Everyone loves a good contest. Contests are a great way to generate brand awareness, and engage audiences. But using contests effectively can be difficult. Planning out a contest is the most important part of running the actual contest. If a contest is not thought through, then its success is limited. Thomas Simoneaux, Marketing Specialist at Rainman Web Development in Boerne, will lead a presentation that will walk us through the steps of planning a successful contest, determining which kind of contest should be ran, and promoting a contest. Then, we will take a look at brands that have used social media contests effectively and brands that didn’t quite get it. Thomas graduated with a BBA in Marketing with a Minor in Psychology from UTSA. Before joining the Rainman team, he spent a year working in the marketing department of a network security firm working on social media, trade shows, and email newsletters. As a Marketing Specialist, he works with clients to develop and maintain their social media channels and email newsletters. In his free time he likes to listen to music, travel, and hunt down the best places for Cajun food and deserts. SMBTXHC, February 14, 2013 0.00