4 posts tagged with "wordpress"

We've all seen them enticing Instagram giveaways that seem too good to be true. Like and follow for a chance to win a Rolex? Yes, please! Unfortunately, in our world of constant information and AI deepfakes, it's getting harder to distinguish the real from the fake. And, if you do fall victim to a scam, the consequences can be catastrophic. But don't worry - we're here to help.

In this article, we'll guide you through the red flags and help you spot and report the most common fake giveaways on Instagram. 

Key Takeaways​

• The verification status of a brand's account serves as an important marker of credibility. If an account posting a giveaway isn't verified, it’s probably not legit.
• New accounts with few followers or recent activity that are hosting large giveaways are typically red flags. 
• Pay close attention to the quality of the giveaway post. Spelling mistakes, poor translations, and the use of stock or stolen images are huge red flags. 
• A legitimate giveaway should have clear, manageable requirements. If the requirements are overly complicated, or if there is a push for additional actions to gain extra entries, then it’s likely a scam. 
• Be wary if the giveaway isn’t transparent about its terms and conditions.
• If you spot a fake giveaway on Instagram, do your civic duty by reporting, blocking, and refraining from providing any personal information to such accounts.
• If you want to run a legit Instagram giveaway on WordPress, the best tool by far is Raffle Leader.

Common Signs Of Fake Instagram Giveaways​

Most fake Instagram giveaways will have one or multiple of these common signs:

The Giveaway Account Is a Famous Brand Name, But It's Not Verified​

There are instances where a famous brand name is involved, but the account isn’t verified. Instagram verifies accounts of public figures or notable brands to avoid confusion. If a supposed brand account running a giveaway isn't verified, that's a big red flag.

The Giveaway Account Has Only Just Been Created​

Fresh accounts that are hosting massive giveaways should also raise your eyebrows. Scammers often create new accounts to avoid being tracked by Instagram or those they've defrauded.

The Giveaway Account Doesn't Have Any Followers or Recent Activity​

Scammers often run dozens or hundreds of accounts at a time, so they don’t put much effort into building any one account, resulting in a low follower count and low activity. 

There Are Spelling Mistakes or Translation Errors in the Giveaway Post​

Legitimate companies typically review their posts several times before publishing, and scammers are often not native English speakers, so spelling errors and poor translations are signs of a scam. 

The Giveaway Post Uses Stock Images or Stolen Images​

We've noted occurrences where stock images or stolen images are used in the fake giveaway posts. It's essential to watch out for this, as well-respected brands would use their own, high-quality images.

The Giveaway Seems Too Good To Be True​

I’m sorry, that faceless Instagram page with 200 followers is not actually giving away a Lamborghini. If the giveaway seems too good to be true, then it probably is. 

The Giveaway Asks You to Complete Too Many Tasks​

If the giveaway requirements are overly complicated or reek of desperation, it is most likely a scam. Likewise, if the giveaway wants you to submit personal information like your address or bank account information, it is definitely a scam. 

The Giveaway Sets a Minimum Number of Followers​

Be wary of scams that set an unrealistic minimum follower count to participate. Remember, everyone deserves a fair chance to win!

There Are No Terms and Conditions​

A lack of terms and conditions makes it too easy for scam artists to wiggle out of their “promises”. Any giveaway worth its salt will have clear rules and regulations.

There’s No Certificate of The Prize Draw​

All legal sweepstakes and giveaways need proof like a certificate for the prize draw. If missing, it’s likely a scam.

The Organizer Doesn't Answer Your Messages​

When questions go unanswered, it's a bad sign. It indicates either neglect or stealth, neither of which are things that you want to see from a giveaway promoter. 

The Giveaway Post Uses Lots of Random Hashtags​

Hashtags serve a purpose, but when the giveaway uses them randomly and excessively, it is likely attempting to reach a wider audience of potential victims.

There Are Bots in The Comments​

If you see comments like these, it’s your sign to get far, far away.

The Giveaway Isn’t Mentioned on The Brand’s Website or Other Social Media​

It’s very unlikely that a brand would host an Instagram giveaway and not mention it on any of its other websites or social media pages. 

At the end of the day, the key to avoiding scams is to trust your instincts. If a giveaway seems too good to be true, it probably is, and if an Instagram page seems fishy, it probably is. There will be tons of opportunities to enter Instagram giveaways. The pickier you are with the ones you enter, the more secure your personal information will be.

How To Report And Block Fake Instagram Giveaways​

Now that you know the common signs of fake Instagram giveaways, it's time to learn how to take action against these scammers. It is only through reporting, blocking, and safeguarding our data that we can keep Instagram safe for everyone. 

Check the Details​

Often, the devil's in the details. Scrutinize the problematic giveaway post, the account running it, and its associated content. Make note of specifics such as the username and any suspicious behaviors that drew your attention to them in the first place. Gather as much information as you can, as this will prove invaluable when formally reporting the account to Instagram.

Send The Report​

Once you've gathered sufficient evidence, it's time to report the offending account. To do so:

Visit the suspicious account or post.

Tap the three horizontal dots "..." located at the top right corner.

Choose "Report".

Follow the prompts, providing Instagram with the necessary information about the nature of the scam.

Block​

Taking action doesn't stop at reporting. It's vital to block the offending account to prevent any further communication or unsolicited activity from them. By blocking them, we not only protect ourselves but also limit their reach to other unsuspecting Instagram users.

Luckily, blocking on Instagram is super simple.

First, go to the profile of the account you wish to block.

Next, tap the three horizontal dots "..." located at the top right corner.

Lastly, select "Block". Confirm your decision if prompted.

Be Data Safe​

In a world where data is highly coveted and mishandling of personal information prevalent, it's important to exercise caution and be data safe. Avoid providing personal information or clicking on suspicious links related to these giveaways. If in doubt, always err on the side of caution. Remember, if something appears too good to be true, it usually is.

By staying vigilant and proactive, we can help keep the Instagram community safe from these fraudulent activities.

A well-designed popup can be a game-changer for your website's conversion rates, as it helps engage visitors, generate leads, and increase sales. However, it’s not exactly easy to create one from scratch, which is where popup plugins come into play.  Today, there are a plethora of WordPress popup plugins available, but they aren’t all created equal. Some offer a wide range of customization options, while others focus on simplicity and ease of use. Choosing the one that's right for you is essential, so in this article, we'll explore the best WordPress popup plugins, highlighting their unique features and benefits.

Do I Really Need a Popup Plugin?​

If your goal is to generate more leads from your site, then the answer is a simple yes, you need a popup plugin. 

Email popups convert an astounding 3.8% of website visitors. They are an extremely powerful tool for finding new leads and increasing sales. The only problem is actually creating a popup. This is where plugins come in. 

Plugins automate the complex process of creating a popup from scratch, saving you time, energy, and potential technical mishaps. Moreover, they come with detailed analytics for better decision-making. Popup plugins track clicks, views, and conversion rates - essential data for refining your strategies.

Basically, the right plugin makes it so anybody can easily benefit from the wonders of popups. 

The 5 Best Popup Plugins For WordPress​

WordPress is home to various popup plugins, each boasting unique features and functions. But out of the myriad options available, the following seven popup plugins stand out with their impressive capabilities.

1. OptinMonster​

OptinMonster is a WordPress popup builder used by over one million websites that helps you convert website visitors into email leads, and eventually, more sales. 

OptinMonster uses a Drag-n-Drop builder to create popups. With this builder, you can create everything from lightbox popups to countdown timers to coupon wheel opt-ins. And because it’s a Drag-n-Drop builder, everything is customizable without needing to know any code.

Beyond the customizable campaigns, OptinMonster also enables you to direct your popups to occur at certain times (like when users are about to leave your site or have been idle for a while) and at certain people (like from a specific location or a specific website).

Strengths: 

• Easy to use drag-n-drop builder
• Ad-Block detection
• Mobile friendly templates
• Great customer support

Weaknesses:

• Free plan is very limited
• Built-in metrics are a bit basic
• Not many template options
• It is quite expensive to get all of the features

Pricing: Options at $9/mo, $19/mo, $29/mo, and $49/mo, billed annually. 

2. Sumo​

Sumo is another high-performing popup plugin. More than 37,000 customers use it to grow their email list, increase conversions, and generate more sales.

Sumo integrates directly into WooCommerce, enabling you to create and customize opt-in forms, add share buttons, email subscribers, and reduce cart abandonment. 

Strengths:

• Strong customer support
• Easy to set up
• Built-in A/B testing

Weaknesses:

• Visitor-facing branding on the free version
• Some reports of the plugin slowing down customers’ websites
• The premium plan is pretty expensive

Pricing: Free or $49/mo, dropping to $39/mo if you buy an annual plan. 

3. Popup Maker​

Popup Maker is one of the most popular and beloved popup plugins on this list, with over 700,000 installations and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.

The beauty of Popup Maker is in its unlimited and unrestricted design options, from the popup's size and positioning to its animation effect. It's a plugin that truly lets your creativity take the lead.

Strengths:

• A wide range of popups, from e-Commerce to contact forms.
• Integration with wooCommerce, Ninja Forms, WPForms, Mailchimp, ConverKit, Hubspot, and more. 
• Conditions that allow you to target exactly who will (and will not) see your popups.
• A strong free version
• Smarter cookie settings that ensure your popups aren’t annoying

Weaknesses:

• Many of the best features are only in the premium plan.
• Analytics are only offered in the premium plan, or for $45/year. 

Pricing: Free, $87/year, $147/year, $247/year

4. Bloom​

Created by Elegant Themes, Bloom is a popup plugin designed to build your email list. It does this through six different types of forms:

1. Automatic opt-in popups
2. Automatic opt-in fly-ins
3. In-line opt-in forms
4. Below content opt-in forms
5. Widget area opt-in forms
6. Require opt-in to unlock content

Overall, Bloom is easy to use, offering over 100 customizable templates, and quite powerful, offering features like triggers, time delays, and targeting.

Strengths:

• Integrations with 19 major email platforms like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and Hubspot. 
• Over 100 customizable templates
• Highly targeted display settings
• A/B testing
• Robust analytics dashboard

Weaknesses:

• No free version A- n almost overwhelming amount of templates and features

Pricing: $89/year or $287/year

5. Thrive Leads​

Thrive Leads is another powerful popup plugin that allows you to create effective opt-in forms that build your email list, leading to more sales.

Creating popups with Thrive Leads is very simple because of their drag-and-drop editor and pre-made templates. Whether it is a popup lightbox, in-line form, or opt-in widget, Thrive Leads makes it easy to build.

In addition to the editor, Thrive Leads also offers advanced targeting that boosts your conversions by tailoring your popups to your visitors. 

Strengths:

• Includes A/B testing
• Dozens of templates and mobile-specific forms
• Advanced targeting
• Detailed analytics
• Multiple trigger options
• Integrations with all major email marketing platforms

Weaknesses:

• Slightly slower than some of the other options
• No free option

Pricing: $99/year

What is the best popup plugin for WordPress?​

Each of these 5 options are excellent popup plugins. You’d be well-served going with any of them.

However, after examining each plugin, we’ve determined that Thrive Leads is the best option on the market. It offers all of the features you could ever want, and it does so at a ridiculously affordable $99/year. Simply put, that is hard to beat.

We hope this article helped you pick the best popup plugin for your WordPress website. If you’re ready to take your lead generation campaigns to the next level, then you need to check out Raffle Leader, the best WordPress giveaway plugin on the market today. 

Running a giveaway on Instagram isn't just a trend, it's a proven method to boost engagement, increase followers, and build brand awareness. But how does one navigate the process effectively? It's not as daunting as it may seem.

Firstly, it's essential to understand the mechanics of a successful Instagram giveaway. It's more than just posting a prize and waiting for the likes to roll in. There's strategy involved, from selecting the right prize to crafting a compelling call-to-action.

Lastly, it's important to know the rules. Instagram has guidelines for contests and giveaways that you'll need to follow. Ignoring these could lead to your giveaway being shut down or worse, your account being suspended. So, let's dive into the world of Instagram giveaways and discover how to run one successfully.

Understanding the Basics of a Instagram Giveaway​

Possessing a thorough understanding of the basics of an Instagram giveaway is vital for anyone intending to use this strategy. Delving into the mechanics of these social media contests allows businesses to extract maximum value without stumbling over unforeseen pitfalls.

Defining Your Giveaway Goals​

Before one ventures into the world of Instagram giveaways, it's critical to clearly define what the end objective is. Whether it's increasing followership, sparking engagement, raising brand awareness or instigating user-generated content, these objectives should be vivid and measurable. It's these goals that'll inform the type of giveaway to run, the ideal prize, and the primary call-to-action.

When setting goals, one should consider factors such as:

• The target demographic: a clear understanding of the target audience will dictate the kind of prize that'll be appealing and subsequently, successful.
• The desired growth number: this helps in tracking the success of the giveaway.

Knowing Instagram’s Promotion Guidelines​

Like any other platform, Instagram has its own set of promotion guidelines that marketers ought to strictly adhere to. Neglecting these rules could result in unpleasant repercussions like having the giveaway shut down or the account suspended. Familiarize yourself with these guidelines located under Instagram's policy section; they're regularly updated and provide comprehensive information on how to legally run promotions on the platform.

Key guidelines include:

• Acknowledging that the promotion is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.
• Providing clear and concise rules that follow Instagram's community guidelines.

By defining the end goals and understanding Instagram's promotion rules, brands can confidently orchestrate giveaways that drive the desired results. This foundational knowledge lays the groundwork for more focused strategies that'll revisit throughout the article.

Planning and Preparation​

Preparing for an Instagram giveaway involves much more than just choosing a prize and announcing the contest. It requires meticulous planning and attention to details. It's necessary to decide on a prize appealing to the target audience, outline an entry process, and establish the timeline along with the rules of the giveaway. By detailing these factors thoroughly, brands can ensure a smooth-running giveaway that energizes their audience and delivers tangible results.

Deciding on the Prize​

The centerpiece of any successful giveaway is, naturally, the prize. The prize can make or break a giveaway - it's what grabs people's attention and incentivizes them to participate. Therefore, it must resonate with the target audience. It could be a popular product, a bundle of products, or an exclusive experience related to the brand. In other words, the prize should reflect the brand's value while also catering to its audience's preferences.

Outlining the Entry Process​

Next up is defining the entry process. This process should strike a balance between simplicity and effectiveness. Users wouldn't participate if the process is too taxing or confusing. On the other hand, using a simple hashtag or becoming a follower might not fully harness the brand-building potential of a giveaway. A well-rounded entry process might include steps like:

• Following the brand's account
• Liking and commenting on the giveaway post
• Tagging friends in the comments
• Sharing the post on their own Instagram stories

By leveraging multiple user actions, businesses can optimize their reach while also keeping the entry process user-friendly.

Establishing the Timeline and Rules​

Finally, it's crucial to clearly communicate the rules and timeline of the giveaway. The timeline should be long enough to allow a good number of entries but not too long that users lose interest. Rules, too, should be understandable and easily accessible. They should comply with Instagram's policies and highlight key points like eligible regions, how and when winners will be chosen, and any age or other restrictions.

Drafting detailed rules may seem daunting, but it's necessary to guard against potential problems and ensure a fair process. Thus, in the planning phase, brands should consider:

• The starting and ending dates of the giveaway
• How entries will be counted and reviewed
• The date and method of announcing the winner

Running an Instagram giveaway might seem like a fun and spontaneous event, but successful ones are anything but. They need thought, strategy, and, above all, planning.

Promoting Your Instagram Giveaway​

After the groundwork's been set for the Instagram giveaway, it's time for a crucial aspect: promotion. How a brand drives traffic to its contest can make or break its success. This involves crafting compelling posts, leveraging hashtags and influencers, and utilizing cross-promotion strategies.

Crafting Compelling Giveaway Posts​

For an Instagram giveaway to be successful, it's essential to create compelling posts that engage the brand's audience. This starts with a high-quality image or video that immediately grabs attention. This might be the product up for grabs, an interesting graphic, or a short clip of someone using the prize. Captions are another important element. They should be brief and enticing, providing a quick overview of the prize and clear instructions for entry.

To boost engagement, it's recommended to encourage users to like, comment, or share the post as part of the contest rules. Companies could consider incorporating engagement-facilitating elements in their post such as "Tag two friends who you'd love to share this prize with!" or "Double your chances of winning by sharing this post on your story!".

Leveraging Hashtags and Influencers​

Hashtags play a big role in Instagram discovery. They can greatly increase the reach of your giveaway by bringing it in front of users who may not be following your account. Come up with a unique hashtag for your giveaway, something that encapsulates the essence of your brand or the giveaway itself. This could be as simple as #YourBrandNameGiveaway or something more creative. Popular giveaway-related hashtags like #giveaway and #contest can also attract more participants.

Influencer partnerships can bring enormous benefits to an Instagram giveaway. Influencers generally have large, engaged audiences that trust their recommendations. Working with influencers, preferably those in your industry or niche, can give your giveaway a significant visibility boost.

Cross-Promotion Strategies​

Finally, enlist the help of other social media platforms to build buzz around an Instagram giveaway. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and email newsletters can be valuable tools to spread the word about your contest. Brands can share a link to the giveaway post or simply post a brief teaser about the giveaway on these platforms.

Cross-promotion isn't limited to the digital world. There's value in leveraging offline marketing avenues – think catalogs, mailers, brick-and-mortar stores. By integrating online and offline initiatives, brands can fully exploit the promotional potential of an Instagram giveaway.

By implementing these tactics, companies move closer to a more successful and impactful Instagram giveaway. The road certainly doesn't end there but these strategies set a solid foundation to attract participants and hopefully, convert them into lasting followers. As a brand ventures forth in planning their giveaway, it's vital to remember that fine-tuning and adjusting strategies based on response and engagement metrics can help optimize the overall results.

Managing the Giveaway​

Ensuring an Instagram giveaway runs efficiently and effectively also involves managing the giveaway itself. This can include monitoring engagement, ensuring fair play, and selecting and announcing the winner. Let's delve further into these crucial aspects.

Monitoring Engagement​

To gauge the success of the giveaway, and to make any necessary adjustments, it's important to actively monitor participant engagement. Check for spikes in the number of followers, likes, shares, or comments. It's also crucial to keep an eye on the quality of interactions - are they genuine, are they from your target market? There are numerous analytics tools available that can assist in tracking these vital statistics. But remember, it's not just about the numbers. Engagement quality matters too.

Ensuring Fair Play​

Fair play is crucial in running a successful Instagram giveaway. Not only does it keep participants satisfied, but it also ensures that your brand maintains credibility and upholds Instagram's terms and conditions. To ensure fairness, clearly state the rules and criteria from the start, and consistently apply them throughout the giveaway. It's also a good idea to use a third-party app or service to help manage entries and keep everything fair and transparent.

Selecting and Announcing the Winner​

Selecting the winner can be one of the most exciting parts of the giveaway. It's essential to choose a winner based on the defined criteria and to announce it in a timely and festive manner. One common method for selection is to use a random generator tool, providing an unbiased and transparent process. Once the winner is chosen, announce it to your followers with an engaging post, and make sure to congratulate the winner personally. Remember, successful giveaways can lead directly to increased brand loyalty and user engagement, so make the most of this opportunity to delight your audience.

Post-Giveaway Activities​

The thrill of a giveaway doesn't end the moment a winner is chosen. What occurs after the reward's claimed can provide valuable insights that can shape future campaigns. May it be about analyzing the results, engaging with the participants, or learning from your audience's feedback; these are crucial elements in the post-giveaway period.

Analyzing the Giveaway’s Success​

Once the winner's been announced and the hype's started to cool, it's time to delve into the data. This helps in understanding how your giveaway performed and what sections you may need to improve. The primary metrics to check include participation rate, engagement level, the number of new followers gained, and essentially, if it brought you closer to your initial giveaway goals.

Let's look at these metrics in a more detailed manner:

Metric	Description
Participation Rate	It gauges how many people entered the giveaway.
Engagement Level	It shows the level of interaction on the giveaway post (likes, comments, shares).
New Followers Gained	It indicates how many new followers came through the giveaway.
Giveaway Goals Achieved	It determines if your target goals have been met.

Remember, each giveaway is a learning experience, and results will differ based on your audience, the prize offered, and the overall execution.

Engaging with Participants After the Event​

Participants who didn't win might be disappointed, but keeping them engaged even after the event can transform those feelings in a positive way and retain them as followers. The after-giveaway period is a prime time to interact with your audience via post-event follow-ups, thank you messages, and showcasing the winner and their prize.

This is not just about damage control, but a chance to build further rapport with your audience and inspire loyalty. Future content could feature the winner using the prize, feedback on the event, or even flash deals just for participants.

Learning from Feedback for Future Giveaways​

Nothing's perfect; not even a well-planned Instagram giveaway. There will always be areas of improvement. Understanding what worked and what didn't is crucial and will only lead to better results in the future. That's why taking feedback from participants is an absolute must.

Perhaps your audience thinks the giveaway could have been promoted better, or the rules were too tricky, or even that the prize didn't align with their interests. Gathering this feedback lets you continually evolve your strategy, ensuring that each giveaway you conduct outperforms the previous one.

With these insights, it's clear that what happens behind the giveaway scenes is just as important as the event itself, equipping you for success with your future Instagram giveaways. Line your next giveaway up for success by taking advantage of these valuable post-giveaway activities.

Conclusion: Maximizing Your Instagram Giveaway's Impact​

Running a successful Instagram giveaway isn't just about the event itself. It's about the strategic planning, careful execution, and insightful analysis that surround it. It's about understanding Instagram's guidelines, creating compelling posts, and leveraging the power of hashtags and influencers. It's about fair play, active monitoring, and timely winner announcement. But most importantly, it's about engaging with your audience and building lasting relationships.

Post-giveaway activities, like analyzing metrics and gathering feedback, are just as important as the giveaway itself. They're what help you understand your audience better, improve your strategies, and achieve your goals. They're what turn a simple giveaway into a powerful tool for growth and engagement. So don't just run a giveaway. Maximize its impact. And remember, every giveaway is a learning opportunity. Use it wisely.

If you want to run an Instagram giveaway, then you need to use the most powerful and simple-to-use software on the market, Raffle Leader.

Ever since Marc Andreessen declared that software is eating the world, we have seen an explosion in the SaaS market. It is now an absolute behemoth:

Where there is money, entrepreneurs will follow. This was definitely the case for software, as ambitious entrepreneurs figured out that software is cheaper to start and easier to scale than any other business on Earth. Basically, anybody with a laptop, some coding skills, and a good idea could now become a millionaire.

This gold rush has led to an extremely saturated market. For example, just take a look at the landscape for marketing technologies:

Couple this congestion with the continued complexification of software with the development of AI and blockchain, and you now have many people proclaiming that all of the low hanging fruit in SaaS has been picked. That making a pretty penny in software now requires extreme business savvy, cutting-edge technical skills, a genius idea, or a combination of all three.

There is definitely a kernel of truth in that belief. Much of the low hanging fruit in SaaS has indeed been picked.

Except for in WordPress.

WordPress is where we are betting the growth of Raffle Leader on, and we think any aspiring SaaS founder should consider doing the same for four reasons:

1. Huge Market Size​

It’s easy to think you are giving up potential market size by focusing on WordPress, but this really isn’t the case.

WordPress powers 42.7% of the internet.

That’s more than enough to build a sizable business.

2. Ease of Discovery​

WordPress plugins have a dedicated directory and search bar.

Obviously, you still have to put a lot of work into marketing.

But at least there’s a chance that people will be able to find you organically.

Think of it as basically free and easy SEO.

3. B2B Sales​

WordPress is a favorite among business owners, especially small business owners.

These business owners require software just like any other business owner, but general SaaS tools literally do not work on WordPress.

That means 42.7% of the internet has dedicated software needs, and most entrepreneurs are completely ignoring them.

Basically, WordPress makes it easy to find and sell to potential customers.

4. Less Competition​

This is the big one.

How many techies do you see talking about WordPress today?

Personally, we don’t see a whole lot.

That’s because a lot of people have forgotten about WordPress.

Frankly, it’s not on the cutting edge anymore.

And you see this when you look at the top plugins.

Many of them are still the plugins from yesteryear. It looks like we teleported back to 2011.

There’s no AI, the branding is boring, the copy is stale, and so on and so forth.

It’s a massive market where the top players are asleep at the wheel.

That’s a market we like.

Conclusion​

Are you more likely to get rich with a boring HVAC company or a pre-seed venture-backed startup?

The answer, by a long shot, is the boring HVAC company.

We see WordPress as analogous to the HVAC company, and SaaS as the pre-seed venture-backed startup.

One is a market where most people will be able to make money with enough work, while the other is a market that is undeniably shiny but extremely saturated.

Don’t overcomplicate things.

There’s still low hanging fruit to be picked with WordPress.

Go pick it.