Tired of not seeing engagement on your contests? Here is what we have come to learn as the magic formula for generating a successful photo contest for any organization.

1. The Secrets of a
Successful
Social Media
Photo Contest
Show your #YUSpirit, Share your #YorkUImpact

2. Hello!
Upasna Sharma & Phil Sach
York University

3. It all started with
a campaign that
asked to share a
story.

4. Our
Audience
Meet them where they
are: on their phones,
taking pictures, telling
stories.
Current Students 18-24

5. Why a social media photo contest?
Familiar to our
target audience
It would leverage their
vanity (make it about
them)
It would create
content that could
be used later

6. Secret #1:
Piggy Back On Other Work
(No, Seriously)

7. Pro Tip: Capitalize
on an event that
already captures the
attention of your
audience

8. Secret #2:
Every successful contest needs
‘HUSTLE’

9. Pro Tip: Get your
audience to care by
actually talking to
them & letting them
know what’s in it for
them.

10. Secret #3:
Promote it everywhere!

11. Pro Tip: Promote
both online and in
print.
PRINT PROMOTIONS ONLINE PROMOTIONS

12. Success!
What does all your
hard work look like?

13. 2.4 millionSocial impressions in 24 hours
90%Increase in website visits on the day
520+ entries
Of student photos in a 24 hour period

14. Other Keys to Success
Consider setting up
monitoring
feeds in HootSuite
or Zoomph to
measure results.
Allocate one (maybe
two) hashtags
to the contest to
help curate content.
For photos you take
of people, ensure to
get their permission
to use it elsewhere
with a photo
consent form.

15. Place your screenshot here
What Happens After?
1. Discuss what worked and what didn’t for next time.
2. Discover ways for content to live beyond the contest.

16. Thanks!
Any questions?
You can find us at:
Twitter: @U_Sharm
Email: ushar076@gmail.com