Competitions & Digital Advent calendars
Viral marketing that works
A simple competition can bring 10x more engagement than normal campaigns. A digital Advent calendar can mean 100+ days of direct contact with your target group. Competitions and Advent calendars are two of the most effective tools for viral marketing, community building and engagement. But only if they are done right. We build online competitions and digital Advent calendars that activate your community, multiply your reach and build your brand love.
What makes competitions so effective?
Pure psychology: people love opportunities to win. A well-done competition has several superpowers: Massive engagement (participants are active, not passive consumers), viral potential (people invite friends, reach explodes), data collection (with every participant you get a name, email), brand awareness (non-participants get to know your brand), fun & Emotion (competitions are associated with positive feelings).
The problem: Most competitions are poorly designed. They are boring, technically broken, legally questionable. We make the right ones.
What you get
Simple competition
Participant fills out form (name, email, optional question), wins big prize or several small ones, runs for 1-4 weeks, is promoted on social media, email, website. Best for fast lead generation.
Referral competition
The viral format: Participants win more if they invite friends. Every friend = an extra ticket. Double win for both. Maximum virality, network effect.
Quiz competition
Participants answer quizzes about your brand or industry. We learn what interests your audience. Optional gamification with leaderboards, points, levels. Best for brand education and engagement.
Instant Win / Scratch–Off
Instant gratification: Participants scratch off immediately and know whether they win. Psychologically different than “winner will be drawn”. Many play multiple times. High engagement, repeat interactions.
Voting / Community Choice
Community votes on options (new product design, next feature, etc.). Voting is a form of participation, the community feels heard. Voters get a chance to win.
Digital Advent calendars
24 doors, a new one opens every day. Behind it: surprise, discount, free product, tips, story, game. 24+ days of direct contact with your target group. People come back every day.
Our process
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1. Phase
Conception & Strategy
We choose the best competition format for you. Which target group? Which price? Which mechanics? Which budget?
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2. Phase
Conception & Setup
We define the mechanics, the process, the rules. For Advent calendars: Plan content mix (30% discounts, 30% brand story, 20% games, 20% community).
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3. Phase
Implementation & Launch
Technical implementation, design, landing page, competition page or Advent calendar interface.
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4. Phase
Campaign integration
Pre-launch teaser, launch & Promotion (Multi-Channel Push), Momentum Phase (Leaderboard Updates, Reminders), Closing & Winner phase.
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5. Phase
Reporting & Analysis
Number of participants, email list growth, referral rate, engagement, lead quality, conversion rate, viral coefficient.
Who is this ideal for?
E–Commerce & Retail
Compets and Advent calendars bring massive list growth and awareness for your products.
Restaurants & Bars
Competitions for customer acquisition, Advent calendar for Holiday Season Boost.
Services & Services
Contests for lead gen, Advent calendar for continuous touchpoints.
Non-profits & Communities
Compets for fundraising, Advent calendar for community engagement.
How much does it cost?
Competition concept & Setup (easy)
1,500 – 3,000 €
Simple form competition, lead generation.
Competition concept & Setup (advanced)
3,000 – 6,000 €
Referral tracking, leaderboards, points system, social sharing.
Digital Advent Calendar
4,000 – 8,000 €
24 doors, responsive design, daily notifications, gamification optional.
Campaign Management & Promotion
from 1,000 €
Includes social media ads, email promotion, reporting.
Competition–Platform–Costs
200 – 500 € / month
Depending on the provider and features.
Why digitalists?
Project Manager = Developer
Our PMs can not only develop concepts, but also build referral tracking, develop leaderboards, and implement gamification. Technical complexity is our playing field.
Individual concepts
No standard competitions. We build custom concepts that fit your brand and goals.
Everything from a single source
Conception, technical implementation, design, campaign promotion, winner management, reporting – everything comes from us.
Legal security
We take care of all legal requirements (Terms and Conditions, GDPR, legal notice, winner communication). You have no risk.
Experience since 2018
We have supported retail stores, e-commerce, restaurants and services with successful competitions and Advent calendars.
FAQs
Is a competition legally permitted in Austria?
Yes, but there are rules. General terms and conditions, data protection (GDPR), gambling addiction warning (depending on mechanics), legal notice, clear winner communication. We take care of all legal requirements. You have no risk.
How many participants can I expect?
This depends on several factors: your price (the better the price, the more participants), your budget for promotion, your existing audience, the mechanics (referral competitions are more viral). Realistic range: 500 – 10,000+ participants.
How do I build the list?
A good competition automatically generates lead growth. 50-80% of participants are new email addresses. You can then use this list for future campaigns.
Can I combine a competition with automation?
Yes, absolutely. After the competition ends, participants can go to automated email sequences. Welcome sequences, newsletters, sales sequences – all automated.
