If you need to quickly select winners without manual checking, a normal scheme is a combination of a post/story + a randomizer or a chatbot. Below, I’ve laid out what to click, how services differ, and where people usually make mistakes.
In practice, they most often do this: a post with conditions, collecting comments and mentions, choosing a winner via a service, a short video confirmation, and publishing the results on the same day. When there are many participants or you need to collect contacts – they connect a chatbot.
Before launching, it’s important to understand whether it’s possible to run a giveaway on Instagram legally and without violating platform rules, to avoid account blocks or temporary restrictions.
Giveaway Formats – What to Choose for Your Task
When the result is important today – choose the comment format. If you need to collect applications and contacts – take a chatbot with a form. The table below will help you avoid guessing.
| Format | When it’s Suitable | What to Check | Risks and Nuances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comments under the post | Quick launch in 30 minutes | Presence of a comment, tagging friends | Spam comments – limit the number per account |
| Comments + follow | Need follower growth | Following you, sometimes a partner | Checking follows can be partial or delayed |
| Repost in stories | Need reach through audience | Presence of a mention in stories | Stories live for 24 hours – record them in advance |
| UGC – photo/video with a hashtag | Want content from participants | Post with hashtag, tagging the account | Verification is harder – better via a bot with link submission |
| Quiz in a chatbot | Need engagement and contact collection | Answers, email/phone, consent | Requires scenario setup, but manageable |
Tools – Randomizers and Chatbots
If participants are up to a few thousand – a randomizer is easier. If there are many conditions and stages – a chatbot. One convenient option is the Lizaonair service, which allows automating comment collection, checking follows and mentions, as well as transparently selecting winners, minimizing manual work, and shows how to run a giveaway on Instagram via Lizaonair.
A summary table below to choose quickly.
| Tool | What it Does Best | Access | Condition Checks | Transparency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetWinner | Selecting a winner by comments | Via post link, no login | Comments, filter by mentions, likes | Video/ID of the giveaway, can be shown to audience |
| VerifyShare | Checking follows and mentions | Via post link, no registration | Likes, mentions, follows, reposts | Selection and verification protocol |
| mywinni | Mass giveaways and winner selection | Account in the service, upload post/conditions | Comments, follows, filters | Step-by-step selection report |
| Chatbot builders | Auto-collection of applications, answers, quizzes | Authorization and IG connection | Condition check scripts and logic | Logs in the dashboard, CSV export |
Quick Start Without a Bot – Giveaway by Comments
Suitable when the deadline is today-tomorrow and without complex conditions. The order of actions is simple, steps below.
- Publish a post with clear conditions and result date.
- Collect the post link – the service will need it.
- Open the randomizer, paste the link, set filters: one comment per account, presence of @mentions, exclusions by keywords.
- Press select winner and record the screen – this will be useful for transparency.
- Check the winner against the conditions manually or with a built-in check.
- Publish the result and pin a story with proofs.
What These Services Actually Check
A common mistake is made here – thinking the service will check everything. In practice, checks are different, see the table.
| Check | GetWinner | VerifyShare | mywinni |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presence of a comment | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of mentions in a comment | Yes – by filters | Yes | Yes |
| Following your account | Sometimes – limited | Yes – with API caveats | Yes – when account is connected |
| Liking the post | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Repost in stories | No – manually | Partially – by mentions | Partially – by scenarios |
When a Chatbot is Needed and How to Set It Up Without Extra Steps
A bot is needed when there are many conditions, several stages, and you don’t want to lose applications. With a bot, it’s easier to collect contacts and automate verification.
- Connect Instagram to a chatbot builder.
- Create a trigger: by a keyword in a comment or by a reaction in DMs.
- Build a short scenario: greeting, collecting name and contact, checklist of conditions, participation confirmation.
- Add condition checks: follow, presence of mentions, story screenshot – it’s better to put manual moderation via a button here.
- Export participants to CSV and choose a winner via a built-in module or external randomizer.
Mini-Chatbot Scenario That Covers 80% of Tasks
If you need something simple, without complex logic – take the basic framework below.
| Block | What Happens | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Bot catches a code word or button | Launch participation without manual replies |
| Contact collection | Requests email or phone | Contact with winner without DMs |
| Condition check | Buttons: follow, like, mentions | Participant confirms points themselves |
| Proof | Asks for a story screenshot or link to post | Fix for disputes and checks |
| Finish | Thank you, application ID, result date | Clear endpoint and certainty |
Condition Text – Take a Ready Template
It’s important to check one often-forgotten point – the date and exact time of the results. Below is a template you can insert as is and adjust for yourself.
| Element | Template | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Start now, you can participate until 18:00 MSK 25.01 | Specify time zone |
| Prize | Prize – certificate for 5000 ₽ | Short and clear |
| Conditions | 1) Follow @brand 2) Like the post 3) Comment with 2 friends | Number them, don’t merge into text |
| Results | Results at 19:00 MSK today, screen recording of the selection will be posted in stories | Only promise what you will do |
| Disqualification | If the winner doesn’t respond within 24 hours – we redraw | Reduces prize delivery delays |
Typical Mistakes and Quick Solutions
In practice, they most often do this: set too many conditions, complicate verification, and lose participants at the entrance. Here’s what’s better to do.
- Don’t mix 5+ conditions – leave 2-3, the rest via bonus chances.
- Don’t promise a live stream if you’re unsure about the connection – screen recording of the selection works just as well.
- Don’t delay results – run them on the deadline day, while the audience is still warm.
- Don’t forget about private accounts – mentions from them and stories may be invisible.
- Don’t change conditions after the start – participants don’t like it, and disputes waste time.
Transparency and Proof – Minimum Set
To avoid arguments later, record three things: initial conditions, selection process, winner verification. It takes 5-7 minutes but saves nerves.
- Screenshot of the post with conditions and time.
- Screen recording of the winner selection process.
- Screenshot of the winner’s profile with follow and like.
Verification Checklist Before Launch
Check these points. If all is ok – you can launch without worries.
| Point | How to Check | Where Mistakes Are Often Made |
|---|---|---|
| Post link | Open in incognito, the link should work | They take a link to a draft or a story |
| Conditions | Read them aloud – 2-3 short points | Long paragraphs, key actions not visible |
| Date and time of results | Clearly with minutes and time zone | They write just “tomorrow evening” |
| Service filters | Limit 1 comment per account, enable mention check | They forget the filter – spammers win |
| Screen recording | Check free memory and sound | No space on the phone – recording breaks |
If There Are Very Many Participants
For large giveaways, it’s better to divide into stages: first form a list of qualified participants, then the final selection. This reduces the load on services and removes disputes.
- Download a CSV export of participants.
- Filter out duplicates and obvious spam.
- Select finalists and conduct the final random draw among them.
What to Do After the Results
Immediately pin a story and a post with the result, so you don’t have to answer everyone in DMs. Name the winner, attach the screen recording and the deadline to respond.
- Write to the winner first – this speeds up prize coordination.
- If they don’t respond on time – honestly redraw and show the process.
- Save all materials – they will be useful as a template for the next giveaway.
FAQ Briefly
If you just need to quickly turn off doubts – here’s the straight talk.
- Can you run a giveaway without logging into the account? – Yes, many randomizers work via the post link.
- Will the service check the follow with 100% accuracy? – Not always, depends on access and profile privacy.
- What to do with private accounts? – State in the conditions that the profile must be open during the giveaway.
- How many winners to choose? – Better 1-3 and 1-2 backups, this saves time on re-selection.
Summary
For quick giveaways by comments, a post with clear conditions and a verified randomizer is enough. A screen recording of the selection and a quick winner check solve the transparency issue.
When you need to collect contacts and guide participants step-by-step – connect a chatbot. It will remove manual routine and give a clean export of applications.
What’s your scenario – a quick giveaway for today or a multi-stage mechanic with a bot and application collection?
