There’s nothing better than getting into a situation where we can assist a client and help shape a program that actually works.
Sweepstakes, contests, and incentivized marketing programs are brand-positive tools. At their core, they are used for:
- Brand awareness programs
- Lead generation programs
- Customer loyalty and reward programs
- New product launch support
- In some cases, shop and win style sales programs
Shop and win programs can be effective, but they rely on two critical elements: meaningful prizing and, more importantly, an existing audience.
Large brands have already done the heavy lifting. They have built email databases in the millions, consistent website traffic, strong social followings, and active PR engines. When those elements are in place, these programs can perform. Without them, they are often non-starters — possible, but inefficient and expensive to execute.
This is where strategy comes in. While we are often asked how we would approach a program, strong marketers already bring a deep understanding of their business into the conversation.
Strong marketers already know:
- Their audience — how they behave, engage, and convert
- Their real objective — what success looks like and how it’s measured
- Their internal constraints — budgets, approvals, timelines, and risk tolerance
- Their channel strength — what actually drives traffic and response
- Their customer value equation — what level of incentive will move their audience
At times, when we’re brought into a program, we require a clear baseline of information in order to be effective. This includes:
- Brand inputs and internal context
- Agency of record alignment (where applicable)
- Existing design or concept direction
- A working brief outlining objectives
Clarity matters. What is the brand trying to achieve? What are the short-term goals of the program? How does it support longer-term objectives? Without this, strategy becomes assumption.
When deeper input is required, we move into what we call a Campaign Strategy & Design engagement — a structured working process where we collaborate, evaluate, and build direction before execution begins.
Process
Our Campaign Strategy & Design engagements follow a structured working model:
1. Input & Alignment
- Review of client materials, concepts, and objectives
- Working sessions to align on goals, audience, and constraints
2. Strategy & Ideation
- Development of campaign directions
- Evaluation of mechanics, positioning, and approach
- Internal ideation and refinement
3. Concept Presentation
- Delivery of base campaign concepts
- Strategic recommendation on direction
- Discussion and feedback
4. Experience & Design
- Wireframes and user flow development
- Creative direction and Figma outputs
5. Budget & Next Steps
- Program budget scenarios
- Recommended path forward
- Execution considerations
Deliverables
Each Campaign Strategy & Design engagement includes:
Core Strategy
- Program objectives alignment (short-term + long-term)
- Campaign structure recommendation (sweepstakes, contest, hybrid)
- Channel strategy input (email, web, social, PR)
Research & Insights
- Competitive review (direct + adjacent brands)
- Market scan of similar programs
- Key learnings and positioning notes
Strategic Concept Development
- Development of distinct campaign approaches based on scope
- Each approach represents a different strategic path (mechanic, audience, or positioning shift)
- Messaging and positioning framework for each direction
- Prizing guidance and rationale aligned to each model — see our Prize Sourcing & Fulfillment page, or browse 50 Reasons to Use Sweepstakes for prizing ideas and considerations
Experience Design
- Wireframe(s) aligned to each strategic direction
- User flow (end-to-end journey per model)
- Creative direction delivered via Figma for each approach
Budgeting
- Up to three program budget scenarios
- Cost ranges and structural options
- Notes on scaling, phasing, or narrowing scope
Collaboration
- Participation in strategy calls / working sessions
- Ongoing advisory during engagement
Engagement Models
Strategy Only – $4,900
Review of provided materials, strategy sessions, and development of a summary strategy document outlining recommended approach, supported by initial wireframe and creative direction (Figma).
Single Path Model – $6,900
Focused development of one fully built campaign direction, including concept, structure, wireframe, creative, and budget.
Dual Path Model – $9,900
Development of two distinct campaign approaches, allowing for comparison across mechanics, audience strategy, or positioning.
Multi-Path Model – $12,900
Development of three campaign directions, providing a broader strategic range, including optional hybrid or phased approaches.
This is not theoretical work. It’s a practical build toward a program that can be launched with confidence.