Add A Leaderboard
Leaderboards add a competitive element to your giveaway by showing participants how they rank against others. This encourages users to complete more entry methods and share your giveaway to climb the rankings, helping your contest go viral.
Why Add a Leaderboard?
- Increase engagement – Participants are motivated to earn more entries when they can see their ranking
- Drive viral sharing – Users share your giveaway to earn referral entries and climb the leaderboard
- Create excitement – Competition makes your giveaway more exciting and memorable
- Encourage completion – Users are more likely to complete all entry methods to maximize their points
- Build community – Participants feel connected to others entering the same contest
How to Enable a Leaderboard
Step 1: Go to Leaderboard Settings
- Create or edit a giveaway
- Click on the Leaderboard & Instant Coupons tab in the left sidebar
Step 2: Enable the Leaderboard
Check the Add a leaderboard checkbox to enable the leaderboard feature.
Leaderboard Configuration Options
Once enabled, you can customize the following settings:
Leaderboard Header
Enter a title that displays at the top of your leaderboard. The default is “Leaderboard” but you can customize it to match your contest theme (e.g., “Top Contestants”, “Points Leaders”, “Contest Rankings”).
Leaderboard Description
Add a description that explains how the leaderboard works or encourages participation. This text appears below the header.
Example description:
At the end of the contest we will be drawing a winner from all the entrants to win our grand prize. The more points you collect, the higher your chance of being randomly drawn.
Number of Leaders to Display
Choose how many participants to show on the leaderboard. You can display up to 500 people. Common settings:
| Amount | Best For |
|---|---|
| 10 | Small giveaways, keeping it competitive among top entrants |
| 25-50 | Medium giveaways, gives more participants visibility |
| 100+ | Large giveaways where you want broad participation recognition |
| 500 | Maximum visibility, shows almost everyone competing |
Name Display Format
Choose how participant names appear on the leaderboard. This setting helps you balance recognition with privacy:
| Option | Example | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Smith | Maximum recognition, community building |
| Full first name & last initial | John S. | Balanced recognition with some privacy |
| First initial and full last name | J. Smith | Privacy-focused but still identifiable |
| Aliased name | 1st place user, 2nd place user | Complete anonymity, position-only display |
What Participants See
When a leaderboard is enabled, participants will see a Leaders tab in the giveaway widget alongside the “Earn Entries” and “My Entries” tabs.
The Leaders Tab
When participants click the Leaders tab, they see:
- Leaderboard header – Your custom title
- Description – Your explanation text
- Ranked list – Shows each participant’s rank, name (in your chosen format), and total points
Each entry on the leaderboard displays:
- Rank number – Their position (1, 2, 3, etc.)
- Name – Displayed according to your format settings
- Points – Total entries/points earned
Locked Prizes and Tiered Rewards
Below the leaderboard settings, you’ll see an option to Add locked prizes, tiered rewards, or instant coupon codes. This advanced feature allows you to:
- Locked prizes – Offer prizes that unlock when participants reach certain entry thresholds
- Tiered rewards – Give different rewards based on leaderboard position
- Instant coupons – Automatically send coupon codes when participants complete specific entry methods
Check the box to access these additional gamification features.
Best Practices
Writing Effective Descriptions
- Explain the benefit – Tell users why earning more points matters
- Be clear about selection – Explain if winners are drawn randomly (weighted by entries) or if top positions win automatically
- Create urgency – Mention the end date or limited prizes
- Keep it brief – A few sentences is enough
Choosing the Right Display Count
- Smaller leaderboards (10-25) create more competition at the top
- Larger leaderboards (50+) give more participants hope of being recognized
- Consider your audience – Competitive audiences may prefer seeing only top performers
Privacy Considerations
- Full names work well for professional or B2B giveaways
- Partial names provide recognition while protecting privacy
- Aliased names are best when participants may prefer complete anonymity
- Match your audience – Gaming communities often prefer full names; consumer giveaways may need more privacy
Use Cases for Leaderboards
| Contest Type | How Leaderboard Helps |
|---|---|
| Referral campaigns | Shows top referrers, motivates sharing |
| Social media growth | Encourages completing all social actions |
| Product launches | Creates buzz and competition around new releases |
| Community engagement | Recognizes most active community members |
| Sales promotions | Gamifies the customer experience |
Leaderboard vs. Random Selection
A common question is how the leaderboard relates to winner selection:
- With weighted random selection – More entries = higher chance of winning, but it’s still random. The leaderboard shows who has the best odds.
- With top-position wins – You can manually select winners based on leaderboard position (1st place wins grand prize, etc.)
- Combination – Award prizes to top leaderboard positions AND randomly draw additional winners
Make sure your leaderboard description clearly explains how winners will be selected so participants understand the rules.