YouTube giveaway description and comment templates
A YouTube giveaway lives in three places: the video, the description and a pinned comment. Here's text for each.
Fill in your caption
Your giveaway
Ready to post
Before you post
- Rules sit in the description or are linked from it, not only spoken in the video.
- The text says YouTube isn't a sponsor and includes a release of YouTube, as YouTube's contest policies ask.
- Entry is a comment and the description says so. Nobody is asked to do something that breaks YouTube's spam rules, like posting the same comment again and again.
- You've said how you'll handle held-for-review comments, which YouTube sometimes hides from you.
- The end time is written in the description so viewers arriving months later know it's over.
- You've planned an 'ended' edit for the description and pinned comment.
Make it work harder
Edit the description when it ends
YouTube videos keep getting views for years. Add 'This giveaway has ended. Winner: [winner]' to the top line so late comments don't feel misled.
Check 'held for review' before you draw
YouTube's spam filter holds some genuine comments. Approve the real ones first or those viewers never had a chance.
Use a question that needs the video
Ask something only a viewer can answer. It filters out drive-by commenters and lifts watch time.
Questions people ask
Can I require subscribing to enter a YouTube giveaway?
Many creators ask, but you can't verify subscriptions from a comment list, and YouTube's contest policies have rules about what you can require. Check the current policy and keep comments as the entry.
Where should YouTube giveaway rules go?
In the video description, or a link there. YouTube's contest policies ask you to post rules and make clear YouTube isn't the sponsor.
How do I pick a winner from YouTube comments?
Export the comments, paste them into the YouTube comment picker and filter out duplicates or your own replies. Post the results link in a pinned comment.