How to Run a Contest to Grow Your Email List with Hubspot-Style Tactics

Using a Hubspot-inspired framework, you can run high-converting contests that grow your email list quickly, attract qualified leads, and stay compliant with marketing regulations.

This guide walks you step-by-step through planning, launching, and optimizing a contest modeled after best practices from the original Hubspot article on running contests for list growth.

Why a Hubspot-Style Contest Grows Email Lists Fast

Contests work because they tap into urgency, curiosity, and rewards. A well-structured promotion can generate more subscribers in a week than a simple static form does in a month.

A Hubspot-style approach focuses on:

Clear goals and lead quality, not vanity metrics.
Compelling, audience-fit prizes.
Strategic promotion across channels.
Compliance with email and data regulations.

Step 1: Define Your Goal with a Hubspot-Driven Mindset

Before you design anything, clarify what you want from the contest. A Hubspot-inspired strategy starts with lead quality and lifecycle, not just the raw number of entries.

Common goals include:

Growing your newsletter subscriber base.
Driving trials or demos for a product.
Building awareness before a launch.
Re-engaging an inactive audience segment.

Write down a single, primary goal and 1–2 secondary goals. This focus helps you evaluate success more accurately later.

Step 2: Choose a Prize Using Hubspot Best Practices

The right prize attracts the right subscribers. Hubspot-style guidance emphasizes alignment with your core offer so entries are more likely to become customers.

Avoid generic rewards like mass-market gift cards that attract anyone and everyone. Instead, consider:

Free access to your software or premium features.
Consulting or strategy sessions.
Exclusive training, templates, or digital kits.
Bundles that only your ideal buyer would value.

A prize that only resonates with your target audience naturally filters out unqualified signups.

Step 3: Select Your Contest Type the Hubspot Way

The original Hubspot resource highlights that different contest formats work better for different goals and audiences. Pick a structure that fits both.

Popular options include:

Simple sweepstakes: Enter an email to win. Best for fast list growth.
Photo or video contest: Great for user-generated content and social proof.
Referral contest: Reward extra entries for sharing with friends.
Quiz or challenge: Ideal for education and segmentation.

Match the format to your funnel. For example, a quiz contest can double as a qualification tool by asking questions tied to buyer needs.

Step 4: Build Your Contest Landing Page with Hubspot-Inspired Elements

Borrowing from Hubspot-style landing page best practices, your contest page should be focused, simple, and conversion-driven.

Essential Hubspot-Style Page Elements

Clear headline: State the prize and main benefit.
Short description: Explain who the contest is for and why it matters.
Prominent form: Ask only for essential details (often just name and email).
Compelling call-to-action: Use action verbs and emphasize ease of entry.
Deadline and rules: Show when it ends and link to full terms.

Keep distractions off the page. Avoid multiple competing CTAs or long navigation menus that can pull attention away from the entry form.

Optimize the Form Like Hubspot Landing Pages

Form friction can kill a great contest. Model form design on streamlined Hubspot landing pages:

Limit fields to what you absolutely need.
Use clear labels and inline error messages.
Include an explicit consent checkbox for marketing emails.
Explain how you will use the subscriber’s information.

Step 5: Promote the Contest Using Hubspot-Inspired Channels

Even the best contest will fail without visibility. Hubspot emphasizes multi-channel promotion to reach subscribers wherever they are.

Leverage Owned Channels

Email: Announce the contest to your list and add it to your email footer.
Website: Use banners, pop-ups, or slide-ins to highlight the giveaway.
Blog: Publish a post about the contest and link to the landing page.

Amplify with Social and Paid Channels

Promote regularly on social platforms with varied creative.
Use countdown posts as the deadline approaches.
Test targeted ads for high-value audience segments.

For deeper strategic support on promotion and funnel building, you can explore expert services such as Consultevo, which specialize in data-driven campaign optimization.

Step 6: Stay Compliant Like Hubspot Recommends

Compliance protects your brand and your list quality. A Hubspot-style contest respects consent and data privacy from the start.

Key compliance actions include:

Using opt-in language that clearly explains what people are signing up for.
Providing a visible link to your privacy policy and official rules.
Honoring unsubscribe requests immediately.
Following region-specific regulations like GDPR or CAN-SPAM where applicable.

Always separate mandatory consent (for running the contest) from optional marketing consent when required by local law.

Step 7: Follow Up with New Subscribers Using Hubspot Principles

The real value of the contest appears after it ends. A Hubspot-inspired strategy treats new entrants as the start of a nurturing journey, not a one-off campaign.

Design a Post-Contest Nurture Sequence

Map a short sequence of follow-up emails to:

Thank entrants and announce the winner.
Deliver a consolation offer, such as a discount or free resource.
Introduce your core product or service with clear benefits.
Share case studies or success stories for social proof.

Space these emails sensibly to avoid overwhelming subscribers while keeping your brand top of mind.

Segment and Score Leads the Hubspot Way

Apply simple segmentation criteria based on how people entered, what they clicked, or any quiz responses. Using a basic lead scoring model inspired by Hubspot methodology helps you prioritize follow-up from your sales or success teams.

Step 8: Measure and Improve Your Contest Performance

Using analytics similar to Hubspot dashboards, track the impact of your contest on both list growth and downstream revenue.

Monitor metrics such as:

Number of entries and conversion rate on the landing page.
Cost per lead if you used paid ads.
Email engagement from contest leads versus regular signups.
Trials, demos, or sales generated from contest entrants.

Use these insights to refine prize selection, format, and promotion tactics for your next campaign.

Learn More from the Original Hubspot Contest Guide

This walkthrough is based on best practices originally detailed by the Hubspot marketing team for running list-building contests. For further reading and additional examples, review the source article here: Hubspot guide to running a contest to grow your email list.

By blending these Hubspot-style strategies with your own brand voice and audience insights, you can design contests that rapidly grow your email list while maintaining quality, trust, and long-term customer value.

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