The Breadwinner opened in theaters over the weekend. Ahead of the release Bargatze promoted a special ‘Nate Rate’ lowered ticket price he negotiated with some of the major theater chains to make the film affordable enough to bring the whole family. Which begs the question, could radio stations do something similar within their markets to create their own version of the Nate Rate?

Once you’ve done your due diligence, you need to meet with them and really listen to their needs. Do they need funds? Do they need sponsors? Do they need volunteers? What is it you will be raising awareness for? Work together to be sure you are all on the same page as to what the end goal is.

We’re radio junkies, and we hear a lot of contests. A few are brilliant. Many are effective. And some make us wonder if the winner also receives a decoder ring and a graduate degree in cryptography. 

This massive three-day weekend is one of radio’s best opportunities to create community visibility, generate revenue, build audience loyalty, and remind listeners that your station exists for more than just giving away concert tickets every Thursday. So, what’s your station doing besides running “Born in the U.S.A.” 47 times? Consider these ideas.

Summer will be here in a month so it’s time to lock down those summer giveaways! Here’s one for the kiddos. Have you seen those huge inflatable water slides? You can usually rent them from places that rent out the bounce houses.

Contests work… when you actually work them. Here’s a practical checklist to make sure your contests deliver more than just legal headaches and a lukewarm winner reaction:

YOUR station could do the Promposal and have it recorded on air and on video! The promotion would be something like “Will You Go to Prom with KISS FM?!” The winner won’t have to do the asking, YOU will have that nerve racking job.

When the contest's content engages listeners, they stay tuned for the resolution.  And that’s the real prize. Contests built around strong listener engagement don’t just entertain, they drive higher ratings and increased TSL. Now that’s a winner.

Interactivity is not optional in radio. It is the point. Even when listeners are not calling or texting, they should still be mentally involved. If the audience is not playing along, a contest or game is serving one person and boring everyone else.

Well-designed contests can excite the cume, boost daily tune-ins, and bring new energy to your station. Use these six proven principles — with a wink or two — to make your promotions more powerful and more fun.