Run a “25 Words or Less” Contest to Boost Engagement and Skill-Based Entries This template allows you to run a simple, skill-based competition where users must answer a question in 25 words or less for a chance to win.

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25 Words or Less Contest

Contests like these are not only legally compliant in regions that restrict games of chance, but also help you collect more meaningful entries that showcase creativity, knowledge, or enthusiasm for your product or service.

Whether you're in retail, entertainment, or tech, a “25 Words or Less” giveaway can drive quality leads and build emotional connection with your target audience.

Tip

Users on Business plans can add automatic validation to their contest to make sure entrants are keeping within the word limit.

Template Features

Requires entrants to answer a prompt in 25 words or fewer
Embeddable contest widget for any website or landing page
Supports judging-based or random winner selection
Mobile-optimised design with user-friendly interface
Optional email signup or social referral actions
Seamless integrations with Mailchimp, Klaviyo, and more

You can combine this action with email collection, social referrals , or even turn it into a quiz competition for added depth.

Benefits of Running a 25 Words or Less Contest

25 Words or Less contests are a fun way to:

Encourage users to express creativity in a short format
Comply with contest laws in regions requiring skill-based criteria
Get authentic insights into why users value your product
Collect high-quality leads that are more likely to convert
Enhance your brand voice with creative UGC entries

Example prompts:

“Why do you deserve to win this gaming bundle?”
“What’s your favourite moment from this movie series?”
“Explain your startup idea in 25 words or less.”
“Answer a Question to Win in less than 25 words.”

These contests can work especially well in industries like entertainment, ecommerce, gaming, education, and publishing; specially better with a time limit in place to create the sense of urgency.

Integration Support

This contest template works seamlessly with:

You can use the Gleam Actions Library to combine your 25-word entry with bonus actions like subscribing, visiting a social page, or referring friends.

Official Gleam Documentation

Frequnently Asked Questions

A 25 Words or Less contest is a creative giveaway where users submit short answers to a prompt. Click to learn how this format improves compliance and user engagement.

You can run an “answer to win” giveaway using Gleam’s short answer action. Click to learn how to configure word limits and combine with lead-gen steps.

They’re easy to enter, legally compliant, and great for creative engagement. Expand to see how this format supports content creation and fair judging.

Yes, Gleam lets you randomly select or manually judge 25-word contest entries. Click to learn how to combine this with social media actions and other entry methods.

25 Words or Less giveaways are used by brands in beauty, SaaS, gaming, and more. Expand this FAQ to see how different industries run creative short-form campaigns.

Help

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How to Run a Survey With Gleam

What is a Quiz Competition and Why Run One?

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How to Set Up a 25 Words or Less Quiz Competition

Choose “Answer a Question” as Your User Action
Select the action that prompts users to answer a question or complete a sentence using no more than 25 words. This adds a skill-based element that meets regional regulations for prize competitions.
Customise the Prompt and Validation Settings
Write a creative prompt like: “Why do you want to win this bundle?” or “Explain your business idea in 25 words or less.”
➡ Set up and customise your contest actions
Style Your Contest Widget
Adjust the colours, fonts, and layout to match your website’s brand. You can embed the widget on your homepage or dedicated landing page.
➡ Design your contest layout
Combine With Bonus Entry Actions
Increase engagement by adding optional actions like email signup, social referrals, or visiting your blog.
➡ Add bonus actions
➡ Add social referrals
Connect Integrations
Link your form to Mailchimp, Klaviyo, MailerLite, or any supported provider to grow your email list automatically.
➡ Connect your email integration
Enable Entry Judging or Random Winner
Choose whether to pick the winner manually based on creativity, or randomly from valid entries.
➡ Review winner selection options
Install and Launch Your Giveaway
Copy and paste the installation code into your website. Announce your contest via social media and email marketing.
➡ Install your campaign