How to Run a Barcode Prize Giveaway with Make.com

This guide explains step by step how to use make.com to run a barcode-based prize giveaway that captures leads, stores them in Google Sheets, and automatically notifies winners.

By combining barcodes, a simple online form, Google Sheets, and webhooks, you can build a reusable lead-generation system that scales without manual work.

What You Will Build with Make.com

In this tutorial you will create an automated workflow that:

• Generates unique barcodes for offline or online distribution
• Collects participant data through a web form
• Validates each barcode against a central spreadsheet
• Detects if a prize is still available or already claimed
• Sends an automatic email response to participants

All orchestration is handled in make.com so you can focus on campaign design rather than repetitive tasks.

Requirements Before You Start

To follow this solution closely, prepare the following components:

• A free or paid make.com account
• A Google account with access to Google Sheets and Gmail
• An online form tool that can send data to a webhook (for example, a website form or form builder)
• A way to distribute barcodes (printed flyers, product labels, emails, or digital banners)

Once these elements are ready, you can connect everything inside make.com in a single scenario.

Plan Your Prize Giveaway Logic in Make.com

Before building, define the structure of your campaign:

• Prizes: What type of prizes will you offer and how many?
• Barcodes: Will each participant have a unique code, or will multiple people share the same prize code?
• Eligibility: Are there limits such as one entry per person, or restricted dates?
• Notifications: What confirmation emails and winner messages will you send?

Document these rules so you can translate them precisely into your make.com scenario and Google Sheet structure.

Set Up the Google Sheet for Make.com

Your Google Sheet will act as the central database for barcodes and prize status.

Design the Google Sheet Structure

Create a new spreadsheet with at least these columns:

• Barcode – the unique code printed or distributed
• Prize – the prize associated with the barcode
• Status – for example: Available, Claimed, Invalid
• Winner Name – filled when a prize is claimed
• Email – where confirmation is sent
• Claim Date – timestamp of successful claim

Populate the Barcode and Prize columns for all codes. Initially, set Status for every row to Available.

Connect Google Sheets to Make.com

Inside make.com:

1. Create a new scenario.
2. Add a Google Sheets module and connect your Google account.
3. Select the spreadsheet and worksheet that contain the barcodes.
4. Test the connection by listing a few rows to ensure access.

This connection allows make.com to read and update prize data each time a participant submits a form.

Create the Webhook Trigger in Make.com

The webhook is the entry point for every giveaway submission.

Build the Webhook Endpoint

1. In your make.com scenario, add a Webhooks > Custom webhook module.
2. Click Add to create a new webhook.
3. Copy the generated webhook URL.

This URL will receive form data, including the barcode and participant details.

Connect Your Form to the Webhook

In your form tool or website:

1. Configure the form to send a POST request to the webhook URL.
2. Include fields such as:
   • barcode
   • name
   • email
3. Submit a test entry so make.com can detect the incoming data structure.

Return to the webhook module in make.com and click Redetermine data structure if needed, then send another test to capture all fields.

Validate Barcodes with Make.com and Google Sheets

After the webhook receives a submission, the scenario must check the barcode and decide what response to send.

Search for the Barcode in Google Sheets

1. Add a Google Sheets > Search rows module after the webhook.
2. Choose the same spreadsheet and worksheet defined earlier.
3. Set the search condition to match the barcode field received from the webhook.
4. Limit results to 1 row for efficiency.

This search tells make.com whether the code exists and what its current status is.

Route Logic for Prize Status

Insert a Router module after the search step. Create three routes:

1. Valid and Available
   • Condition: a row is found and Status equals Available.
   • Action: mark the prize as claimed and trigger a winner email.
2. Already Claimed
   • Condition: a row is found and Status equals Claimed (or similar).
   • Action: send a polite message explaining the code was already used.
3. Invalid Code
   • Condition: no row is found.
   • Action: send an email indicating the barcode is invalid.

Using these routes, make.com can handle all common situations without manual review.

Update the Google Sheet When a Prize Is Claimed

On the Valid and Available route, update your spreadsheet so the same barcode cannot win again.

1. Add a Google Sheets > Update a row module.
2. Map the row ID from the search result.
3. Set Status to Claimed.
4. Fill Winner Name and Email with values from the webhook.
5. Set Claim Date using the current date/time variable.

This ensures your giveaway data stays accurate and auditable.

Send Automated Emails Through Make.com

Each route should send a tailored email to participants.

Configure Gmail or SMTP in Make.com

1. Add a Gmail or SMTP module on each route.
2. Connect your email account.
3. Set the recipient to the participant’s email from the webhook.

Design different messages for each scenario:

• Winner email: describe the prize, redemption steps, and any conditions.
• Already claimed: explain that the code has been used and offer a consolation or alternative call to action.
• Invalid code: clarify that the barcode is not recognized and provide support contact information.

Make sure subject lines and bodies are clear and mobile friendly, since many users will open them on smartphones.

Test and Optimize Your Make.com Giveaway

Before launching your campaign publicly:

• Run multiple test submissions with valid, duplicate, and fake barcodes.
• Check that the Google Sheet updates correctly for each case.
• Verify that all emails are delivered and look correct in various email clients.
• Review scenario logs inside make.com to ensure there are no unexpected errors.

Once tests look good, activate the scenario and publish the form or landing page where participants can enter their barcode.

Advanced Enhancements for Make.com Campaigns

After your basic giveaway is running, you can extend it with additional modules and logic:

• Segment winners and non-winners into separate mailing lists.
• Add CRM integration to create or update contacts automatically.
• Trigger follow-up sequences for participants who did not win.
• Schedule periodic reports summarizing claims and conversion rates.

Specialized automation consultants, such as Consultevo, can help design and scale complex flows using platforms like make.com when you need deeper customization.

Where to Learn More About This Make.com Setup

You can review the original step-by-step walkthrough of this barcode giveaway automation on the official guide at make.com. That resource includes visuals and module-level details that complement this overview.

By combining barcodes, Google Sheets, and webhooks, make.com gives you a flexible, low-code framework for running repeatable prize giveaways that double as powerful lead-generation funnels.

Need Help With Make.com?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your Make scenarios, work with ConsultEvo — certified workflow and automation specialists.

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