Choosing a winner is the easy part. Trust is the hard part. These steps help you run a giveaway that entrants believe in.
1. Write the rules first
Before the first entry, publish the prize, start and end dates, how to enter, who can enter, how the winner is chosen, and how they will be contacted. Putting this in writing protects you if anyone disputes the outcome.
2. Collect entries in one place
Keep a clean list of every entrant. If your rules allow only one entry per person, remove duplicates before the draw. Our wheel has a Remove duplicates button for this. If some entrants earn bonus entries, record that too.
3. Draw live and in the open
Paste the entrants into the giveaway wheel, add *2 or *3 for bonus entries, and spin on camera. Announce the winner right away and share the result record link so people can see the list and the pick.
4. Verify the winner
Check that the winner followed the rules and is eligible, for example the correct location or age. If not, draw again and say so openly. It is also wise to draw a backup winner in case the first does not reply within the time in your rules.
5. Keep records
- Entry list or screenshot
- Result record link or a recording of the draw
- Winner communication
- Proof the prize was delivered
6. Do not forget the law
Giveaways can be regulated, especially if entrants pay or must buy something. Read our guide to giveaway rules and check your local rules.
A sample announcement you can adapt
Clear wording protects you and reassures entrants. Adapt this for your own giveaway: "The giveaway closes on Friday at 6 pm Eastern. We will paste all eligible entrants into a random wheel that uses a cryptographic random number generator and draw live on our stream at 7 pm. We will post the entry list and the result link afterward. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, we will draw a replacement."
Notice what this does. It names the time, the method, the evidence you will publish and the fallback. Nothing is left for entrants to guess about.
Common mistakes in giveaways
- Choosing a "random" winner by hand because it feels random.
- Letting the rules change after entries open.
- Counting spam or bot accounts as valid entries.
- Announcing the winner before checking eligibility.
- Losing the record of entries after the draw.
