Slyde Handboards Drew 1,125 Entrants for One Board

Introduction to Slyde Handboards

Handboards let inexperienced surfers catch waves without learning to master a surfboard. Slyde builds them.

I’ll let Steve, the owner of Slyde give you a quick overview.

Slyde launched its store on Squarespace in 2012 and moved to Shopify in 2014.

Slyde has been selling since 2012 and built its following over that time.

If you make your own product, it’s the best prize you have. Putting it in front of as many people as possible builds awareness and sales.

Slyde wanted a low-cost way to get its product in front of potential customers, fans and their friends. They signed up to Gleam and ran a giveaway.

27 Days, One Carbon Handboard

Slyde’s campaign had one aim. They wanted more people to know about the Black Carbon Fiber Handboard.

Ain’t she a beauty?

We launched an ambitious 27 day campaign, and completely exceeded all campaign goals and expectations, while generating exceptional brand awareness. This also resulted in us selling out of the Black Carbon Fiber Handboard.

Steve Watts from Slyde Handboards

Slyde gave away one product, so every Action and every post pointed at the same prize.

Slyde’s widget had 18 Actions. Nobody has found the best number of Actions. It depends on your audience, your prize and how you promote it.

It was amazing to see the drive and interest in our customers wanting to win the Slyde Black Carbon, we had some individuals entering nearly 500 times. The campaign helped solidify our overall product direction and future product launches.

Steve Watts from Slyde Handboards

Results from the giveaway:

• Entrants completed 9.5 Actions each (10,709 Actions from 1,125 Entrants).

• Entrants sent in more than 700 photos.

Key Growth Takeaways

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

Slyde promoted the giveaway on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The Instagram Bio Link

Instagram captions can’t hold clickable links.

Slyde told people in each post to use the link in its bio. The bio looked like this:

Reminders, Then Urgency

Slyde scheduled posts at regular intervals reminding fans to enter, and added urgency near the end.

A $371 Prize Package

Slyde wanted awareness of the Carbon Fiber Handboard, so it gave one away. Everyone who entered had shown interest in that product, and Slyde had a list to market it to afterwards.

Slyde added six more products to make a prize package.

The final prize package looked something like this:

• Carbon Black Wedge Handboard For Bodysurfing With Gopro Attachment Valued At $199

• Slyde Handboard Bodysurfing Boardbag Valued At $26

• Slyde Bicep Pro Coil Leash Valued At $26

• Set Of Black Da Fins Swimfins For Handboarding Valued At $64

• Custom Slyde Kung-Fu Grip Valued At $26

• Set Of Slyde Vinyl Stickers Valued At $10

• Slyde T-Shirt Valued At $20

• Combined value: $371

A Winner Video From the Founders

Slyde announced its winner with a video from the founders.

Steve and Angela are married and run the business together (HuffPost).

Email to the Existing List

Slyde emailed the list from its earlier campaigns. The subject line used two emojis.

Slyde’s email announcing the anniversary giveaway:

Don’t Just Run One Campaign

Slyde ran a second giveaway for its fifth anniversary, using the email list from the first.

Run Your Own E-Commerce Giveaway