Question 1

Are Giveaways Cheaper Than Facebook or LinkedIn Ads?

Accepted Answer

Often, per lead. You pay once for the prize and your plan instead of per click, and referrals add entrants for free. Check with your own numbers.

Often, yes, if you measure cost per lead. With ads you pay for every click or lead. With a giveaway you pay once for the prize and your Gleam plan, and that cost is spread across everyone who enters. Viral Share brings in more entrants without adding to it.

Work it out for your own campaign:

Add up the prize, your plan and any ad spend promoting the giveaway.
Divide by the number of entrants who gave you an email.
Compare that with the cost per lead in your Meta or LinkedIn Ads Manager for the same audience.

Cheaper isn't the whole story. Some entrants came for the prize, so compare what each group is worth a month later (opens, clicks, purchases), not just what it cost.

The two also work together. A small Facebook ad push can seed a Gleam Competition that then spreads through referrals. LinkedIn bans sweepstakes ads, so keep giveaways out of your LinkedIn ads and share the link organically there.

Related Questions

Question 2

How Do I Calculate Cost Per Lead?

Accepted Answer

Divide what the campaign cost by the new leads it brought in. A $620 giveaway that gets 2,000 new subscribers costs $0.31 per lead.

Question 3

When Should You Use Paid Ads Instead of a Giveaway?

Accepted Answer

Use paid ads when you need ready buyers or a set number of leads by a deadline. Use a giveaway to build an audience you keep.