Tutorial: How to create a Photo Contest

If you want to set up a photo contest to let users submit their pictures and display them in a public gallery, follow the steps outlined below:

• Step 1. Create the promotion

• Step 2. Personalize the texts and images of each page

• Step 3. Customize the design

• Step 4. Introduce the terms and conditions

• Step 5. Configure the My Networks module and the promotion footer

• Step 6. Customize viral content

• Step 7. Check the advanced configurations

• Step 8. Restrictions to access the promotion

• Step 9. Enable the participation via Twitter and Instagram

• Step 10. Communicate with participants via the emails platform

• Step 11. Other photo contest options

• Step 12. Preview the promotion

• Step 13. Activate the promotion

• Step 14. Publish the promotion

• Step 15. Disseminate the promotion

• Step 16. Manage the promotion while it is still active

• Step 17. Access the statistics

• Step 18. Use the tool to carry out a random sweepstake

 

 

STEP 1. Create the promotion

1. Access the Easypromos Control Panel and log in with your email address and password to manage and create your promotions.

 

2. Create a new promotion via the ‘Create a new promotion’ button. 

 

3. You will be presented with the products available. Choose ‘Photo contest’ to create a promotion that consists of a registration form where the user can upload an image to participate.

4.  Go on to step 2 and choose the platform version to use (Basic, Premium or White Label).

5. Your promotion is already created! In the background, you can see the promotion management page. A pop-up window will ask you some extra information in order to help you with pre-settings. If you are not interested, you can skip this step.

 

• Language by default: Option for selecting the language by default in which you wish to display the promotion content.
• Do you want to link this promotion to a Facebook page (optional): Choose the Facebook page where you wish to link the promotion. It allows the platform to preconfigure some aspects of your promotion in order to make editing and managing it easier.

Attention! If you choose the Premium or White Label version, we will also ask you for the promotion destination country, in order to limit participation to the entrants connecting with an IP belonging to the country or countries selected. Find more information about country filters.

6. Now you find yourself in the promotion management page, where you have all the options for configuring the promotion. Below we outline all the most relevant sections

1. Header. You will find the title of the promotion, the version and other relevant information such as the ID number of the promotion, which identifies each promotion. Give this number to the Easypromos team if you have any issues with the promotion. This will make it easier for them to review your settings.
2. Quick button to Preview the promotion. When clicking this button, the Preview tool will open in a new browser window, so you can continue working comfortably in the promotion and, at the same time, preview how the final result is going.
   
3. Link to the promotion. This is the URL that you should use in all the dissemination actions that you are going to carry out. More information here.
   
4. Copy link button. Here you'll be able to automatically copy the link to disseminate the promotion.
   
5. Activate Promotion button. When you have the promotion prepared and ready to launch, click this button to activate and start it. This button will take you to the activation page, where you can review the billing information to proceed to make the payment of the promotion.
   
6. Side menu. Here you will find all the configuration options of the promotion.
7. Promotion status. It indicates the status of the promotion: Draft, Active or Expired, as well as if it’s about to start. Once the promotion period has ended, this field will be marked in red saying: Status: Expired. What to do: Here you can choose what you want to show in the URL of the promotion.
8. Link to the configuration tutorial. For each type of application you have available from here the link to the step-by-step tutorial so you do not miss any important step.
9. Direct access to configuration options within the Editor. This module presents the access to the edition of the following sections which are located within the Editor:
   
   • Management of the dates and the time zone that will have the promotion.
   • Languages: It indicates the default language of the promotion and it allows you to change it if you need it.
   • Localization: It allows to limit the participation to one or several countries (option included by default in the Premium and the White Libel promotions, and in the Basic version by purchasing the additional extension). More information.

STEP 2. Customize the texts and images of each page

The platform comes configured with many features that are pre-set based on the application that you have chosen.

From this moment on, you should focus on the customization of promotion texts and images, as well as on colors and font settings.

1. Enter the promotion 'Editor'.

 

2. Configure the texts and images of each page of the promotion:

 

A) Welcome

• Change the provisional title for one that allows identify the strong points of your promotion. It’s a good idea to make this descriptive text as attractive as possible to users.
• Configure the texts for the page and upload an image to give it more dynamism.
• In the description, change the provisional text to personalize and explain your own contest mechanism so that participants are clear about what steps they should follow to take part in the contest. You can also customize the ‘Enter’ and ‘View entries’ buttons.

B) Entry form.

From this section, you can set up the Registration Form that users must complete to participate in the contest.

• Customize the text and header image of this page from “Options”. This is optional.
• Add the fields that you want to participants to complete. You can ask for their email address, telephone number, birth date, gender, city, and country. In Premium and White Label versions, you can add additional text fields, dropdown menus, and checkboxes. Here we explain all the fields that you can set up. 

Note: The customization of the Registration Form with additional text fields is not included by default in promotions created with the Basic version. This can be added to the promotion for $19USD/€19EUR.

• Media field. When selecting the “Photo Contest” application type, the “Media field” comes preconfigured by default. This field will allow users to upload their photo to the contest. Change the label of this field if you want to request the image with another text.

In Premium and White Label versions you will be able to set up advanced options like:

1. You can let users participate with a photo or a video.
2. Allow that uploading a photo or video is optional.

• Another option is to enable the "Comments field", which lets you enter a text which invites the user to write something in reference to the photo. This field is displayed in the users’ registry form and they’ll be able to write up to 65,000 characters.

In Premium and White Label versions you will find an advanced option, "Minimum / Maximum characters allowed", with which you can limit the number of characters of this field.

C) Thank you.

Customize it with a final image and a thank you text. You can also create an extra button with an external link.

• Use the final image to give a more personalized aspect to the sweepstake, reminding participants what the prize is and encouraging them to share the sweepstake.
• Thank you message. You can also use it to thank participants and tell them when the winner will be announced.

In Premium and White Label version you can also configure the following options:

• Link and label of the final button. You can complete these fields to enable a second button which leads to an external website / URL.
• Text to encourage users to share. On the left side of the first share button there is a text that you can customize. Use this to encourage your participants to share the contest (option only available in the Basic template).

Note: download the Easypromos Design Guide and you will have measurements for all the images you need to complete the promotion.

D) Gallery.

Set up how the public gallery with all the participants' photos will be displayed. In this section you should focus on the following option tabs:

 

1. Contents: From here you can upload a header image to give the gallery a more corporate touch and add an introduction message (option only available with the Premium design template).
2. Layout: In the Basic version the pictures are presented in the vertical gallery, one below the other. On the other hand, by default all contests created with the Premium and White Label version come with the tiled gallery layout, which allows you to present more than one picture on the same line, making a visually attractive collage.

 

In this section you will find the following configuration options:

• Decide if you want to use the Tiled gallery or the Vertical gallery.
• Adjust the gallery to your liking. Find out how here.

3. Votes: Access this tab if you want to enable the voting system so that texts can be voted.

By default, Photo Contests come with the voting system enabled. In this section, you’ll be able to set up what type of voting system you wish to have in your contest. You’ll also be able to disable the voting system from here.

In the Basic version, only one vote is permitted per user. And the only option available is to enable or disable “votable participations”. In the Premium and White Label versions, this section permits many other possibilities:

Note: Additionally, in promotions created with the Premium design template (available in Premium and White Label versions) you have the following additional functionalities to customize the pages of the promotion:

• Customize the name of each section and the icon that identifies it within the promotion menu. For example, you can change the default name of "Welcome" page to "Start".
• Add new sections in the promotion menu to present additional content. This new section can be set up in two different ways:
  
  • New page, for example, to present and explain the prizes of the promotion.
  • External link, to drive traffic to your website or microsite.

Learn how to customize the promotion menu in this tutorial.

Note: download the Easypromos Design Guide and you will have measurements for all the images you need to complete the promotion.

STEP 3. Customize the design (available in Premium and White Label)

In the Design menu you can customize the look & feel of your promotion completely to adapt it to your brand or product.

Note: The Design module is not included by default in the promotions created in Basic version. You can add a color extension for $10USD.

In this way, for Premium and White Label promotions, and the Basic promotions that have the extension enabled, the section "Design" will be presented the following options:

• Template: Decide which design template you want to use to customize the promotion: the Basic design template, or the Premium design template (template only available for promotions created with the Premium & White Label version).
• Colors: Change the colors of the texts and the action elements of the promotion.
• Typographies: Select the font used for texts and action buttons of the promotion.
• Buttons (only Premium template): Set the style of the promotion buttons (outlined or solid).
• Container (only Premium template): Completely customize the container by setting the style, opacity, height or position.
• Background: Customize the background of the promotion with an own image or a color. The background will be the same for the different pages of the promotion.
• CSS Styles (only White Label): Use your own CSS styles to completely customize the template.

Discover all the graphic possibilities offered by the module "Design".

Note: The customization of colors and fonts is not included by default in promotions created  with the Basic version. It can be included as an extension for $10USD. 

STEP 4. Introduce the terms and conditions

Introduce the terms and conditions, explaining all the aspects that concern the contest. These terms and conditions will be shown via a button on the main page of the promotion and from a link available via any of the promotion’s pages.

To add the terms and conditions, go to the Editor> General> Legal content, where you will find the following sections:

• Terms and conditions.
• Privacy Policy (only in Premium & White Label promotions).
• Cookies Policy (only in Premium & White Label promotions).

• How to use the free tool for hosting the terms and conditions
• Free Tool for Creating and Hosting Terms and Conditions for Online Promotions 

STEP 5. Configure the My Networks modules and the promotion footer

The 'My networks' module enables you to totally customize the page that is presented to the user before they finalize the registration. This means you can give them the option to click ‘Like’ on your Facebook Page. The My Networks module can be customized with Facebook pages, as well as with Twitter, Instagram and Youtube accounts Learn how to do this here.

To customize the My Networks module go to Editor > General > My Networks:

You can also customize the text at the foot of the promotion, or deactivate this if it doesn’t interest you. This is a banner, presented at the foot of each page of the promotion.

To enable the Footer of the promotion go to Editor > General > Footer:

STEP 6. Customize viral content

This section is very important to obtain a high level of virality for the contest. The viral content is the message that will be shown when a participant shares the promotion with friends to invite them to the promotion.

 To customize the viral content of the promotion go to Editor > General > Share:

 

Note: in the Basic version, this section will only present the option of uploading a viral image with an appropriate size for each of the social networks. 

You should complete the following sections:

A) Generic content.

Set up the generic contents of the promotion here:

• Viral image: This is the image that will accompany the text to be shared. To make it optimal for the social networks, we suggest a measurement of 1200px wide by 630px high. This same image will be shared via Facebook, Pinterest and Google+. If you don’t upload a specific image for this section, the main promotion image will be disseminated when a participant shares the promotion.
• Generic content: This is the viral text that will be disseminated across the social networks when the participant shares the promotion via the share button on the main page, the registration form or the header of the participations gallery. Learn how to configure this.

B) Participation.

This viral message will be shared by default when the participant share the promotion via the share buttons of the thank you page.

STEP 7. Check the advanced settings

To create a Photo Contest, check the configuration of the following sections:

Editor > Pages> Entry Form > Options: here you can check how users will register:

For a Photo Contest, we recommend setting up the following options:

• Max. users: Decide if you want to close the promotion to a maximum number of participants. By default, there is no limit of users who can participate in the contest.
• Maximum entries per user: You can decide how many times a user can take part. For example, if you would like to allow participants to submit more than one picture.
• Enable Facebook Login: Enable the login with Facebook window so that the user can participate identifying with his Facebook user.
• Do you want to be mandatory for users to connect on Facebook?: Requires login with Facebook to participate. Check the form with which participants identify themselves.
• Enable premoderation: You can moderate your entries before they appear in the public gallery.
• Notification of new entrant: Use it if you want to receive an email when a new entrant registers in this promotion.
• Anti-fraud options: With the aim of helping administrators organize top-quality contests, the platform contains a series of techniques and tools to help minimize the impact of participants bad practices. Consult the adjustable options.

Note: In the Basic version this section only presents the options "Max. users, "Enable Facebook Login?", “Do you want to be mandatory for users to connect on Facebook?" and "Disable form".

2. Editor > Pages > Gallery > Options. Here you have the following options available (Premium and White Label only):

• Anonymous participations. Activate this if you don’t want the name and profile of the user to be displayed next to the gallery image.
• Allow comments on participations. You can enable comments on the participations so that a user, friend, or acquaintance can comment on the individual participation of the users who have registered to the promotion.

STEP 8. Restrictions to access the promotion

The application allows you to restrict the access to the promotion to limit users who can participate in it. Specifically, the platform offers you 2 forms of restriction:

• Restriction by country: It allows to limit the promotion to a specific country or several countries. In this way, only those users who connect from the selected country or countries will see the promotion.

Note: Country restriction is not included by default in promotions created with the Basic version of the platform. It can be added to the promotion as an extension of the for $19USD / 19EUR.

Learn how to enable country restriction in your promotion here.

• Age Restriction: Limit the promotion to users whose date of birth is higher than the one indicated by the administrator to establish a minimum age to participate in the promotion.

Learn how to enable this age verification window in your promotion here.

Note: The functionality to restrict the promotion by age is only available for promotions created with the Premium version and the White Label version that have been designed with the Premium design template.

STEP 9. Enable the participation via Twitter and Instagram (Optional. Available with Premium and White Label)

Normally, users participate accessing to the promotion and filling in the registration form. If you want that Twitter and Instagram users could be able to participate form these social networks, enable Twitter and Instagram integration in the contest. This way, this type of user will participate via hashtag. This option is available in Premium and White Label promotions. 

STEP 10. Communicate with participants via the Emails Platform (Available with Premium and White Label)

If you need to communicate with participants during and after the promotion, you can use this section to create, customize and send emails.

This tool can be very useful in the sweepstake because it permits you to configure automatic emails to contact participants with one of these objectives:

1. To thank participants for registering and inform them when the contest will be held and when the result will be made known.
2. Remember the number of votes that a participant must reach to be a finalist.
3. Send an email to the contest winners.
4. Send an email to all participants confirming that the promotion has ended and thanking them for their participation.

Learn how to create an email with the Platform to communicate with participants from the beginning and thus achieve greater virality.

Important! The platform has the ‘smart tags’ feature at its disposal. This enables you to configure customized emails. Use the ‘smart tag’ {{user_voteme_url}} which, upon sending the email, will be substituted by the participation URL of each participant.

Note: The Emails Platform is not included by default in Promotions created with the Basic version. It can be included as an extension for $50USD.

 

STEP 11. Other photo contest options

• If you want a category-based contest, set it up with these instructions.
• If you want a contest with different periods of participating and voting, follow these instructions.

STEP 12. Preview the promotion

At any time, you can check how the promotion will be displayed once you activate it in order to review the graphic part. To do this, within the same Editor of the promotion you will find the "Preview" direct button in the Editor's header:

Please bear in mind that the preview is not functional; this means that it will let you turn the page even though you haven’t filled in the fields. The best method for testing the functionality of the recruiting system is to activate the promotion but protect it and carry out tests in a closed group. Here we explain how.

STEP 13. Activate the promotion

Once you have configured all aspects of the promotion, you can activate it from the management page of the promotion, where you can make the payment. Here you will find more information. 

STEP 14. Publish the promotion

Although your promotion is now active, you still need to take the last step: publishing it. On creating the contest, a URL is generated which will be the main promotion link. By default, this main link leads to a microsite where the promotion is presented. Also, and not exclusively, you can publish the sweepstake or promotion on the Facebook Page or embed it in your blog or website. Control where you wish to publish it via ‘Buzz’. You’ll find all the information about this step here.

 

STEP 15. Disseminate the promotion

It will also be important to disseminate the promotion via various channels. Always use the main promotion link, as it’s the only one compatible with all types of devices.

You can share the promotion via the following methods:

• With the direct link to the promotion.
• With the ‘share’ button on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
• Creating an outstanding campaign. This option implies placing your campaign in the section of Easypromos highlighted promotions. The highlighted have an additional cost to the price of activating the campaign, and this price is per day of the campaign. If you’d like to create a highlighted campaign, consult this tutorial.

We also recommend this article with 14 basic steps for disseminating and highlighting your campaign on your Facebook Page.

STEP 16. Manage the promotion while it is still active

While the promotion is active you can monitor and manage the participations from the management page by clicking on the ‘View entries’ section.

 

From there you will be able to see information on all the participants and download it to an Excel.

Note: Information about participants will be available even when the promotion has finished.

STEP 17. Check the promotion statistics

Access the ‘Statistics’ section to find out about the evolution of participants and their interaction with the application.

This information will be available as soon as the first participation is made until after the promotion has finished. Learn more about the information that you have access to in this section.

STEP 18. Final sweepstake to give away the prize and publish the winners

Once the registration period has finished, the ‘Winners’ tool will be enabled; with this you can carry out a random sweepstake to finalize the promotion and select one or more winners or finalists. This is an optional tool, without any added cost, and you can set it up after the registration period.

• This tutorial will show you step by step how the Easypromos Sweepstakes Tool works and how to do multi-sweepstakes.
• Learn how to publish the winners on a page inside the promotion.
• Use the Emails Platform to communicate with all the participants and thank them for taking part in the contest, or with the winners to inform them of their success.