How to create a photo contest or gallery

Let's dive into launching a photo campaign! Photo campaigns come in two main types: the photo contest and the photo gallery. The photo contest involves people submitting their entries and others voting on them, while the photo gallery is essentially a user-generated content gallery that you host with your branding all over the place. It's a fantastic way to visually represent your brand and encourage engagement.

Now, typically, the clients that tend to go for photo contests are those with visually appealing product lines or services that involve transformations. For instance, if you have a before-and-after option, like in beauty products, or even if you're in a less visually-oriented sector like finance, you can run themed contests based on what's going on in your region. There's always a theme you can encourage people to get behind and submit photos for. It brings whimsy and fun around your brand and keeps your social feeds lively.

So, let's get into how to create one of these campaigns. First, head to the campaigns section in the navigation and click "add new." Filter for "photo" and choose either a photo contest or gallery. Let's say we're doing a Mother's Day campaign because it's right around the corner. Click "use this template," but always preview it first to ensure it looks the way you want.

Now, we're in the campaign setup. Change the name to something identifiable, like "Mother's Day Photo Contest 2024." Ensure you're displaying photos and collecting them too. You can allow one or two photos, depending on the contest theme. Make sure to include rules and disclaimers, either by linking to your website or pasting them directly into the setup.

Choose or edit the submission form and integrate it with your email service provider or CRM to add contestants to your mailing list automatically. Customize email notifications as needed and set the start and end dates for the contest. You can even set up voting frequency to encourage repeat visits.

Consider whether to show vote counts or hide them until voting ends for added suspense. Now, onto social sharing. Enable users to share their submissions on social media, using the campaign microsite link for best results. You can add a default comment in the share message, and even override moderation settings or publish approved submissions directly to your social accounts.

Once you're done, you'll receive a link to share via email or embed on your website. Utilize widgets to further promote your campaign and get ready for engagement and great results!