#3: Select an Instagram Contest Hashtag

You want to create a hashtag exclusively for your contest to make it easy to track entries and conversations about it. Because this will be a one-time-use hashtag, you can:

Make sure you include this hashtag in your contest post and consider adding it to your image as well.

#4: Manage and Bring Your Instagram Contest to a Close

Before you launch your Instagram contest, assign someone to monitor the content, comments, and questions surrounding your post and contest, and make sure everything is running smoothly.

When the contest closes and it’s time to notify the winner, reach out to the winner privately first. Send them a DM on Instagram, let them know they’ve won, and make sure they accept the prize. Once that’s completed, share a public post announcing the winner or simply say the contest is over.