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  • Radio competitions: On-air promotional ideas for November 2023

    Radio competitions: On-air promotional ideas for November 2023

    Much like I penned in September (for October), we’re back with a few more ideas to get the creative juices going for the month of November.

    I’ll be doing a series of posts like these over the course of a calendar year, giving some light tips and suggestions for on-air competitions and promotions that might be useful for the following month. They’ll be seasonal, some a little easier to integrate into your on-air offering than others while every now and again you might get something that will take an extra few weeks for planning and execution.

    Either way, if you’re looking at some ideas for standalone promotions or show integrations in November 2023, you’ve come to the right place. Here are seven suggestions to get you thinking.

    1. Thanksgiving recipe contest

    I’ll drop this one in here for the visitors from across the Atlantic as the US gets set for Thanksgiving at the end of the month. That said, you’ll find a lot of Irish radio stations around Thursday 23 November (that’s the date this year) tapping into their book of American contacts and contributors to discuss Thanksgiving traditions. If you’re jumping on that bandwagon, then how about a Thanksgiving recipe contest?

    Get listeners to put their best recipes forward, get them shared and get voting. Prizes could include cooking equipment, gift vouchers for local butchers or supermarkets, or go all out and offer a catered Thanksgiving dinner in a listener’s home (or even bring them into the station instead and get a few of the team around for food). If you’re considering commercial possibilities, target local food stores, kitchen appliance brands, or dealers.

    2. The Winter Warmup song contest

    In Ireland we love a good song contest so if you’re looking for a bit of craic this November, why not try out the Winter Warmup Song Contest? After all, there’s no point in waiting for the Eurovision to roll around in May when you can get stuck into the singing in just a few weeks.

    With the cold weather likely to set in for November, invite listeners to submit their favourite ‘warmup’ songs, something that gets them moving or warms their spirits. It could be a classic hit, something hot or if you’re willing to play your Christmas music early, it could be something a little festive. Best song goes to the top of the class with your prize offerings the likes of gig tickets, wireless headphones and the likes. Get listeners to send in their songs and get your final list down to 10-15. If you’ve got the songs in your library, why not shape a clock from them or get them on a playlist, spinning them across the month with a vote at the end of the month on the ultimate Winter Warmup song.

    3. Movember awareness campaign

    Is your mo’ ready for November? It’s that time of year again where those with a penchant and ability for growing facial hair can go all out on the moustache or bear front across the month before trimming it all off in the name of charity. Movember has grown into a focus on mental health, suicide, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Grow a mo, move for mental health, host a mo-ment or just “mo your own way”. Read all about it here.

    A man gets a moustache and beard trim. Photo: Cottonbro / Pexels

    If you’re looking at a campaign to target male listeners, why not get involved with Movember? Encourage the moustache-growing movement, share progress and stories, get some WhatsApp or social interaction going. You could go the whole hog and open up a voting system, team up with some men’s grooming products suppliers, maybe a local health clinic or even a barbers, with prizes on the line including grooming kits, health checkups, a hot towel shave etc.

    4. Black Friday scavenger hunt

    Production departments around radio stations in Ireland (and presumably globally) will likely be chock full of Black Friday requests, ads, campaigns and the rest. What was very much “a thing” in the US market has certainly been adopted by Irish retailers in recent years as businesses look to make the most of pre-Christmas sales with the hope of tempting customers in with some day-only to week-only offers.

    One option that’s primed for local radio stations or particular local/regional markets is a Black Friday scavenger hunt, with clues leading to local businesses offering Black Friday deals. Provide your clues on air, via social media or look to an outside broadcast for some live event participation. If single retail stores are out of reach for sponsors, look at shopping centres, town groups, maybe even e-commerce platforms or online shops. For prizes, think exclusive deals, vouchers or one-off Black Friday goodies.

    5. Thankful thoughts

    This is a little like point number one in that it has to do with giving thanks, but it could help generate some feel-good content for air. What are people thankful for? The clocks will have changed, the evenings are drawing in and November is a good month for reflection before planning ahead for Christmas and the new year. Did someone do a listener a good turn over the course of the year? Did a neighbour come to the rescue during the flood weather? Maybe you’ve got a listener who’s thankful to be alive, to have found work, found a home, got a promotion, started a new job, or taken up a new hobby?

    Whatever the case is, make a spot for sharing thankful thoughts on air and look at how they could be rewarded – do something nice in return for someone. A prize for the story of the day, or one that tugs at the heartstrings of your audience?

    6. Countdown to Christmas fitness challenge

    This November, why not encourage listeners to get out, get healthy, and boost their fitness with an on-air challenge? Like it or loath it, there will be plenty of people hoping to shed a few pounds ahead of the festive social season, and plenty more who would like to get out and about, get moving and improve their health. While gyms and fitness centres will be the target of much hype for the January market, why not get ahead of the curve and link up with a local gym, sportswear brand or health food store?

    You could offer online registration, work it in conjunction with a health/nutrition slot on-air or online, or offer up prizes like a gym membership, a fitness tracker, or an activewear wardrobe makeover. The cold and dark nights will be closing in so why not make the most of it!

    7. Photo contest: “My November”

    Years ago (and this may well be still a thing), you would have companies calling out for photos to make their annual calendar. Texaco or Top Oil may have been the front-runners in the Irish market but I stand to be corrected. How about running something similar online where you put the call out for listeners to capture what the month of November means to them in a photo – maybe it’s the turn of the leaves, their town at night, a frosty morning. Instead of a calendar, why not make the winning photograph (because you’ll need to pick a winner) your Facebook / Twitter cover photo for the month of December and show it some love on your website.

    Got something to add?

    If you’ve got something to add yourself or have a competition or promotion that you keep returning to in November and fancy sharing it with the rest of the class, drop a note in the comments area below.

  • Radio competitions: On-air promotional ideas for October 2023

    Radio competitions: On-air promotional ideas for October 2023

    While we’re early in September, you’re always a step or two ahead in the world of radio when it comes to planning for competitions, features and activations.

    It gives you time to work out mechanics, get sponsors on board, get presenters up to speed, plan social media elements and all the rest. If you’re looking for some suggestions for the month of October, I’ve got you covered with a few ideas.

    Sure, you may have to tailor ideas to suit your audience or a particular show, but hopefully they’ll provide a good jumping-off point. Let’s jump in.

    Radio competition and activation ideas for October

    1. Halloween Costume Contest

    Halloween costumes
    Children in Halloween costumes (Spiderman and Captain America). Photo: Steven Libralon/Unsplash

    If you’re looking at boosting listener engagement and looking at a way to test out some WhatsApp interaction, why not consider a virtual Halloween costume contest? Keep it straightforward, have listeners submit photos of their costumes, get yourself a shortlist, and then have listeners vote for their favourite costumes either online or via text.

    As for prizes, that could be one for your commercial team but consider options on vouchers, Halloween party packs (depending on the target age group for your competition, decorations to snacks), or a cash prize (it’s still king, right?).

    2. Breast Cancer Awareness Month

    Breast Cancer Awareness. Photo: Angiola Harry / Unsplash
    Breast Cancer Awareness. Photo: Angiola Harry / Unsplash

    October is breast cancer awareness month. You’ll find radio stations around the world adopting pink colour schemes and stylesheets for their websites and apps, adding ribbons to socials and getting busy on air. Survivor stories get shared, there are interviews with experts, prevention tips and advice from all corners.

    While it can be a sensitive topic and hard for some people to discuss on air, it may be nice to run a competition encouraging the sharing of stories and first-hand experiences to help raise awareness.

    Listeners could share a story or nominate someone who’s been dealing with their own cancer journey and may need a change of scenery, a break away or some pampering. With that in mind, prize ideas could be gift cards, spa vouchers, overnight stays, or a dine-at-home package. Maybe your mechanic is as simple as having someone on air to share their story and by virtue of doing that, they’re getting something nice in return.

    You could also encourage listeners to donate to a related charity or participate in awareness events taking place over the course of the month.

    3. Autumn/Fall recipe swap & cook-off

    Halloween cupcakes. Photo: Monstera Production / Pexels
    Halloween cupcakes. Photo: Monstera Production / Pexels

    With the evenings starting to draw in, October is usually a time for cooking a bit more in the kitchen. Meals become heartier, more comfort food (think Shepherds Pie, lasagne, a curry, nut roast).

    Invite listeners to your station to submit their favourite recipes for this time of year, then select and share the best ones for air. To close out the competition, turn it into a studio event or outside broadcast by hosting a cook-off or tasting event. Most stations these days with a magazine programme or current affairs programme have a foodie or chef on hand to chip in with expert tips and tricks. Get them involved in the judging process, and make a morning out of it.

    For prizes consider shopping or grocery vouchers, restaurant vouchers, cooking courses, a day with a chef etc.

    4. Spooky story submission

    For grown-ups and children alike, why not have listeners submit a short, spooky story or experience? From a production element, make the decision whether you narrate the best ones for air or accept the entries in an audio medium, like an audio message through your station’s mobile app (thank you, AIIR) or via WhatsApp.

    This ties into the Halloween theme of the month – it is October after all – and you could have listeners vote on the spookiest / scariest / strangest story.

    5. Sports fan feature

    In Ireland, October usually means the end of the GAA club season for most with county championships being played out on the hurling or football front, depending on whether your county board is running a split season between codes. While the Ryder Cup will be out of the way, we’ve still got the Rugby World Cup this year, the Premier League and Champions League are in full swing while in the US, it’s all about football and baseball.

    Get your sports show involved with fan predictions, rituals, and favourite sporting memories or if you’re providing live game coverage, the tried and tested Player of the Match competitions tend to drive plenty of listener engagement.

    6. Oktoberfest celebration

    Oktoberfest beer.
    Oktoberfest beer. Photo: Louis Hansel / Unsplash

    If you’re sticking to the German calendar, you’d want to be on this one early enough this month. Typically, Oktoberfest will run mid-September ish through to the first Sunday in October though you’ll find plenty of bars and beer houses that will extend that deadline out to the end of October.

    Where you’ve got food features running, look for an Oktoberfest tie-in – share facts, history, music, and open discussions with local breweries for tasting and demos. Have listeners share Oktoberfest experiences or photos, though you’ll need to play within the guidelines when it comes to talking about or promoting alcohol on air.

    Why not push the boat out altogether and cap it all off with a prize of a trip for two to Munich or another Bavarian outpost to explore that side of German culture?

    7. Financial Planning Month Tips

    Financial planning.
    Financial planning. Photo: Towfiqu barbhuiya / Unsplash

    October is usually a good month for financial planning. On a personal level, you’re trying to get a handle on where you’re at financially for the end of the year. On the commercial front, your station may already be setting out budgets for next year, along with many of your clients. In Ireland, the biggest tell is the start of annual returns and the Budget announcement.

    In December we might look at financial options for January but for the planning end of things in October, think about featuring financial experts providing tips and answering listener questions on anything from savings and investments, college funding, handling credit cards, dealing with banks, applying for loans or mortgages and getting yourself on a solid financial footing.

    From a competition point of view, consider running a competition where show listeners could win a free consultation with a financial advisor, and maybe some cash to see them over the line and help make the end of the year’s expenditure a bit easier.

    Got anything to add?

    This list isn’t exhaustive by any means and may not fit your demographic, so if you’ve got suggestions of your own and you fancy sharing them with the rest of the class, leave them in the comments below and I’ll expand the list.