Answer-the-question comment draw
Difficulty: EasyBest on: Instagram feed post
- Concept
- Ask a question only a fan would enjoy answering, such as which of your products they would take on a road trip. Each comment is one entry. The answers give you content ideas for weeks.
- How to enter
- Comment an answer before the deadline in the caption. Following is optional. Paste the comments into the picker, remove duplicates and draw one winner.
- Prize idea
- Two of your best sellers (about $40 to $70 in retail value).
- Avoid
- Don't make 'tag three friends' the entry. Tag-only comments are hard to tell apart from spam.
Collab post with a partner brand
Difficulty: MediumBest on: Instagram Collab post
- Concept
- Make the giveaway a Collab post with a brand your followers already like. The post appears on both profiles and the comments are shared, so you draw from one list. Pick a partner of similar size so both audiences gain.
- How to enter
- Comment on the Collab post with an answer to a simple question. One entry per person. Before launch, agree who draws, who messages the winner and who ships.
- Prize idea
- One product from each brand (about $60 to $120 together).
- Avoid
- Don't join paid 'loop' giveaways with dozens of hosts. Entrants follow everyone for the prize and many leave soon after.
Story poll bracket
Difficulty: MediumBest on: Instagram Stories and feed
- Concept
- Run a bracket of your products in Stories: two items a day, followers vote, and the winner moves on. On the final day, post the champion in the feed and run the giveaway there. A week of polls brings people back to your Stories.
- How to enter
- Vote in the daily polls for fun, then comment on the final feed post to enter. Only the comments count as entries.
- Prize idea
- The winning product (about $30 to $80).
- Avoid
- Don't count poll votes as entries. Voter lists are hard to export and check, so keep entries to the final comments.
Reels tutorial contest
Difficulty: HardBest on: Instagram Reels
- Concept
- Ask followers to post a short Reel showing how they use your product. A small panel picks the best one with set criteria. You get real how-to videos you can reshare with permission.
- How to enter
- Post a Reel under 60 seconds with the contest hashtag, then comment the Reel link on the contest post. Judges score each entry on idea, clarity and use of the product.
- Prize idea
- $150 in products and a feature on your account (about $150 to $200).
- Avoid
- Don't take ownership of entries. Ask in the rules for permission to reshare with credit, nothing more.
Milestone thank-you
Difficulty: EasyBest on: Instagram
- Concept
- When you reach a follower milestone, give back to the people who are already there. Ask them what they would like to see more of. This rewards current followers instead of chasing new ones.
- How to enter
- Comment what you want more of on the account. Draw one winner at random 72 hours after posting.
- Prize idea
- A $50 gift card or a product bundle (about $50 to $75).
- Avoid
- Don't announce the giveaway before you hit the number. Run it afterwards, so it reads as a thank-you, not a follower drive.
Spot the difference
Difficulty: EasyBest on: Instagram carousel
- Concept
- Post two nearly identical photos with three changes and ask people to find them. Correct answers go into the draw. People look closely at your product while they search.
- How to enter
- Comment the three differences. Filter the comments for correct answers, then draw one winner at random from those.
- Prize idea
- $40 in products (about $35 to $50).
- Avoid
- Don't make it too hard. If few people get it right, the post feels like a trick and entries drop.
Four Fridays
Difficulty: MediumBest on: Instagram
- Concept
- Run a small giveaway every Friday for a month instead of one big one. A regular slot gives people a reason to check your account. You can change the question each week to learn something new.
- How to enter
- Comment on that Friday's post before Sunday night. Each week is a separate draw, and earlier winners are left out.
- Prize idea
- Four prizes of about $25 each (about $100 in total).
- Avoid
- Don't change the day once you've started. If Friday becomes Saturday, people assume it's over.
One for you, one for a friend
Difficulty: EasyBest on: Instagram
- Concept
- The winner gets two prizes: one to keep and one to give to a friend. Ask entrants who they would give it to and why. You reach two people with one draw, without asking anyone to tag.
- How to enter
- Comment a friend's first name and one line on why they deserve it. No @mention needed. Draw one winner at random.
- Prize idea
- Two matching products, one to keep and one to give (about $50 to $90 in total).
- Avoid
- Don't require the friend to be tagged. A first name is enough and keeps the comments readable.
Guess what's in the box
Difficulty: MediumBest on: Instagram feed and Stories
- Concept
- Show a sealed box and post one clue a day for three days. People guess what's inside, and everyone who comments is entered. Open the box on the last day with the winner's name.
- How to enter
- Comment one guess on any of the clue posts. Everyone who guesses is entered once, right or wrong. Draw from all the comments.
- Prize idea
- The box and its contents (about $60 to $100 at retail).
- Avoid
- Don't change what's in the box after people guess. Pack and photograph it before the first clue.
Creator-hosted giveaway
Difficulty: MediumBest on: Instagram, on the creator's account
- Concept
- Send your product to a small creator in your niche and let them host the giveaway on their account. Their followers enter there and see your product through someone they trust. You ship the prize; the creator runs the draw.
- How to enter
- Comment on the creator's post before the deadline. The creator draws from the comments and passes you the winner's shipping details with consent.
- Prize idea
- $80 in products (about $70 to $100).
- Avoid
- Don't skip the disclosure. The creator should use the paid partnership label or a clear #ad.
Questions and answers
Can I ask people to tag friends on Instagram?
Instagram's guidelines warn against encouraging inaccurate tags, and guides disagree on the rest. Meta's Facebook rules ban requiring or rewarding tags outright. The safe choice is to keep tags optional and never give extra entries for them.
Do I need official rules for an Instagram giveaway?
Yes. Instagram makes the host responsible for running the promotion lawfully, and written rules are the core of that. Cover the dates, who can enter, the prize and how the winner is picked, in short, clear rules.
How do I pick a winner from Instagram comments?
Copy the comments from the post and paste them into the Instagram comment picker. Check your hidden comments first, in case a real entry was filtered out of view.
How long should an Instagram giveaway run?
Three to seven days works for most accounts. Shorter runs miss people who check in weekly, and longer ones lose energy. Put the end date and time in the caption.
How do I stop fake accounts copying my giveaway?
Say how you'll contact the winner and that you'll never ask for payment or passwords. Post an official giveaway notice and announce the winner only from your own account.
Sources
- Instagram Help Center, Promotion Guidelines: hosts are responsible for lawful promotions and must not encourage inaccurate tagging (wording from the research notes; the page did not render when checked). Last checked October 18, 2026.
- Meta Pages, Groups and Events Policies, Promotions: a promotion must not require or incentivize participants to share, repost or tag others. Last checked October 20, 2026.