How to run a free giveaway to grow your audience

Executive overview

Giveaways drive audience growth across email, YouTube, and social — but only if structured correctly. Roughly half of entrants are genuine leads; the rest are freebie-seekers. Use double opt-in and prune inactive subscribers to protect list quality.

The real growth mechanism is viral self-promotion: entrants earn extra entries by completing actions that spread your giveaway for you.

Setting up a giveaway with KingSumo

• Go to KingSumo.com — free to use
• Enter title, description, prize image, start/end dates, and time zone
• Add bonus actions: follow on YouTube, visit a podcast link, click a URL — each earns extra entries
• Assign higher entry values (e.g. 10 entries) to the actions most important to you

Promotion checklist

• Embed the giveaway on your website using the provided JavaScript
• Email your existing list
• Partner with a brand to donate the prize; ask them to promote it to their audience
• Post in relevant Facebook, LinkedIn, or Meetup groups
• Add the link to YouTube descriptions and social bios
• Post in r/giveaways for reach with no existing audience required

After the giveaway ends

• Send all non-winners a discount coupon or a clear next action — do not let them go cold
• Pick the winner at least one day after the closing date