How to Use A Third Party Sweepstakes App With HiTide

This article is about executing your giveaway using HiTide in conjunction with a Third Party Sweepstakes App such as Viralsweep or Viral Loops.

Context:

HiTide is the best SMS + Email list growth platform for giveaways because we combine public post engagement with direct messages.

Key benefits of HiTide:

Helps boost post reach by encouraging comment engagement
Allows users to opt-in via DM - with no need to leave social
Provides powerful social proof in the form of public user comments

Below, we’ll outline three common giveaway configurations, including how to use HiTide alongside third-party sweepstakes apps like Viralsweep or Viral Loops.

Giveaway Entry & Winner Selection Options: :

1. Basic

Using HiTide only

The vast majority of giveaways on HiTide use this method.

HiTide provides a simple campaign level winner selector tool that randomizes users that have completed the opt-in process, and presents them so you can easily DM or Text / Email them. Users each get a single entry.

2. Intermediate

Using HiTide + A Third Party “Winner Picker” tool

Sometimes Brands want to set slightly more specific entry or multi-entry criteria; for example, giving multiple entries for each Friend Tag. For such use cases, free tools like Wask IG Giveaway Winner Picker (along with many others) are widely available and can be used to check and select in the case of multi-entry criteria.

3. Advanced

Using HiTide and a Third Party Sweepstakes App

Running a more advanced giveaway or sweepstakes?

You might be planning to use a Third Party Sweepstakes App/Form like Viralsweep or Viral Loops.

These platforms provide certain benefits like:

Advanced multi-action entry options, allowing participants to earn extra chances to win by completing specific actions such as downloading your app or referring friends.
Customizable landing page forms for gathering zero-party data, including age, address, preferences, and more.
Legal support for managing high-value giveaways with complex compliance requirements.

🚨 A common mistake brands make is directing users to simply “find the entry link in bio,” which pulls users away from content and off social platforms—missing a key opportunity to boost post distribution through comment engagement. Plus, forms often create unnecessary friction.

Instead, use HiTide DMs to collect SMS + Email first, then include the form link in the DM confirmation message after the user opts in.

This approach simplifies the process, making it a frictionless “no-brainer” step in DMs to capture Email or Phone Number.

Then, you can seamlessly guide users to the next step with a compelling call-to-action driving clicks to your Third Party Sweepstakes App/Form.

Example Flow:

Using HiTide with Viralsweep

HiTide has a native integration with Viralsweep that streamlines the entry process:

Connect your HiTide campaign to your Viralsweep promotion using the Promotion ID
Users opt-in via HiTide DM, where their SMS or Email is collected instantly and pushed into Viralsweep
After email or SMS opt-in, users are sent a DM with a unique Viralsweep link to skip the email/sms input fields and go directly to confirmation landing page or to earn bonus entries through additional actions.
Users may alternatively opt-in via Viralsweep landing page - because HiTide opt-ins are synced, Brands can maintain one unified entry list.

For step-by-step instructions on setting up the integration, see How to get the Promotion ID from ViralSweep.

Benefits of using HiTide alongside your Third Party Sweepstakes App/Form:

✅ Positive signal to social algorithms via comment on post
✅ Positive social proof signal to followers via comment on post
✅ Instant low-friction private DM to collect SMS or Email Opt-In first
✅ Follow initial Opt-In with additional asks to collect more data or user actions