ViralSweep: Worth ItWith an ActiveCommunity

In short

ViralSweep is a tool for giveaways and social campaigns: entries in exchange for an email address, bonus entries for shared posts or purchases, waitlists with referrals. The app can do a lot, but it's expensive and rarely economical for smaller brands. It only pays off once there's a large, active community to carry a campaign.

Our verdict: Worth it with an active community

A giveaway is only as strong as the reach behind it. If hardly anyone follows you, hardly anyone enters, and the monthly fee is out of all proportion to the result. For a brand with an engaged community, on the other hand, a well-made campaign can bring in many new contacts.

That's why we don't recommend ViralSweep as a default, but for brands that already have a real fan base on social media and use campaigns regularly.

What ViralSweep does well

• Many campaign types. Giveaways, contests, instant wins and waitlists in one app.
• Bonus entries. Participants get extra chances for social actions like sharing, or for purchases in the shop.
• Waitlists with referrals. Before a launch, participants move up the list when they invite others.

What to watch out for

• Cost. There's no free version, only a trial. Even the smallest plan is expensive for many smaller brands. Work out beforehand what a campaign has to deliver.
• Terms of participation. Giveaways need clear terms of participation. Have them checked by your legal advisor.
• Keep an eye on the subscription. If you pause the app between campaigns, check the plan. After a pause, the full price shouldn't quietly start running again.
• Quality of contacts. People who only enter for the prize often don't buy. A prize that fits the brand attracts the right people.

When you don't need ViralSweep

Without an active community, the app isn't worth it. To build an email list, a good pop-up with a welcome series is enough, see The Welcome Series Starts With the Pop-Up. Which other apps are worth it is covered in our App Diet.

FAQ

When does ViralSweep pay off? When your brand has a large, active community on social media and you use campaigns regularly.

Is there a free version? No, only a short trial.

Do I need terms of participation? Yes. Have them checked by your legal advisor before the campaign starts.

Will you set up ViralSweep for us? Yes, including a campaign page in your brand's design and a connection to your email tool. If you first want to know which apps your store really needs, our Audit is the fastest route.