Launch text-to-win sweepstakes with Infobip

Boost customer engagement with mobile sweepstakes that are fast to set up, easy to enter, and fully trackable.

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Most marketing tactics fight for attention. Text to win does something different. It feels effortless for customers yet delivers measurable results for brands. One word, one message, and suddenly you have thousands of people ready to engage.

An image showing two people who just read the message that they won an SMS contest. The message overlaying the image says "Congratulations! You've won a dream getaway trip! Our team will contact you shortly with details."

The question is not whether text to win works in 2025. The real question is how far you can take it.

Why text-to-win still works in 2025

Text-to-win campaigns continue to outperform many other promotional tactics because they’re simple, fast, and proven to deliver results.

Easy to enter, fast to engage

Text-to-win campaigns continue to outperform many other promotional tactics because they’re simple, fast, and proven to deliver results.

  • Customers don’t need to download an app or fill out long forms.
  • Participation is as easy as sending a single keyword to a shortcode.
  • Perfect for in-store activations, product packaging, or digital ads that drive immediate action.
A message UI showcasing someone entering a contest via SMS. The message from the sender reads "WIN" and the answer reads "Thanks for entering! You're in the draw."

Proven format with high ROI

Decades of use, and consistent results, prove that text-to-win campaigns keep engagement high and costs low.

  • Text-to-win consistently drives higher participation rates than online forms or social contests.
  • Brands use it to launch new products, activate live events, or boost seasonal promotions.
  • SMS marketing boasts 98% open rates and average response times under 3 minutes, ensuring your sweepstakes grabs attention fast.

How text-to-win works (step-by-step)

Running a text-to-win campaign with Infobip is simple, scalable, and fully automated. Here’s how you can launch your next sweepstake:

Choose a keyword and shortcode

Select a memorable keyword and a shortcode that’s easy for customers to text.

  • Example: “Text WIN to 70707 for a chance to win a $100 gift card.”
  • Use long codes or dedicated numbers for brand consistency and multi-country campaigns.

Promote your campaign

Drive entries by making your contest visible across multiple channels:

  • Place keywords on store receipts, product packaging, posters, and billboards.
  • Use email newsletters, social ads, or QR codes to let people text-to-enter instantly.
  • Example: A retail chain boosted contest entries 2x by adding text-to-win instructions on checkout screens and receipts.
Visual showcasing sharing the text to win SMS campaign over multiple channels.

Automate responses

Deliver instant confirmation messages to reassure participants and keep them engaged.

  • Follow up with thank-you notes, bonus entries, or upsell offers automatically.
  • Example: “Thanks for entering! Want another chance to win? Share this link with friends: [link].”
  • With Infobip Moments, you can set up drip campaigns to keep participants excited until the draw date.

Random draw or rules-based winner selection

Easily select winners based on your campaign goals.

  • Schedule daily, weekly, or campaign-end draws with secure, auditable randomization.
  • Optionally apply rules-based logic (e.g., first 100 entries win a coupon).
  • Manual overrides available for high-value prizes or special promotions.
Flow showcasing how a text to win campaign over SMS goes. First bubble says "Text keyword to shortcode". Second bubble says "Campaign promoted on multiple channels". Third bubble says "Instant SMS confirmation" and the last bubble says "Winner selection (random draw).

Campaign ideas and use cases

Text-to-win works across industries and campaign types. Here are proven examples:

  • Retail: Give away store gift cards to shoppers who text-in during a weekend sale
  • Events: Run live prize draws at concerts or sports games to reward attendees in real time.
  • CPG/FMCG: On-pack sweepstakes where customers text a code from packaging for a chance to win branded merchandise.
  • Entertainment: Offer VIP backstage access or early-release tickets to fans.
  • Hospitality: Surprise repeat guests with free stays or upgrades through text-based entries.
SMS marketing campaigns: Best practices for 2025

What makes Infobip different?

Text-to-win campaigns work best when you have global reach, automation tools, and strict compliance controls. Infobip combines all of these in a single platform designed for high-volume, secure, and fully measurable sweepstakes.

Enterprise-ready delivery infrastructure

To run large-scale contests, you need reach and reliability. Infobip’s infrastructure ensures your messages land quickly and consistently:

  • 800+ direct telco connections provide unmatched SMS coverage across 190+ countries.
  • Example: A global FMCG brand used Infobip to launch a multi-country sweepstake across Asia and Europe, achieving 98% delivery rates even during peak traffic hours.
  • Telco-grade redundancy prevents downtime, so entries and confirmations are never missed.

Built-in automation with Moments

Successful contests often require multi-step engagement—not just a single entry message. With Infobip’s Moments platform:

  • Automate complex flows: Trigger instant thank-you replies, upsell offers, or send reminders for participants who haven’t responded.
  • Run multi-stage contests: For example, after entry, send a quiz question; those who answer correctly receive a bonus draw entry.

Tip: Use branching logic to personalize follow-ups based on participant behavior (e.g., clicks or responses).

Compliance and consent baked in

Sweepstakes must be legally sound to protect both your brand and participants. Infobip simplifies this by:

  • Enforcing TCPA and GDPR rules, automatically managing STOP/HELP keywords for opt-outs.
  • Embedding terms and conditions in confirmation messages or linking to hosted disclaimers.
  • Example: A beverage brand in a regulated market used Infobip’s age verification prompts to ensure only eligible participants could enter.

Tip: Always test campaigns with Infobip’s built-in compliance checker before launch.

Rich reporting and analytics

Measuring ROI is essential for proving campaign success. Infobip provides real-time insights that help you make smarter decisions:

  • Track entries, conversions, and engagement rates live in your dashboard.
  • Use segmentation to retarget non-winners with loyalty offers or future promotions.
  • Export audit-ready reports for regulatory reviews or stakeholder presentations.

Get started with text-to-win sweepstakes

Text-to-win campaigns remain one of the fastest and most measurable ways to boost customer engagement. With Infobip, you get:

  • Enterprise-grade delivery and security for contests at scale.
  • Built-in automation to handle entries, responses, and winner selection.
  • Full compliance with TCPA, GDPR, and regional sweepstake regulations.
  • Rich analytics to measure ROI and re-engage participants post-campaign.

Start your sweepstake today with a platform trusted by leading global brands.

FAQs about text-to-win sweepstakes

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