Running contests should be simple, from selecting winners and managing entries to coordinating promotions across multiple markets. That’s why we’re continuing to improve the SoCast Contesting Platform with new tools designed to make contest administration easier, more transparent, and more efficient.
With enhanced winner selection, improved syndicated contest management, and updates to the Contest Wizard, stations will have more control over their promotions while keeping accurate records and ensuring a consistent experience for entrants.
What’s New?
1. A Simpler, More Accountable Winner Selection Process
Selecting contest winners just got easier. A new winner selection box on contest entry pages introduces a random winner button, allowing staff to quickly and conveniently select a winner from eligible entries.
Before a winner is finalized, confirmation popups give staff an opportunity to review the entrant’s caption and entry details. This additional step helps ensure the right entry is selected before the process is complete.
Behind the scenes, every winner selection is recorded in the database, including the date and staff member associated with the winner selection.
For local contests, staff can also search for specific entrants using a convenient dropdown search field, making it easier to locate and manage individual entries.
2. Better Visibility and Control Over Syndicated Contests
Managing contests across multiple stations comes with its own challenges. Our updated syndicated contest tools make it easier to see what’s happening across participating markets, all from one place.
The new syndicated contest overview page includes a sources box that displays all participating websites, giving staff a clear picture of where entries are coming from.
A unified entry table brings local and syndicated entries together, allowing staff to review submissions and filter by winner status without having to navigate between separate views.
Additional improvements include:
- Participating Station Visibility: Syndication buttons display participating websites alongside their entry counts, making it easier to coordinate prize distribution across markets.
- Centralized Entry Management: View both local and syndicated entries in a unified table.
- Winner Status Filtering: Quickly identify winning and non-winning entries.
- Multi-Market Reporting: Overview metrics give sales teams a clearer picture of campaign reach and engagement across participating markets.
Syndicated contest data is retained in the database for one year. Need to reference older entries? Staff can use source filters or export their data to maintain access to historical contest records.
These improvements also give sales teams another valuable way to demonstrate the reach of syndicated promotions and highlight engagement across multiple markets.
Why This Matters for Your Station
Contests are one of the most effective ways for broadcasters to connect with listeners, encourage participation, and build audience engagement.
But behind every successful promotion is a team that needs the right tools to manage entries, select winners, coordinate prizes, and maintain accurate records.
These enhancements are designed to make that work easier.
From a more transparent winner selection process to centralized syndicated entry management, stations can spend less time navigating contest administration and more time creating engaging promotions for their audiences.
For sales teams, improved syndicated reporting also creates new opportunities to demonstrate multi-market reach and show clients the value of campaigns running across multiple stations.
As always, our goal is to give broadcasters practical tools that simplify their workflows, support their promotional goals, and make digital engagement easier to manage.
Have questions about these contest enhancements or want to learn more about managing syndicated promotions? Reach out to our support team, support@socastdigital.com for assistance!
