How to Run a Giveaway People Can Trust

Write the rules before entries close

State who can enter, how they enter, when entries close, how many winners there are, what the prize is, and how a winner will be contacted. If age, location, or platform restrictions apply, include those too.

Also check the rules of the platform and the laws that apply to the giveaway. A browser picker can choose from a list. It cannot tell you whether the promotion itself is legally compliant.

Freeze the final list

Once the deadline passes, stop changing the participant list unless there is a documented reason. Keep a copy of the final eligible entries before you select a winner.

Decide how you handle duplicates, multiple entries, incomplete entries, staff accounts, or anything else that can affect eligibility. Apply that rule before you know who would win.

Show enough, not everything

For a public giveaway, a screen recording or dated copy of the final list can make the process easier to explain. Showing the entry count and the tool settings is often enough.

Transparency does not mean exposing personal data. Do not put email addresses, phone numbers, home addresses, or private account details on screen when a public username or neutral identifier will do.

Plan what happens if the winner cannot claim

Set a response deadline and a replacement process in advance. If the first winner is ineligible or does not respond, follow the rule you already published rather than inventing a new one.

And do not keep rerunning the selection until the result feels convenient. That defeats the point of using a random draw.

• Publish the rules and deadline
• Freeze the eligible list
• Handle duplicates consistently
• Keep a reasonable record of the selection
• Protect participant privacy
• Follow the platform and legal requirements that apply