CommentCrateA checklist for running a fair Instagram giveaway
Most giveaway disputes come from vague rules, not from the draw. Settle these points before you post.
Before you post
- Say exactly what counts as an entry: a comment, a comment that tags friends (how many), one entry per person.
- Give a deadline with its time zone.
- State who can take part (country, age) and what the prize is.
- Say how the winner is chosen and how and when they will be contacted.
- Read Instagram's rules for promotions and check the laws that apply to you. This checklist is general guidance, not legal advice.
While it runs
- Do not change the rules after people have entered. If you must, say so in the post and in a pinned comment.
- Keep a copy of the post text as it was published.
At the deadline
- Scan the comments soon after the deadline. Anyone who comments later must not count: set the date range of the draw to the deadline.
- Remember that comments Instagram hides or filters may not be in the list, and that the list is what the page showed.
The draw
- Use a random method that everyone can understand, and announce it beforehand.
- Count each person once.
- Draw backups as well, and use them in order if a winner does not answer or does not meet the rules.
- Open the winner's profile and check the conditions you set, such as following the account or tagging friends, before you announce them.
After the draw
- Announce the winner and how they were chosen.
- Save a record of the draw: date, rules, number of entries, winners and backups. A PDF is easy to share.
- Delete the list of comments when you no longer need it: it contains other people's content.
CommentCrate Pro does the counting, the draw, the profile links and the record in your browser; see the giveaway picker. You can also do it with a spreadsheet: pick a giveaway winner from comments.