Raffle Advice

How do I Find the Best Online Raffle Generator?

Author:
Dee Brannick
-
Fundraising specialist, Co-Founder of GalaBid
Updated:
March 1, 2024

One of the most effective ways to raise money is through a raffle or prize draw using an online raffle generator.

However, with so many online raffle generators to choose from, it can be overwhelming to work out which is best for your event.

In this article, we will discuss how to find the best online raffle generator for your fundraising event.

Determine Your Needs

Before you start to look for an online raffle generator, take some time to identify your fundraising objectives. These might inlclude one or more of the following:

  • Raise a specific amount of money for a charity or cause
  • Increase awareness for a particular organization or campaign
  • Engage with supporters and donors in a fun and interactive way
  • Expand the reach of the fundraising event to a wider audience
  • Reward loyal donors with exclusive prizes or experiences

Also think about the specific features of your fundraiser and what you need from a raffle generator. For example:

  • Does the raffle platform need to have unlimited number of tickets?
  • Do you need an online catalogue to showcase your prize items?
  • Do you want the platform to support shareable links so you can promote the raffle via email, social media and SMS?

Giving these key points some thought means the generator you ultimately select will effectively meet all of your needs and deliver the desired results.

Look for User-Friendly Features

Your online raffle generator should be easy for everyone to use

When selecting an online raffle generator for your fundraising event, opting for one with user-friendly features is crucial for several reasons:

  • Ease of Use: User-friendly features make it simple for both organizers and participants to navigate the platform without encountering any difficulties. This ensures a smooth experience for everyone involved.
  • Increased Participation: Intuitive interfaces and easy-to-understand processes encourage more people to participate in the raffle. Complicated platforms may deter potential donors from engaging with your fundraiser.
  • Time-Saving: User-friendly features streamline the raffle setup process, saving you time and effort. This allows you to focus on other aspects of your fundraising event.
  • Enhanced Engagement: Interactive elements such as gamification or social sharing options can boost participant engagement and make the raffle more enjoyable for donors.
  • Improved Brand Perception: A well-designed and user-friendly raffle platform reflects positively on your organization, showcasing professionalism and attention to detail.

Examples of user-friendly features to look for include:

  • Intuitive Interface: Clear and easy-to-navigate interface for both organizers and participants.
  • Mobile Compatibility: Responsive design that works seamlessly on various devices.
  • Customization Options: Ability to customize the raffle page to match your branding.
  • Automated Notifications: Automated emails or reminders to keep participants informed.
  • Social Sharing Integration: Built-in tools for sharing the raffle on social media platforms.
  • Ticket Management: Simple ticket purchasing process and tracking capabilities.
  • Reporting Tools: Access to real-time data and analytics for better insights into the raffle performance.

By prioritizing user-friendly features in your choice of online raffle generator, you can create a positive experience for participants, maximize engagement, and ultimately achieve your fundraising goals more effectively.

Raffle Promotion

Promoting your raffle is crucial to its success, and having the right tools to facilitate promotion can make a significant difference in reaching a wider audience. When selecting an online raffle generator, consider the ease of promoting the raffle and the features it offers to assist with promotion:

  • Shareable Links: Look for a raffle generator that provides shareable links, making it easy for you to promote the raffle via email, SMS, and various social media platforms. Shareable links allow participants to quickly spread the word about the raffle, increasing its visibility and participation.
  • Social Media Integration: Choose a generator that offers seamless integration with popular social media platforms. This feature enables you to share the raffle directly on social media channels, engage with your audience, and encourage them to participate or share the raffle with their networks.
  • Email Campaigns: Some  may include built-in email campaign tools that allow you to send promotional emails to your contact list. These tools can help you create visually appealing emails, track open rates, and monitor the effectiveness of your email marketing efforts.

By leveraging these promotion features offered by the online raffle generator, you can effectively reach a larger audience, increase participation, and maximize the success of your fundraising event.

Consider the Cost

Platform cost is an important consideration for nearly all fundraisers

While some online raffle platforms may be free, others may charge a fee for their services. It's important to consider the cost and determine if it fits within your budget.

Some generators may also offer different pricing tiers depending on the features you need, so be sure to compare different options to find the best value for your event.

Galabid, for example, offers both paid and free raffle options so you can select which service best suits your fundraiser.

Review Available Service Support

When choosing an online raffle platform for your fundraising event, it's essential to consider the types of support available to assist you.

Whether you're an experienced fundraiser or this is your first raffle, it's important that you have access to help and advice when you need it.

Here are some common service types provided by raffle generator platforms:

1. Help Videos:How to set up your raffle campaign, How to customize your raffle page, How to promote your raffle on social media

2. FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions):How to purchase raffle tickets? How winners are selected? How to redeem prizes?

3. Live Chat:Technical issues during raffle setup, Payment processing inquiries, General platform navigation assistance

Having access to these support services can help you navigate the online raffle platform effectively, troubleshoot any issues that may arise, and ensure a smooth experience for both organizers and participants.

Check for Security Measures

A secure platform will keep everyone's data safe

When hosting an online raffle, it's crucial to ensure the security of your participants' personal and payment information.

When searching for a suitable raffle generator, prioritize platforms that deliver secure payment processing and data encryption measures in order to safeguard the sensitive information of all participants involved in the raffle event.

This ensures that all financial transactions and personal details shared throughout the raffle process remain confidential and secure, thereby providing peace of mind to both yourself as the organizer and to all participants taking part in the event.

Make sure to assess the security features offered before making your final selection. Robust platform security will help build trust with your participants and encourage them to participate in future events.

One of the best ways to determine the effectiveness of an online raffle generator is by reading reviews and testimonials from previous users. Independent review sites, such as Trustpilot, are a good way to find objective feedback.

Consider the generator's ease of use, available features, customer support, and overall satisfaction.

While positive reviews can be helpful, it's also important to be wary of 100% positive reviews as they may not always reflect the full picture. Things will go wrong occasionally, often the way a platform provider responds to those bumps in the road can tell you a lot about how they value their customers.

Consider Additional Features

Aside from the basic features of an online raffle generator, some may offer additional features that can enhance your fundraising event. This may include the ability to track ticket sales, generate reports, and even offer a sweepstakes app for participants to easily enter the raffle. Consider these additional features and determine if they would benefit your event.

By following these tips, you can find the best online raffle generator for your fundraising event. Remember to consider your specific needs, user-friendly features, cost, security measures, and read reviews before making a decision. With the right online raffle generator, you can make your fundraising event a success and raise more money for your cause.

Hosting a fundraising event can be a daunting task, but with the right tools, it can be a successful and enjoyable experience.