20 Questions You Need to Ask Before Running a Contest in Canada

20 essential questions marketers need to answer before launching a contest or sweepstakes targeting Canadian consumers.

Contests, or sweepstakes, are a great way to drive consumer engagement, boost sales, and collect valuable data for your organization. But running a contest is often more complicated than it looks, and marketers frequently end up with more questions than answers along the way. The rules governing contests vary by region, so it's essential to know the right questions to ask and prepare for, depending on where you plan to run your campaign.

At WILY we help brands and agencies navigate the ins and outs of launching the perfect engagement campaign, including running a successful contest. Our team fields plenty of questions about launching contests and sweepstakes around the world. So it makes sense to outline the key points to keep in mind when running a contest in different regions. In this post, we'll cover 20 crucial questions marketers should keep in mind when planning to launch a contest in Canada, and for collecting Canadian entries:
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1. Should I outsource my contest, or run it internally?

2. How much should a contest cost?

3. What should the prizing look like?

4. What metrics should I consider for measuring its success?

5. How long should I run a contest for?

6. How should I promote my contest?

7. How long does it take to deploy a digital contest?

8. What should the goal of running a contest be?

9. What is the best way to fulfill prizing?

10. How can I randomly draw winners?

11. How many entries can I expect?

12. How many opt-ins can I expect?

13. What flexibility do I have with creative?

14. How many form fields are enough and how many are too much of a barrier to enter?

15. How can I receive reporting during my contest and after to understand if we are hitting targets?

16. How do I file with the Regie if my contest includes Quebec entrants?

17. Do I need contest rules and regulations?

18. How long does it take to get the rules and regulations completed?

19. How flexible can I be with the engagement mechanic for the contest?

20. What is a declaration and release form and when are the instances I need to provide a potential winner with one?

Although some of these questions should be considered no matter where you are located, there are a number of important areas that are specific to Canada and cannot be overlooked. Similarly, look out for a follow up post that will cater to the questions marketers must ask before running sweepstakes in the USA. Additionally, we will be answering all of these questions in an eBook soon to be announced! So, check back here soon for your ultimate guide to running a contest or sweepstake.