Swipe Files - 📂 Run a newsletter sweepstakes

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Ever since going through Blogging For Business, I've been a massive fan. In fact, they're one of the companies I feature in Marketing Like A Media Company with their top-notch blog, YouTube channel, media personalities, and more.

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File this one under the sometimes crazy marketing ideas.

Patrick Trousdale @pat_trousdale I wanted to share my learnings from a sweepstakes that added 23,500 subscribers to The Daily Upside newsletter overnight. 👇 April 28th 2021 0 Retweets 22 Likes

To be honest, I couldn't really tell you what a sweepstakes campaign before this thread.

Here's the TLDR:

• Several newsletters all join forces and offer a prize (e.g. a Peloton bike)
• Each newsletter emails their list to opt in to a platform like DojoMojo to handle the giveaway
• When readers opt in, they agree to be emailed by all the newsletters participating in the giveaway
• The prize is given out after a certain amount of time, but everyone still gets emailed (until they unsubscribe).

The end result is that you can add thousands, even tens of thousands of subscribers to your list overnight and starting marketing to them.

One of the smart things that Patrick did was to spin up a new domain to email from for the sweepstakes campaign so he didn't hurt the deliverability of his main domain.

Patrick Trousdale @pat_trousdale So we actually bought a new domain, set up a new mailchimp, and quarantined these new readers in a playpen account until they demonstrated interest. I highly recommend that, as the spam complaints on the new list were HIGH, as you'd expect. As for the engagement...of the 23k Patrick Trousdale @pat_trousdale But those that didn't likely trusted us more. We were extremely concerned about emailing these 23k new people, and what it might do to our deliverability. We've spent 1.5 years building our list with tight protocols, and know how damaging a busted IP or domain reputation can be April 28th 2021 0 Retweets 2 Likes

Sweepstakes might not be the sexiest marketing tactic out there, but as long it's done ethically, it can be a huge success.

Patrick Trousdale @pat_trousdale Quick update on the Sweepstakes front - the sponsor click through rate on the engaged subscribers is hovering at around 3%. The sweepstakes is paying for itself every. single. day. Patrick Trousdale @pat_trousdale If you found this helpful hit me with a follow, retweet, or venmo me May 20th 2021 0 Retweets 4 Likes

But can it work for SaaS?

I don't see why not. It would take some nuance and care, but the same mechanics can be used to massively grow your newsletter and prospect list.

—Corey

p.s. did you see that I launched my new course, Marketing Like A Media Company? Would love for you to check it out →​

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