How to Run a Successful Instagram Hashtag Contest in 2025

Have you ever wondered how to make your brand stand out on Instagram? With over 1 billion active users, an Instagram contest can significantly boost your presence and engagement. One of the most effective methods is an Instagram hashtag contest.

So, what exactly is an Instagram hashtag contest? It’s fun for users to participate by posting photos or videos with a specific hashtag you’ve created. This makes tracking entries easy and expands your brand’s reach across many feeds. But how do you start a hashtag on Instagram that captures attention? It all begins with creativity and strategy.

This article will guide you through running a successful Instagram hashtag contest! Let’s go.

Table Of Contents

1. What is an Instagram Hashtag Contest?

An Instagram hashtag contest is a fun and engaging way to boost your brand’s visibility on Instagram. Participants enter the competition by posting photos or videos on their Instagram accounts using a hashtag you’ve created. This hashtag acts as an entry ticket, making it easy to track and view all submissions by searching for the hashtag on Instagram.

To ensure participation, entrants must follow your account, tag your brand, and include the designated hashtag in their post. This simple and interactive format encourages participation and spreads your brand’s message across multiple feeds.

Benefits for Businesses

Running an Instagram hashtag contest can significantly benefit your business. Here are some key advantages:

• Increased Engagement: Contests are a great way to interact with your audience, encouraging them to engage with your brand actively.
• Enhanced Visibility: As participants use your contest hashtag, your brand reaches a broader audience, expanding its visibility on Instagram.
• User-Generated Content: Contests generate valuable user-generated content that you can repurpose for future marketing campaigns.
• New Followers: Contests often require participants to follow your account, helping you gain new followers organically.
• Community Building: Hashtag challenges create a sense of community among participants, fostering brand loyalty.

2. How to Create an Instagram Hashtag Contest

Creating an Instagram hashtag contest is a fantastic way to engage your audience and increase your brand’s visibility. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get started:

Steps to Get Started

1. Define Your Goals: Before launching your Instagram contest, determine what you want to achieve. Are you looking to increase followers, boost engagement, or generate user-generated content? Clear goals will guide your contest planning.
2. Create a Unique Hashtag: The hashtag is the heart of your contest. It should be unique, easy to remember, and relevant to your brand. If you’re wondering how to create an Instagram hashtag, consider using a mix of your brand name and contest theme.
3. Use a Third-Party Tool: To streamline the process, consider using a third-party tool like ViralKit. ViralKit helps automate entry collection, ensure fair winner selection, and provide detailed analytics to measure your contest’s success.

Selecting a Theme and Target Audience

Choosing the right theme and understanding your target audience is crucial for a successful Instagram contest.

1. Identify Your Audience: Who do you want to participate in your contest? Knowing your audience will help you tailor the contest to their interests.
2. Choose a Relevant Theme: The theme should resonate with your audience and align with your brand. For example, a fitness brand might choose a “Summer Workout” theme, while a travel agency might go for a “Dream Vacation” theme.
3. Keep It Simple: The theme should be easy to understand and participate in. Complicated themes can deter potential participants.

3. Choosing the Right Hashtag

Creating a memorable and brand-related hashtag is crucial for the success of your Instagram contest. Here’s how to choose the perfect hashtag:

Importance of a Memorable and Brand-Related Hashtag

Your hashtag is the cornerstone of your Instagram hashtag contest. It should be unique, easy to remember, and directly related to your brand or the contest theme. A great hashtag not only makes it easy for participants to enter the contest but also helps spread your brand message across Instagram.

• Brand Identity: Incorporating your brand name or a relevant product in the hashtag helps reinforce your brand identity. For example, a coffee shop could use #BestCoffeeMoment2025.
• Memorability: A simple and catchy hashtag is more likely to be remembered and used correctly by participants. Avoid complicated or lengthy hashtags that might be difficult to recall.

Tips for Researching and Creating Effective Hashtags

Creating an effective hashtag requires some research and creativity. Here’s how to start a hashtag on Instagram that will capture attention and drive engagement:

• Research Existing Hashtags: Look at popular and trending hashtags in your niche to get inspiration. Ensure your hashtag is unique by searching for it on Instagram to avoid conflicts.
• Keep It Short and Sweet: Short hashtags are easier to remember and use. Aim for a concise hashtag that conveys the contest theme or brand message.
• Make It Relevant: Ensure the hashtag is relevant to your brand and the contest. It should instantly convey what the contest is about.
• Test for Clarity: Say the hashtag out loud and write it down to ensure it’s clear and free from unintended meanings. For example, #SummerFun can be easily understood and associated with enjoyable summer activities.

Avoiding Trademark Issues and Irrelevant Entries

To prevent legal issues and irrelevant entries, it’s essential to carefully select your contest hashtag.

1. Check for Trademarks: Avoid using any trademarked terms in your hashtag. You can check the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website or other trademark databases to ensure your hashtag is not trademarked.
2. Specificity is Key: A generic hashtag can attract irrelevant entries. Make your hashtag specific to your brand and contest to avoid unrelated posts. For instance, instead of #Vacation, use #DreamGetawayWith[YourBrand].
3. Avoid Common Words: Using common words or phrases can dilute the contest’s impact. Instead, incorporate unique elements related to your brand or the specific contest theme.

4. Choosing the right third-party contest tool

Managing an Instagram hashtag contest can be streamlined and enhanced by using the right third-party tool. SweepWidget is a popular tool for running Instagram hashtag contests. It allows you to customize your giveaway’s appearance, manage start and end dates, and ensure fair winners with a random draw.

Plus, you can integrate multiple social media channels, such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, and TikTok, into a single contest. ViralKit supports over 60 social media platforms, making it easy to expand your reach.

How to Use SweepWidget for Your Instagram Hashtag Contest

1. Set Up Your Contest: Start by defining your contest goals, creating your unique hashtag, and setting up clear rules for participation. Use ViralKit to automate the entry collection process.
2. Promote Your Contest: Use ViralKit’s tools to promote your contest across various social media platforms. This helps you reach a wider audience and increase participation.
3. Monitor Entries: Keep track of all entries through ViralKit’s dashboard. This allows you to easily view and manage participant posts.
4. Select and Announce Winners: Use ViralKit’s fair selection tools to choose the winners. Announce the winners on your Instagram profile and engage with participants to build a loyal community.

Check out a live example of a SweepWidget-powered Instagram giveaway to see it in action.

5. Promoting Your Instagram Hashtag Contest

Promoting your Instagram hashtag contest effectively is key to maximizing participation and engagement.

Strategies for Effective Promotion

A well-promoted Instagram contest can significantly boost your brand’s visibility and engagement. Here are some strategies to ensure your contest reaches a wide audience:

• Announce the Contest: Start with a strong announcement on your Instagram profile. Use eye-catching visuals and clear information about how to enter and what participants can win.
• Consistency: Keep the buzz alive by posting regular updates about the contest. Share reminders about the entry deadline, highlight some of the best entries, and build anticipation for the prize announcement.

Utilizing Instagram Stories, Posts

Leveraging all of Instagram’s features and other social media platforms can amplify your contest’s reach:

• Instagram Stories: Use Instagram Stories to share updates, behind-the-scenes content, and entries from participants. Stories are a great way to keep your audience engaged and informed. Use stickers, polls, and countdowns to make it interactive.
• Instagram Posts: Create a series of posts to promote the contest. Use a mix of photos, videos, and carousel posts to keep the content fresh and engaging. Include the contest rules, prize details, and the specific hashtag in every post.
• Cross-Platform Promotion: Don’t limit your promotion to Instagram. Share your contest on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and any other platforms where your audience is active. This helps attract participants who might not be following you on Instagram yet.

Email Marketing and Paid Ads

To further boost your Instagram hashtag contest, consider using email marketing and paid ads:

• Email Marketing: Send out emails to your subscribers announcing the contest. Provide all the details they need to enter and include compelling visuals to grab their attention. Follow up with reminder emails as the contest deadline approaches.

• Paid Ads: Invest in Instagram and Facebook ads to reach a larger audience. Target these ads to users who are interested in your niche but may not be following you yet. Use visually appealing ad creatives and clear calls to action to encourage participation.

6. Tips for Running a Successful Instagram Hashtag Contest

Running a successful Instagram hashtag contest involves more than just creating a hashtag and hoping for the best. Here are some tips to ensure your contest is a hit:

Clear Rules and Guidelines for Participants

Setting clear rules and guidelines is crucial for a smooth-running Instagram contest:

• Entry Requirements: Clearly state how participants can enter the contest. Specify that they need to follow your account, use the specific hashtag, and tag your brand in their post.
• Eligibility: Define who can participate in the contest. Include any age, location, or other restrictions.
• Deadlines: Set and communicate the start and end dates of the contest. Make sure participants know the exact time frame for entries.

Voting Methods and Ensuring Fair Play

To keep your contest fair and engaging, consider your voting methods and how you’ll ensure fair play:

• Voting Options: Decide how the winner will be chosen. You could have a panel of judges, a random draw, or let the audience vote by liking their favorite entries. If you choose audience voting, be clear about the rules to avoid any confusion or unfair practices.
• Fair Play: To prevent cheating, monitor entries for any suspicious activity. Make it clear that using bots or fake accounts to boost votes will lead to disqualification. Consider using a contest management tool to help track entries and votes.

Announcing the Winner and Engaging with Participants

The way you announce the winner and engage with participants can leave a lasting impression:

• Winner Announcement: Announce the winner on your Instagram profile with a celebratory post. Share the winning entry and congratulate the winner. Make sure to thank all participants for their entries.
• Engagement: Keep the conversation going even after the contest ends. Share some of the best entries, and engage with participants by liking and commenting on their posts. This helps build a community around your brand and encourages future participation.

7. Maximizing ROI from Your Instagram Hashtag Contest

Running an Instagram hashtag contest is a fantastic way to boost engagement, but how do you ensure you’re getting the most return on your investment? Here’s how to maximize your ROI:

Measuring Success and Engagement

To understand the impact of your Instagram contest, you need to measure success and engagement effectively:

• Track Metrics: Use Instagram Insights to track key metrics such as the number of participants, hashtag usage, engagement rate, and follower growth. This data helps you see how well the contest performed.
• Analyze Engagement: Look at the likes, comments, shares, and overall engagement on contest-related posts. High engagement indicates that your contest resonated well with your audience.
• Set Benchmarks: Compare the contest performance against your usual social media activity. This helps in understanding the additional value the contest brought to your brand.

Leveraging User-Generated Content

One of the biggest benefits of an Instagram hashtag contest is the wealth of user-generated content (UGC) it creates. Here’s how to make the most of it:

• Share UGC: Repost some of the best entries on your Instagram feed and stories. This not only gives recognition to participants but also showcases your brand in an authentic way.
• Create a Gallery: Compile the entries into a gallery on your website or a dedicated Instagram highlight. This serves as a lasting testament to your contest and can inspire future participants.
• Use in Marketing: Incorporate the user-generated content into your broader marketing strategy. Use these real-life photos and videos in ads, newsletters, and other promotional materials to add a genuine touch.

Strategies for Post-Contest Engagement

Keeping the momentum going after the contest ends is crucial for maintaining engagement and building lasting relationships:

• Follow-Up Content: Post follow-up content thanking participants and highlighting the contest’s success. Share interesting stats, behind-the-scenes moments, and future plans.
• Engage with Participants: Continue to engage with participants by liking, commenting, and sharing their posts. This builds a loyal community and keeps your brand top of mind.
• Plan Future Contests: Announce future contests or similar activities to keep the excitement alive. This shows your audience that more opportunities to engage with your brand are on the horizon.

Conclusion

Running an Instagram hashtag contest is a powerful strategy to boost your brand’s visibility, engage with your audience, and generate valuable user-generated content. By following the steps to create a memorable and effective contest, promoting it widely, and leveraging the results, you can maximize your return on investment and build a stronger connection with your followers. Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, these contests can significantly enhance your social media marketing efforts.

FAQs

1. What is an Instagram hashtag contest?

An Instagram hashtag contest is a competition where participants post photos or videos on their Instagram accounts using a specific hashtag you’ve created for the contest. This allows you to track entries easily and engage with your audience.

2. How do I start a hashtag on Instagram for my contest?

To start a hashtag on Instagram, choose a unique, memorable, and brand-related hashtag. Make sure it’s short, relevant, and not already in use. Promote the hashtag across your social media channels to encourage participation. Tools like ViralKit can help you create and manage your hashtags efficiently.

3. How can I promote my Instagram hashtag contest?

Promote your contest through Instagram stories, posts, and other social media platforms. Use email marketing and consider paid ads to reach a broader audience. Consistent updates and engaging content will keep the momentum going. ViralKit can help you streamline promotion across multiple platforms.

4. What type of prize should I give for my Instagram contest?

Choose a prize that aligns with your brand and is valuable enough to attract participants. Popular options include product bundles, gift cards, and exclusive experiences. ViralKit can help you manage and distribute prizes efficiently, ensuring a smooth contest experience for your participants.

5. How can ViralKit help manage my Instagram hashtag contest?

ViralKit simplifies the management of your contest by automating entry collection, ensuring fair winner selection, and providing detailed analytics to measure success. It also allows you to integrate multiple social media platforms, expanding your contest’s reach and engagement.