Snapchat Giveaway Tool to
Reach the Gen Z Audience
Grow your Snapchat following with verified entry tracking, cross-platform campaigns, and anti-fraud protection. Pair Snapchat with Instagram, TikTok, and more in a single giveaway to build the audience that is hardest to reach anywhere else.
Snapchat Entry Method
One dedicated Snapchat entry method. It is straightforward by design, and it works best as the anchor of a multi-platform campaign that targets the Gen Z audience across every platform they use.
Directs entrants to follow your Snapchat account. This is the core growth action for building your Snap audience. Participants add your account to see your Stories, AR filters, and exclusive content. Set this as a required entry or weight it highest in points so it becomes the first action participants complete.
One Snapchat Method, Unlimited Potential
Snapchat has one dedicated entry method in SweepWidget, and that is by design. Snapchat's ecosystem is closed and ephemeral. Content disappears, there is no public feed to engage with, and the platform does not expose engagement metrics the way Instagram or TikTok does. The Follow User action is the meaningful growth action on Snapchat.
But here is the important part: Snapchat giveaways work best as part of a broader campaign. The audience you are trying to reach on Snapchat (Gen Z, 18-24 year olds, beauty and fashion consumers) lives on multiple platforms simultaneously. A giveaway that only asks for a Snapchat follow leaves growth on the table.
Strategy tip: Use the Snapchat Follow as your anchor entry method, then add Instagram Follow, TikTok Follow, and Email Signup to build your entire Gen Z audience from a single campaign. Data from SweepWidget across 70,000+ giveaways shows contests with 5+ entry methods average 787 entrants compared to 163 for single-method giveaways. See the full data breakdown.
Smart Pairings for Snapchat Giveaways
The real power of a Snapchat giveaway is what you pair it with. Here are the entry methods that complement Snapchat Follow the best.
The natural pairing. Your Snapchat audience almost certainly has Instagram. API-verified follows mean every entry is confirmed.
The Gen Z double play. If someone follows you on Snapchat, they are likely on TikTok too. Grow both platforms at once.
Ask entrants to screenshot their Snap with your AR filter or their Story watching your content. This turns Snapchat into a UGC engine for your giveaway.
Snapchat is built for sharing with friends. Refer-a-friend gives each entrant a unique link they can send through Snapchat DMs, turning your giveaway into a viral loop.
Snapchat Giveaway Combo Strategies
Snapchat has one entry method, but that is the starting point, not the limit. These proven combinations let you grow your Snapchat audience while building every other channel at the same time.
Snapchat + Instagram
The most natural pairing for visual brands. Snapchat Follow as the anchor, Instagram Follow and Like Post for additional entries. Add Upload a File so entrants can submit a Snap screenshot of your AR filter or a Story repost as proof of engagement.
Best for: Beauty brands, fashion labels, lifestyle influencers, product launches.
Snapchat + TikTok
The Gen Z double play. These two platforms share the same core demographic. Snapchat Follow plus TikTok Follow and View Video lets you grow both audiences from a single campaign. Add Refer-a-Friend so entrants share through Snapchat DMs and TikTok comments.
Best for: Creators, entertainment brands, music promotions, viral campaigns.
Snapchat + Upload a File
Turn Snapchat into a UGC collection tool. Ask entrants to screenshot themselves using your branded AR filter, take a Snap at your event, or capture a specific moment. They upload the screenshot as a file entry. You get user-generated content and a Snapchat follower in one action.
Best for: Event promoters, AR filter creators, photo contests, brand activations.
Full Gen Z Stack
The comprehensive approach. Snapchat Follow, Instagram Follow, TikTok Follow, and Email Signup in one giveaway. Each platform is a separate entry worth different points, so participants are incentivized to complete all of them. This is how you build an entire Gen Z audience from a single campaign.
Best for: DTC brands, app launches, major product drops, brand awareness campaigns.
SweepWidget vs. Running Snapchat Giveaways Manually
Most Snapchat giveaways still happen the old way: post a Story saying "screenshot this and DM me to enter" or "add me to win." It feels native, but it creates real problems once you want to pick a fair winner or scale beyond a handful of entries.
| Manual (Story/DM) | SweepWidget | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry tracking | Scroll through DMs. Count screenshots manually. | Real-time dashboard with every entry logged and exportable. |
| Winner selection | Pick randomly from DMs or screenshots. No audit trail. | Built-in random picker (weighted by points) or leaderboard. |
| Fraud protection | None. Anyone can DM from multiple accounts. | VPN blocking, IP limits, email verification, reCAPTCHA. |
| Cross-platform growth | Snapchat only. Separate giveaways for other platforms. | One giveaway, 30+ platforms. Grow everything simultaneously. |
| Entry deadline | Honor system. Stories expire in 24 hours anyway. | Automatic start/end dates with countdown timer. |
| Data collection | Snapchat usernames in DMs. No emails, no demographics. | Email, name, custom fields, UTM tracking, full CSV export. |
| Referral system | None. "Share this Story" has no tracking. | Refer-a-friend with unique links and bonus entries per referral. |
The manual approach has one thing going for it: it feels native to Snapchat. A Story that says "screenshot and DM to enter" takes 30 seconds to create. But you are limited to the 24-hour Story window, you have no way to verify who actually followed you, and picking a winner fairly from a pile of DMs is a headache.
SweepWidget lets you keep the Snapchat Story as your announcement while the actual giveaway runs on a dedicated widget with tracked entries, fraud protection, and cross-platform actions. Share the giveaway link in your Story, in a Snap, or through DMs. Participants tap through, complete their entries, and you get clean data instead of a DM inbox you cannot sort through.
Snapchat Giveaway Ideas That Work
Snapchat's ephemeral, visual-first platform lends itself to specific types of giveaways. These ideas play to the platform's strengths while using SweepWidget to handle the logistics.
AR Filter Screenshot Contest
Create a branded AR filter on Snapchat, then run a giveaway where entrants screenshot themselves using it and upload the image via SweepWidget's Upload a File entry method. You get UGC content featuring your brand, followers on Snapchat, and entries you can actually track. This works especially well for beauty brands, event activations, and product launches where visual engagement matters.
Exclusive Snap Story Reveal
Tease a prize or announcement in a Snapchat Story, then direct viewers to your SweepWidget giveaway to enter. The ephemeral nature of Stories creates urgency. Pair Snapchat Follow with Visit Page (pointing to the Story or your profile) as a daily re-entry option to keep participants checking back for new content.
Event or Location-Based Giveaway
Snapchat's Snap Map and geofilters make it ideal for location-based promotions. Run a giveaway at a conference, store opening, or festival. Attendees follow you on Snapchat, upload a Snap with your event geofilter, and complete additional entries like Instagram Follow or Email Signup. SweepWidget tracks everything from a single widget.
Refer-a-Friend Snap Chain
Snapchat is a private, friend-to-friend platform. Lean into that with SweepWidget's Refer-a-Friend entry method. Each entrant gets a unique referral link they share through Snapchat DMs to friends. Every friend who enters earns the referrer bonus entries. This turns your giveaway into a chain reaction that spreads through friend groups naturally.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I run a giveaway on Snapchat?
Create a giveaway in SweepWidget and add the Snapchat Follow User entry method. Pair it with other entry methods like Instagram Follow, TikTok Follow, or Email Signup to build a multi-platform campaign. Share the giveaway link in your Snapchat Story, through DMs, or on your other social channels. When the giveaway ends, use the built-in winner picker to select winners.
Does SweepWidget only have one Snapchat entry method?
Yes. SweepWidget offers one dedicated Snapchat method: Follow User. Snapchat's closed ecosystem limits what can be tracked programmatically. However, you can use platform-agnostic methods like Upload a File (for Snap screenshots), Visit Page (to direct traffic to your Snapchat profile), and Refer-a-Friend (shareable through Snapchat DMs) to create a rich Snapchat-focused campaign.
Can I collect Snap screenshots as entries?
Yes. Use the Upload a File entry method to let participants upload screenshots from Snapchat. This works for AR filter contests, Story engagement proof, geofilter submissions, or any creative prompt where a visual entry makes sense. All uploaded files are stored in your SweepWidget dashboard for review.
What plan do I need for Snapchat giveaways?
The Snapchat Follow User method is available on the Pro plan. If you pair it with other entry methods, the plan required depends on the highest-tier method in your giveaway. Most cross-platform Snapchat campaigns work on Pro since that plan includes Instagram, TikTok, and other popular entry methods.
How do I prevent fake entries on a Snapchat giveaway?
SweepWidget provides multiple anti-fraud layers: Google reCAPTCHA to block bots, VPN blocking and IP limits to stop duplicate accounts, email verification to confirm real participants, and email/IP blacklists that carry across giveaways. For cross-platform entries like Instagram Follow, API verification confirms the action was actually completed.
Can I combine Snapchat with other platforms in one giveaway?
Yes, and this is the recommended approach. SweepWidget supports 90+ entry methods across 30+ platforms. You can combine Snapchat Follow with Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, Discord, email signup, and more in a single giveaway. Since Snapchat has one dedicated method, multi-platform campaigns are how you maximize the value of a Snapchat-anchored giveaway.
How long should a Snapchat giveaway last?
Based on SweepWidget data across 70,000+ giveaways, 7-14 days is the sweet spot for maximum entries. For Snapchat specifically, the ephemeral nature of the platform means you should re-share your giveaway link in Stories every 1-2 days to maintain visibility since Stories disappear after 24 hours.
Is Snapchat good for giveaways?
Snapchat is valuable for reaching an audience that is increasingly difficult to engage on other platforms. Over 75% of 13-34 year olds in the US use Snapchat, and many of them are less active on Facebook or X. If your target audience is Gen Z or young millennials, Snapchat giveaways help you reach them where they actually spend time. The key is using Snapchat as part of a multi-platform strategy rather than running a Snapchat-only contest.
Ready to Reach the Snapchat Audience?
Create a giveaway with Snapchat Follow, cross-platform entry methods, anti-fraud protection, and tools to grow your entire Gen Z audience from one campaign. No credit card required.
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