Custom Form Fields for Giveaways
- Collect Data While People Enter
Stop sending participants to a separate form after they enter your giveaway. With SweepWidget's custom form fields, you collect the exact data you need (shirt sizes, feedback, shipping addresses, survey responses) as part of the entry flow itself. No extra tools. No drop-off between steps.
6 Field Types Built Into Every Giveaway
Custom form fields are not standalone entry methods. They are fields you add to your giveaway's pre-entry or entry flow. Participants fill them out as part of entering. You get structured data alongside every entry, all exportable to CSV. Here are the six field types available.
Single-line text for short responses. Use it for names, company names, shirt sizes, social media handles, or any quick answer. Great for collecting one specific data point per participant.
A dropdown menu where participants pick one option from your predefined list. Perfect for "How did you hear about us?", country selection, product preference, or any question with a fixed set of answers.
Single-choice selection displayed as visible buttons. Participants see all options at once and pick one. Ideal for yes/no questions, age ranges, preference polls, or any time you want all choices visible without a dropdown click.
Multi-line text for longer responses. Use it for feedback, testimonials, shipping addresses, essay-style contest entries, or any question that needs more than a single line. Participants can write as much as they need.
A single checkbox for yes/no confirmations. Use it for terms and conditions acceptance, opt-in consent for marketing emails, age verification, or any binary acknowledgment you need on record before someone enters.
Multiple checkboxes where participants can select more than one option. Perfect for "Which products are you interested in?", hobby/interest selection, or any question where multiple answers apply. Each selection is captured in your CSV export.
Why Collect Data Inside the Giveaway?
The standard approach is to run a giveaway, collect email addresses, and then send a follow-up survey. The problem: most people never fill out the survey. By the time you send it, the excitement of the giveaway is gone.
Custom form fields solve this by embedding your questions directly in the entry flow. Participants are already motivated to complete every step because each one brings them closer to winning. Your data collection happens at peak engagement, not hours or days later when attention has moved on.
Every response is tied to the participant's entry and exported alongside their email, entry methods completed, and total points in a single CSV file. No matching data between two different tools.
Custom Fields vs. Separate Form Tools
You could use a standalone form tool and link to it from your giveaway. But that adds friction, splits your data across two platforms, and drops participants between steps. Here is how SweepWidget's built-in custom fields compare to the common alternatives.
vs. Google Forms
Google Forms is free and flexible, but it is a separate tool. You would need to link participants to a Google Form after they enter your giveaway, or vice versa. That means two steps, two URLs, and two data sets to merge later. Participants who complete one step often skip the other. With SweepWidget, the form fields are inside the giveaway widget itself. One step, one data export, zero drop-off between tools.
vs. Typeform and Survey Tools
Typeform and similar survey platforms are built for standalone surveys, not for giveaway entry flows. They have no winner selection, no entry tracking, no social follow verification, and no referral systems. If you want to collect data AND run a giveaway, you need two subscriptions and a way to connect the data. SweepWidget replaces both tools. Custom fields handle the survey. The rest of the platform handles the giveaway, winner selection, and 110+ entry methods.
vs. Manual Data Collection (Spreadsheets, DMs, Comments)
Some organizers ask participants to leave answers in comments, DMs, or a shared spreadsheet. This approach is time-consuming to manage, impossible to validate, and creates a mess when you try to match responses to entries. Custom form fields automate the entire process. Responses are structured, validated, and tied to each participant's entry record. Export everything to CSV with one click.
vs. WordPress Form Plugins
WordPress plugins like WPForms or Gravity Forms are powerful form builders, but they do not handle giveaway logic. No random winner selection, no point-based entries, no social verification, no leaderboards. You would need to build custom integrations to connect form submissions to a separate giveaway tool. SweepWidget's custom fields live inside the giveaway natively, so there is nothing to connect.
The core advantage: When data collection and giveaway entry happen in the same step, completion rates stay high. Participants do not need to leave the widget, open a new tab, or remember to fill out a form later. They answer your questions, complete their entries, and you get clean, structured data tied to every participant.
How to Add Custom Form Fields to a Giveaway
Adding custom fields takes less than two minutes. You can add them to new giveaways or edit them into existing ones. Here is the step-by-step process.
Open the Giveaway Builder
Create a new giveaway or edit an existing one. Navigate to the Entry Methods section in the builder. Custom fields can be added to any giveaway on a Pro plan or higher, at any point before or after launch.
Search for "Custom Fields" and Add Your Field Type
Search for the specific field type you need: Text Input, Select/Dropdown, Radio Buttons, Textarea, Checkbox, or Multi-Checkbox. Add as many fields as your plan allows. Each field is a separate entry method that you can reorder, make required or optional, and assign point values to.
Configure Your Questions and Options
Write your question or label for each field. For Dropdown, Radio, and Multi-Checkbox fields, define the answer options participants can choose from. Set whether each field is required (must be completed to enter) or optional (earns bonus points if completed). Assign a point value to each field.
Place Fields in Pre-Entry or Entry Flow
Decide where your custom fields appear. Pre-entry fields show before the main entry methods, so participants fill them out first. Entry flow fields appear alongside your other entry methods (social follows, referrals, etc.) and can be completed in any order. Use pre-entry for data you must have from every participant, like shipping address or age verification.
Publish and Export Data
Launch your giveaway. As participants enter and fill out your custom fields, their responses are captured in real time. When the giveaway ends (or anytime during), export all entries to CSV. The export includes every participant's email, custom field responses, entry methods completed, total points, referral count, and entry timestamp, all in a single file.
Need detailed instructions? The custom fields setup guide walks through every option with screenshots, including how to configure pre-entry fields, set required vs. optional, and export responses.
What Can You Collect with Custom Fields?
Custom form fields are flexible enough for market research, event logistics, lead qualification, and product feedback. Here are some practical examples of what you can collect and which field type to use.
Market Research
- "How did you hear about us?" (Dropdown)
- "Which products interest you?" (Multi-Checkbox)
- "What is your biggest challenge with X?" (Textarea)
- "Your age range" (Radio Buttons)
Product Giveaways
- "Select your size: S, M, L, XL" (Dropdown)
- "Preferred color" (Radio Buttons)
- "Shipping address" (Textarea)
- "I agree to contest terms" (Checkbox)
Event Registration
- "Dietary restrictions" (Multi-Checkbox)
- "Which sessions will you attend?" (Multi-Checkbox)
- "Company name" (Text Input)
- "Special accommodations needed?" (Textarea)
Lead Qualification
- "Company size" (Dropdown)
- "Your role/title" (Text Input)
- "Budget range" (Radio Buttons)
- "Opt in to product demo" (Checkbox)
Custom fields work alongside every other SweepWidget feature. Combine them with email subscription entry methods to push responses directly into your CRM, or pair them with refer-a-friend to collect data and grow your audience at the same time. Giveaways with 5+ entry methods average 787 entrants compared to 163 for single-method contests, based on SweepWidget data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of custom form fields can I add to a giveaway?
SweepWidget supports six custom field types: Text Input (single-line text), Select/Dropdown (pick one from a list), Radio Buttons (single choice, all options visible), Textarea (multi-line text), Checkbox (single yes/no confirmation), and Multi-Checkbox (select multiple options). All six are available on Pro plans and above.
Can I make custom fields required for entry?
Yes. Each custom field can be set as required or optional. Required fields must be completed before a participant can finish their entry. Optional fields earn bonus points when completed but do not block entry. You can also place required fields in the pre-entry section so participants fill them out before seeing other entry methods.
How do I export the custom field responses?
Go to your giveaway's reporting page and click the CSV export button. The export includes every participant's email address, custom field responses, entry methods completed, total points, referral count, and entry timestamp. All data is in a single file, so you do not need to match responses between separate tools.
Can I use custom fields to collect shipping addresses from winners?
Yes. Add a Textarea field labeled "Shipping Address" and set it as required. Every participant provides their address as part of entering, so when you select winners you already have their shipping information. No follow-up emails needed. This is especially useful for product giveaways where you need to ship physical prizes.
Do I need a separate form tool like Google Forms or Typeform?
No. SweepWidget's custom form fields replace the need for a separate form tool when you are collecting data alongside giveaway entries. The fields are built into the giveaway widget, so participants answer your questions as part of entering. Responses are stored with each entry and exported to CSV. No third-party integrations or data matching required.
How many custom fields can I add to a single giveaway?
Each custom field counts as one entry method toward your plan's total. Pro plans allow up to 40 total actions per contest, Business allows 60, Premium allows 80, and Enterprise allows 125. Since most giveaways combine custom fields with social follows, referrals, and other entry methods, you will rarely need more than 5-10 custom fields per giveaway.
Can I use custom fields for terms and conditions acceptance?
Yes. Add a Checkbox field with a label like "I agree to the contest terms and conditions" and set it as required. Participants must check the box before they can complete their entry. This gives you a recorded acknowledgment from every participant, which is useful for compliance and legal documentation.
What plan do I need for custom form fields?
All six custom field types (Text Input, Select/Dropdown, Radio Buttons, Textarea, Checkbox, and Multi-Checkbox) are available on Pro plans and above. Pro is the entry-level paid plan and includes custom fields along with 40 total actions per contest, 50 winners/prizes, and all core giveaway features.
Collect Custom Data with Every Giveaway Entry
Build giveaways with built-in forms. 6 field types, CSV export, 110+ entry methods, and no separate tools needed. Available on Pro plans and above.
Create Custom Form Fields Giveaway