Hey folks,
Let’s talk about something we all secretly enjoy… free stuff.
Whether it’s a shiny new iPhone, a $500 shopping spree, or just the thrill of possibly winning something cool—sweepstakes are irresistible. But here’s the catch: that same human excitement can also be a goldmine for affiliates—if you know how to use it right.
In this post, I’m going to break down how I tapped into sweepstakes advertising, why it works so well in certain geos and demographics, and how I made a few small changes that resulted in my highest CTRs to date.
First, let’s zoom out.
What makes sweepstakes offers so powerful?
And let’s be honest—most people know they probably won’t win… but that what if is enough to click.
About two months ago, I decided to run a few sweepstakes campaigns through Mondiad to test traffic volume and conversion potential. My vertical at the time was struggling with engagement, so I pivoted toward something light, fast-moving, and emotionally charged.
Here’s how it played out:
I ran A/B tests across creatives and geos for a week.
After 7 days and a total ad spend of ~$230, here were the results:
The craziest part? I spent less than two hours setting it all up.
Sweepstakes advertising isn’t just about flashy prizes or hyped-up headlines—it’s about understanding user psychology and giving people an emotional reason to click.
It’s easy to dismiss these offers as “low quality” or “cheap leads,” but if done right, they convert like crazy and offer excellent ROI, especially on mobile-focused native and push traffic.
If you’re looking for a high-volume, low-friction way to re-ignite your campaigns or test new traffic sources, sweeps are worth a serious look.
Have any of you tried running sweepstakes campaigns? Would love to hear your experience—especially if you’ve cracked Tier 1 traffic for this vertical.
Let’s swap wins (and losses) and help each other grow!
Cheers
Let’s talk about something we all secretly enjoy… free stuff.
Whether it’s a shiny new iPhone, a $500 shopping spree, or just the thrill of possibly winning something cool—sweepstakes are irresistible. But here’s the catch: that same human excitement can also be a goldmine for affiliates—if you know how to use it right.
In this post, I’m going to break down how I tapped into sweepstakes advertising, why it works so well in certain geos and demographics, and how I made a few small changes that resulted in my highest CTRs to date.
Why Sweepstakes Work (and Always Will)
First, let’s zoom out.
What makes sweepstakes offers so powerful?
- Instant emotional engagement – The chance to win something taps into emotions like hope, curiosity, and excitement.
- Low barrier to entry – Most sweepstakes require just an email, phone number, or a short form.
- High volume, low friction – They’re perfect for Tier 2 and Tier 3 countries where users are more likely to engage with offers that don’t ask for credit card info.
- Perfect for social and native ads – The creatives are fun, colorful, and curiosity-driven.
And let’s be honest—most people know they probably won’t win… but that what if is enough to click.
My Experience Running Sweepstakes Ads
About two months ago, I decided to run a few sweepstakes campaigns through Mondiad to test traffic volume and conversion potential. My vertical at the time was struggling with engagement, so I pivoted toward something light, fast-moving, and emotionally charged.
Here’s how it played out:
- Offer type: Win a smartphone (lead generation format)
- GEOs targeted: Brazil, India, Philippines, South Africa
- Ad format: Native and push ads
- Landing page: Simple, curiosity-based with an animated countdown timer
- Conversion goal: SOI (Single Opt-In)
I ran A/B tests across creatives and geos for a week.
Results From the Test Campaign
After 7 days and a total ad spend of ~$230, here were the results:
- Impressions: 183,000
- Clicks: 14,700 (CTR: 8%)
- Leads: 1,090
- Cost per lead: $0.21
- Payout per lead: $0.75
- Profit: ~$590
The craziest part? I spent less than two hours setting it all up.
Key Lessons I Learned
- Curiosity Kills the Scroll – The most effective creatives were simple: "Win a Free iPhone – Spin to Win!" or "Your Name Was Selected – Claim Now!"
- Use urgency carefully – Countdown timers and “spots left” messages helped create FOMO without crossing the line into scammy.
- Mobile-first is non-negotiable – Over 92% of traffic came from mobile. If your landing page isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re losing.
- Use GEO psychology – Sweepstakes work better in some countries than others. In developing markets, the concept of winning big with low effort performs significantly better than in saturated Tier 1 markets.
Final Thoughts
Sweepstakes advertising isn’t just about flashy prizes or hyped-up headlines—it’s about understanding user psychology and giving people an emotional reason to click.
It’s easy to dismiss these offers as “low quality” or “cheap leads,” but if done right, they convert like crazy and offer excellent ROI, especially on mobile-focused native and push traffic.
If you’re looking for a high-volume, low-friction way to re-ignite your campaigns or test new traffic sources, sweeps are worth a serious look.
Have any of you tried running sweepstakes campaigns? Would love to hear your experience—especially if you’ve cracked Tier 1 traffic for this vertical.
Let’s swap wins (and losses) and help each other grow!
Cheers