasing visibility.
• More Organic Reach – Tagged friends see the post and may join, making it semi-viral.

Best Practices:

• Ask participants to comment on something creative. (e.g., “Tell us your dream vacation spot!”).
• Require them to tag at least 1-3 friends to increase reach.
• Use engaging visuals to capture attention.

2. Follow & Tag Giveaway (Most Common for Growth)

How It Works:

• Participants must follow your account and tag friends in the comments.
• Some versions require them to follow multiple accounts (e.g., in a collab giveaway).

Why It Works:

• Drives Follower Growth – Works well when growing an audience.
• Increases Visibility – More people get tagged, more people see your brand.
• Great for Brand Awareness – Exposure to new potential followers.

Best Practices:

• Make sure the prize is relevant to your niche (attracts real followers, not just freebie hunters).
• Limit the number of accounts they need to follow (too many can turn people off).
• Encourage tagging multiple friends to maximize reach.

3. Share-to-Win Giveaway (Boosts Story Visibility)

How It Works:

• Participants must share the giveaway post on their Instagram Story and tag the brand or business.
• Some versions require them to DM a screenshot if the brand’s account is private.

Why It Works:

• Expands Reach Quickly – Stories reach a wider audience beyond the original post.
• Encourages Active Participation – Participants feel more engaged.
• Boosts Brand Exposure – More eyes on your content = More potential followers.

Best Practices:

• Create eye-catching story templates for users to share.
• Add stickers, countdowns, and engagement features to stories to make them more interactive.
• Remind followers to tag you so you can track entries.

4. User-Generated Content (UGC) Giveaway (Best for Engagement & Authenticity)

How It Works:

• Participants create and post their content featuring your product/service/brand.
• They must tag your account and use a branded hashtag to enter.
• The best or most creative post wins.

Why It Works:

• Creates Authentic Content – Real users showcasing your brand build trust.
• Long-Term Marketing Value – UGC can be reposted for future content.
• Boosts Organic Reach – Participants share their entries with their followers.

Best Practices:

• Set a clear theme (e.g., “Show us your best skincare routine using our products!”).
• Offer a high-value prize to encourage quality participation.
• Feature the best entries on your page to increase social proof.

5. Collaborative Giveaway (Multiple Brands or Influencers)

How It Works:

• Multiple brands/influencers team up to give away a bigger prize.
• Participants must follow all brands involved and complete a simple action (e.g., comment or tag friends).

Why It Works:

• Attracts a Larger Audience – You get exposure to new followers from other brands.
• Bigger Prize = Higher Engagement – More people participate.
• Shared Marketing Effort – Costs are split between multiple businesses.

Best Practices:

• Partner with brands in your niche (e.g., beauty brands collaborate with skincare brands).
• Keep entry steps simple (too many rules = fewer participants).
• Use a custom hashtag to track entries.

6. Quiz or Trivia Giveaway (Great for Engagement & Fun)

How It Works:

• Users answer a question, quiz, or riddle in the comments.
• Correct answers are entered into a random draw for the prize.

Why It Works:

• Increases Engagement & Conversation – Gets people talking.
• Fun & Interactive – Users feel more involved.
• Suitable for Niche Brands – This works great if you have an educational or entertainment brand!

Best Practices:

• Ask questions related to your brand (e.g., “Guess how many coffee beans are in this jar!”).
• Offer Extra/More bonus entries for creative answers.
• Feature the winner’s answer on your Instagram story.

7. Comment-to-Win Giveaway (Question-Based Entry)

How It Works:

• Users answer a specific question in the comments (e.g., “What’s your dream vacation destination?”).
• The winner is chosen randomly or based on the best answer.

Why It Works:

• Encourages Thoughtful Interaction – People engage more deeply.
• Boosts Comment Volume – Helps with Instagram’s algorithm.
• Easy to Enter – No complicated steps.

Best Practices:

• Make the question fun and relevant to your brand.
• Pin the best responses to encourage creativity.
• Engage with participants by responding to comments.

Choosing the Best Giveaway Type for Your Goals

Want More Followers?

• Follow & Tag Giveaways
• Collaborative Giveaways

Want Higher Engagement?

• Like & Comment Giveaways
• Quiz & Trivia Giveaways
• Comment-to-Win Giveaways

Want More Brand Awareness?

• Share-to-Win Giveaways
• User-Generated Content Giveaways

Want Higher Sales?

• UGC Giveaways (Promote your product naturally)
• Follow-Up Discounts for Participants

No matter which giveaway type you choose, always make sure to:

1. Keep it simple (too many rules = fewer participants)
2. Use eye-catching visuals (get attention fast)
3. Track results (see what works and improve for next time)
4. Engage with participants (comment, like, and keep the hype alive)

With these proven Instagram giveaway types, you’re ready to dominate 2025 and take your brand to the next level! 

Why Should a Business Page or Influencer Host an Instagram Giveaway with Goals?

To run a successful giveaway, you need to set clear goals. Without a goal, your giveaway may not provide the results you’re looking for. Here’s why having a goal is so important:

1. Grow Your Audience: If your goal is to increase followers, make following your account a requirement.
2. Increase Engagement: If you want to boost engagement, ask participants to comment, like, share, or tag friends.
3. Drive Sales: Incorporate sales-focused elements, such as discount codes or links to your online store.
4. Build Brand Loyalty: Reward your existing followers and customers by creating a sense of community through exclusive giveaways.
5. Gain Insights: Use giveaways as an opportunity to gather valuable data and feedback from your audience.

Step-by-Step Guide to Run an Instagram Giveaway with Ease (Effective & Trendy in 2025)

Running a successful Instagram giveaway isn’t as simple as it seems, but it can supercharge your Instagram strategy when it’s done right. Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure your giveaway is practical and trend-driven:

1. Set Clear, Strategic Goals

Before you even think about a prize, determine what you want to achieve. Are you looking to increase followers, boost engagement, or drive sales? Define the objective, and then structure your giveaway to align with that goal.

2. Choose a Prize that Resonates with Your Audience

Your prize must be appealing to your target audience. If you’re a fashion brand, a trendy accessory would work well. If you’re a fitness influencer, a set of workout gear would excite your audience. Make sure your prize is valuable enough to motivate participants but relevant to your brand.

3. Keep the Entry Rules Simple

Don’t overwhelm your audience with complex rules. The simpler the entry process, the higher the participation. Here are the basic steps most giveaways require:

• Follow your account
• Like the giveaway post
• Tag friends in the comments
• Share the post in your story (optional)

The easier it is to enter, the more people will participate.

4. Promote Your Giveaway Across Multiple Channels

To ensure your giveaway reaches as many people as possible, use Instagram’s full range of features:

• Feed Posts: Use visually captivating images to draw attention.
• Stories: Share the giveaway on your stories with a countdown timer to create urgency.
• Reels: Create fun, engaging video content to promote the giveaway.
• Collaborations: Team up with influencers or brands to maximize reach.

5. Select a Winner Transparently

Once the giveaway ends, use an online tool to select a winner randomly to ensure fairness. Tools like Woobox or Comment Picker help streamline this process.

6. Engage with Your New Followers

Once the giveaway is over, continue the conversation with your new followers. Reply to comments, thank them for participating, and maintain a consistent presence to keep them engaged.

Keeping the Data & Results to Measure the Most Effective Instagram Giveaways (Main Points)

To ensure your giveaways are working, it’s essential to track their effectiveness. Keep an eye on these key performance indicators (KPIs):

1. Engagement Rate: Track the likes, comments, and shares your giveaway post receives.
2. Follower Growth: How many new followers did you gain during the giveaway period?
3. Hashtag Performance: If you created a custom hashtag for the giveaway, track how often it’s used.
4. Sales: Use discount codes or affiliate links to measure if your giveaway drove any sales.
5. Conversion Rate: How many giveaway entrants turn into paying customers after the giveaway ends?
6. Post-Giveaway Retention: Are your new followers still engaging with your posts?

By analyzing these metrics, you’ll get a clear picture of what worked and what could be improved for future giveaways.

Online Giveaway Picker Tool (Top 3)

When it’s time to choose a winner, fairness is key. Here are three of the best tools for randomly picking a giveaway winner:

1. Comment Picker:– Simple to use, this tool randomly picks winners from Instagram comments.
2. Woobox:– Ideal for larger giveaways, Woobox lets you track entries and randomly select winners.
3. Easypromos:– This platform offers comprehensive features for running, tracking, and managing giveaways across multiple platforms.

These tools save time and ensure that your giveaway is both transparent and fair.

Best Ways to Turn Your Winners into Customers for Your Products & Store

The ultimate goal of your giveaway is to turn those engaged followers into paying customers. Here’s how to achieve that:

1. Exclusive Discounts for Winners: Send winners a special discount code to encourage them to make a purchase. You could also offer a discount to all participants as a thank you for entering.
2. Follow-Up Emails: Build a relationship with winners by sending follow-up emails with exclusive offers, new product launches, and special promotions.
3. VIP Access: Create a VIP club or loyalty program for giveaway winners, offering them early access to new products or sales events.
4. Showcase Your Winners: Feature your winners on your Instagram feed or stories. This builds social proof and encourages more people to engage with your brand in the future.
5. Personalized Engagement: Keep the conversation going with winners on social media by commenting on their posts and thanking them for being a part of your giveaway.

Pro-Level Tips for Success

• Use Instagram’s New Interactive Features: Create quizzes or polls in your stories to get people involved even before the giveaway starts.
• Collaborate with Micro-Influencers: These influencers often have highly engaged audiences, and their endorsement can make your giveaway more authentic and reach a targeted group.
• Create Urgency: Use countdown timers and clear deadlines to create a sense of urgency. The more urgent the giveaway, the more likely people are to enter.
• Leverage Hashtags: Use both niche-specific and broad giveaway hashtags to get your contest seen by the right people.
• Offer a Bigger Prize with Collaborations: Team up with other brands to offer bigger, more exciting prizes that will attract a larger audience.

Conclusion

Instagram giveaways are one of the most powerful tools you can use to grow your presence, boost engagement, and increase sales. By setting clear goals, choosing the right prize, keeping entry rules simple, and using the right tools to track your success, your giveaways can be a game-changer for your brand.

Follow the steps, apply the tips, and you’ll be well on your way to hosting the most effective Instagram giveaways of 2025!