Running a mini contest (a contest within your contest) is a great way to keep energy and engagement high throughout your contest.
Here are some popular and creative examples that GoGo Photo Contest groups have used successfully:
Mini Contest Ideas
Most New Votes (MOST POPULAR)
Reward the entry that gains the most new votes during a selected period (for example, within a specific week). This encourages fresh outreach and keeps momentum going. Use this tool to find your winner!
Top Voter
Similar to the first idea, reward the voter who casts the most vote donations during a selected period (for example, within a specific week). Use this tool to find your winner!
Random Entry
Choose an entry at random from all of your entrants to receive a small prize. Use this tool to find your winner!
Flash Voting Challenge
Awarding an entry: Announce a surprise 24-hour challenge where the entry with the most votes in that window wins a small prize. Use this tool to find your winner!
Awarding a voter: Choose a voter at random from a specific time period ("tomorrow between 8 AM - 8 PM") to win bonus votes- issue the winner a voucher they can use to apply their bonus votes to any entry of their choice (see example).
Judge’s Choice Award
Have a panel select a winner based on creativity, story, or photo quality- regardless of vote count. This gives underdog entries a chance to shine.
Early Bird Bonus
Give a small prize to the first entries to reach a certain vote threshold, for example "first three entries to reach 500 votes". Award more than one entry to keep motivation among participants high.
Highest Number of Individual Donors
Celebrate the photo that receives votes (donations) from the highest number of individual donors-based on unique email addresses (see SPCA of Monterey County's "People's Choice" prize for an example). Use this tool to find your winner!
Social Media Shoutout
Create a FB post encouraging participants to share the name of their favorite entry, and choose one at random to receive bonus votes- this can help to boost the reach of your social media posts since engagement on the post will be high (apply the bonus votes to the winning entry using these instructions).
Best Caption Contest
Ask participants to submit a caption with their photo. The funniest or most heartfelt caption wins a prize.
Theme-Based Mini Contests
For example: “Best Summer Vibes,” “Most Mischievous Pet,” or “Cutest Pose.” These can run for a few days and highlight different types of entries (see example).
Mini contests don’t just boost votes- they add layers of fun and recognition that keep participants emotionally invested in your fundraiser.