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We love hosting giveaway hops but we’re often asked how to set them up. Our giveaway hops usually have five or six simple parts that I’ve explained below. See our Rain Rain giveaway hop as a reference to set up your giveaway.
Image (can be called a button). Add the hop image/button by downloading to your computer, then upload onto your blog. Hops hosted by TMI and TKDI require an image but the image can be put anywhere in your post. The image unites our event.
Introduction. The host may or may not send you a hop introduction (or HTML that has host links etc.). Sometimes you have to write your own intro paragraph to let your readers know this is a giveaway hop and there are many giveaways to enter. Connect the dots for your readers and explain the theme and how a hop works. Even if a host sends you an introduction always check for spelling errors and edit wording to fit your style. I am personally not a fan of hosts including links to a company that is sponsoring their giveaway and will typically remove those links. Make all links no-follow.
Your Giveaway. Clearly state prize details including terms and conditions. Be sure your entry form is set to run the same times as the event. Not a day sooner, not a day longer, it must be exact. Hops may have an event hashtag which can be added to your tweet entry option on your giveaway form. Follow all social media TOS before adding entries.
I prefer to use Rafflecopter or Gleam for my giveaways. (Gleam referral link.)
Linky. Adding a linky to your post is easy and necessary. This shows the list of blogs entrants will go to next. The linky typically goes after your entry form. While you’re in text (HTML) mode paste the full linky code from the host email or doc. Make sure to ‘Save Draft’ then you can view your post to see the linky.
Disclosure. Typically are at the top of a post, before links, but some events have a disclosure to cover all the bloggers. I often put this with the description of my giveaway. Example – “Event hosts & participating bloggers are not responsible for fulfilling prize obligations from sponsors or self-sponsoring bloggers.”
Please see full rules here:
https://thekidsdidit.com/2020-giveaway-hop-rules-for-participation/
Please see instructions for each here:
https://thekidsdidit.com/2020-giveaway-hop-instructions/
This is interesting. I have always wondered how you know what to do to set up a hop giveaway.