Bonus Entries for Giveaways
That Drive More Actions Per User
Add extra chances to your giveaway for any action you can think of. Share on WhatsApp, leave a Google review, visit your blog, tag a friend. Bonus entries are the most flexible entry method in SweepWidget, available on the Free plan, and they support daily re-entry to keep participants coming back.
How Bonus Entries Work
Every other entry method in SweepWidget is tied to a specific platform. Instagram Follow verifies through the Instagram API. Discord Join checks a server. Bonus entries are different. You write any task description you want, set a point value, and participants mark it as done. There is no API verification, which is exactly the point. Bonus entries let you reward actions that no dedicated integration can track.
Bonus entries are one of the few advanced entry methods available on SweepWidget's Free plan. You do not need a paid subscription to add extra chances to your giveaway. This makes bonus entries the easiest way for any brand to start driving more engagement per participant at zero cost.
Set any bonus entry action to repeat daily. Participants can claim the same bonus entry once every 24 hours, earning fresh points each time. This is the key differentiator. Daily re-entry creates a reason for people to come back to your giveaway every single day, which keeps your brand top of mind throughout the campaign.
Set the point value for each bonus entry action independently. A simple task like "Visit our blog" might be worth 1 point, while a high-effort task like "Leave a Google review" could be worth 10 points. This gives you full control over which behaviors you reward most.
Add as many bonus entry actions as you need. "Share on WhatsApp" + "Tag a friend on Facebook" + "Leave a Google review" + "Visit our new product page" can all be separate bonus entry actions in the same giveaway. Each one has its own description, point value, and daily/one-time setting.
Bonus entry points count toward leaderboard rankings. When participants can see their rank climbing with every daily bonus entry, the competition motivates them to return and claim their points. Leaderboard giveaways average 11.9 actions per user compared to 3.6 in standard contests.
Since bonus entries are not API-verified, participants self-report by clicking "done." You can optionally review these claims in the admin dashboard and remove entries from anyone who did not actually complete the task. For most campaigns, the honor system works well. For high-stakes contests, manual verification adds an extra layer of trust.
How to Set Up Bonus Entries
Adding bonus entries to any SweepWidget giveaway takes less than a minute. Here is the process.
In the giveaway builder, go to Entry Methods and search for "Bonus Entry" or browse the Other category.
Add the entry method and write a task description. This is what participants see. For example: "Share this giveaway on WhatsApp" or "Leave a review on Google."
Set the point value (1 point, 5 points, 10 points, etc.) and choose whether it is required or optional.
Toggle daily re-entry if you want participants to be able to claim this bonus every 24 hours. Leave it off for one-time actions.
Repeat for as many bonus actions as you want. Publish. Participants see each bonus entry as a separate action in the widget and can claim them right away.
For the best results, combine bonus entries with platform-specific entry methods. Giveaways with 5+ entry methods average 787 entrants compared to 163 for single-method contests. Bonus entries fill the gaps where no dedicated integration exists.
3 Bonus Entry Campaign Designs That Work
Bonus entries are flexible enough to serve completely different goals depending on how you structure them. Here are three proven campaign designs, each built around bonus entries as the core engagement driver.
Daily Engagement Loop
Set bonus entries to daily and keep people coming back every 24 hours
Most giveaways get one visit per participant. They enter, complete the available actions, and leave. A daily bonus entry changes that pattern entirely. When participants know they can earn fresh points every 24 hours, they return daily to claim them. Over a 14-day giveaway, a single daily bonus entry action generates up to 14 touchpoints per person instead of one.
Recommended setup:
- Bonus Entry: "Visit our site daily" - 2 points, daily re-entry ON
- Bonus Entry: "Share on social media" - 3 points, daily re-entry ON
- Email Signup - 1 point (one-time, captures the lead)
- Instagram Follow - 3 points (one-time, social proof)
Why it works: The daily entries create a habit loop. Participants check back each morning, claim their bonus, and while they are on the page, they see your brand, your products, or your content. Each return visit reinforces brand awareness and increases the chance of a conversion even after the giveaway ends.
Best paired with: A leaderboard. Daily bonus entries stack points over time, which makes the leaderboard dynamic. Participants who return every day climb the ranks and push others to do the same. SweepWidget data shows giveaways running 8-14 days average 956 entrants, the ideal window for daily engagement to compound.
Review and UGC Collection
Use bonus entries to incentivize reviews, testimonials, and user-generated content
There is no "Leave a Google Review" API or "Post a Testimonial on Trustpilot" integration. But these are some of the most valuable actions a participant can take. Bonus entries let you reward any off-platform action by describing the task and assigning points. Participants complete the action on their own and mark it as done in the widget.
Recommended setup:
- Bonus Entry: "Leave a Google review" - 10 points (high value, one-time)
- Bonus Entry: "Share a photo with our product on Instagram Stories" - 5 points
- Bonus Entry: "Post a Trustpilot review" - 8 points (one-time)
- Refer a Friend - 5 points per referral (bring new reviewers in)
Why it works: Reviews and UGC are hard to get organically. Offering bonus entry points gives people a tangible reason to take the time. A Google review or a tagged Instagram Story has long-term marketing value that outlasts the giveaway itself. You collect social proof while running the contest.
Verification tip: For high-value actions like Google reviews, use the manual verification option. Check the admin dashboard to confirm submissions are real before awarding points. For lower-value actions like sharing a story, the honor system is typically sufficient.
Multi-Channel Amplification
Use bonus entries for channels without dedicated integrations
SweepWidget has 110+ entry methods with API verification for platforms like Instagram, Discord, X, YouTube, and Shopify. But not every platform has an API. WhatsApp, Reddit posts, email forwards, Telegram messages to friends, and offline actions all fall outside API coverage. Bonus entries fill those gaps. You describe the action, and participants complete it on their own.
Recommended setup:
- Bonus Entry: "Share on WhatsApp" - 3 points, daily re-entry ON
- Bonus Entry: "Forward this to 3 friends via email" - 3 points
- Bonus Entry: "Post about us on Reddit" - 5 points
- X Follow + Repost - 2 points each (API-verified)
- Instagram Follow - 3 points (API-verified)
Why it works: When you combine API-verified methods with bonus entry methods, you cover every channel your audience uses. The API methods handle the big platforms automatically. The bonus entries handle everything else. The result is a giveaway that drives actions across channels you could never reach with platform integrations alone.
Pro tip: Use daily re-entry on sharing-focused bonus entries (WhatsApp, email forwards). Participants share to different groups each day, expanding your reach over time. Over a 14-day campaign, that is 14 separate sharing opportunities per person.
How to Pair Bonus Entries with Other Platforms
Bonus entries are most effective when combined with platform-specific entry methods. The API-verified methods handle the core social actions. The bonus entries fill in everything else. Here is how bonus entries pair with different campaign types.
Instagram Giveaway + Bonus Entries
Use the Instagram Follow and Like entry methods for API-verified actions. Then add bonus entries for actions Instagram's API does not cover: "Tag 2 friends in the comments," "Share this post to your Story," or "Save this post." These are high-value engagement signals that improve your organic reach on the platform.
Discord Community + Bonus Entries
Use the Discord Join Server entry method to verify that participants actually joined. Then add bonus entries for community participation that goes beyond joining: "Introduce yourself in #general," "React to the pinned announcement," or "Invite a friend to the server." These bonus actions transform passive joiners into active community members.
E-Commerce Promotions + Bonus Entries
Use the Shopify purchase tracking method to award points per dollar spent. Then add bonus entries for pre-purchase and post-purchase actions: "Add an item to your wishlist," "Leave a product review," "Unbox your order on TikTok," or "Share your purchase on Instagram." These actions increase customer lifetime value beyond the initial transaction.
Filling the Gaps Where No API Exists
Some of the most valuable marketing actions happen on platforms that simply do not offer API verification. WhatsApp shares, email forwards to colleagues, offline store visits, podcast listens, app downloads from specific links. Bonus entries are the only way to incentivize these actions within a giveaway. You describe the task, participants complete it, and they earn points. It is that simple.
The pattern: Use API-verified entry methods for the big platforms (Instagram, Discord, X, YouTube, Shopify). Use bonus entries for everything else. This combination gives you full coverage across every channel your audience touches, from verified social follows to self-reported actions on platforms without integrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are bonus entries in a giveaway?
Bonus entries are extra chances to win that participants earn by completing specific actions you define. Unlike platform-specific entry methods (which verify through APIs), bonus entries let you describe any task you want. "Share on WhatsApp," "Leave a Google review," "Visit our blog." The participant marks the action as done, and they earn the points you assigned. Bonus entries are the most flexible entry method SweepWidget offers.
Do I need a paid plan to use bonus entries?
No. Bonus entries are available on SweepWidget's Free plan. You can add multiple bonus entry actions with custom point values, set them as daily or one-time, and make them required or optional. This makes bonus entries one of the most accessible ways to increase engagement without upgrading your subscription.
How does daily re-entry work?
When you enable daily re-entry on a bonus entry action, participants can claim that entry once every 24 hours. Each day, the action resets and they earn fresh points. This is designed for repeatable tasks like "Share on social media" or "Visit our site." Over a 14-day giveaway, a single daily bonus entry could generate up to 14 visits per participant.
Are bonus entries verified automatically?
No. Bonus entries are self-reported. Participants click "done" to claim the points. This is by design, because bonus entries cover actions that no API can verify (WhatsApp shares, Google reviews, offline visits). For low-stakes campaigns, the honor system works well. For high-value contests, you can manually review bonus entry claims in the admin dashboard and remove any that look fraudulent.
Can I add multiple bonus entry actions to one giveaway?
Yes. There is no limit. You can add as many bonus entry actions as you want, each with its own description, point value, and daily/one-time setting. For example, one giveaway could include "Share on WhatsApp" (3 points, daily), "Leave a Google review" (10 points, one-time), and "Tag a friend on Facebook" (2 points, one-time). Giveaways with more entry methods tend to attract more entrants. Contests with 5+ methods average 787 entrants compared to 163 for single-method giveaways.
Do bonus entry points count toward the leaderboard?
Yes. Points earned from bonus entries are added to the participant's total and count toward their leaderboard ranking. If you combine daily bonus entries with a leaderboard, participants who return every day to claim their bonus will steadily climb the rankings. This creates a visible incentive to keep coming back. Leaderboard giveaways average 11.9 actions per user compared to 3.6 in standard contests.
Can I combine bonus entries with platform-specific entry methods?
Yes, and this is the recommended approach. Use API-verified entry methods for platforms that support them (Instagram Follow, Discord Join, X Repost, YouTube Subscribe, Shopify Purchase). Use bonus entries for everything else (WhatsApp shares, Google reviews, email forwards, offline actions). This combination gives you full coverage across every channel your audience uses, with verification where it is available and flexibility where it is not.
What are the best bonus entry ideas for a giveaway?
The most effective bonus entry actions fall into three categories. First, sharing: "Share on WhatsApp," "Forward to 3 friends," "Post about us on Reddit." These expand your reach to audiences you cannot target through ads. Second, reviews and UGC: "Leave a Google review," "Post a photo with our product," "Write a Trustpilot review." These generate social proof with lasting value. Third, daily engagement: "Visit our site daily," "Check out today's featured product." These drive repeat visits and keep your brand top of mind throughout the campaign.
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