How to Start a Contest
Create engaging Halloween display competitions and bring your community together!
Why Host a Contest?
Build Community
Bring Halloween enthusiasts together around friendly competition
Boost Engagement
Drive more visits and interaction with displays in your area
Reward Creativity
Recognize amazing decorators with prizes and glory
Easy to Manage
Built-in voting, leaderboards, and winner announcements
Types of Contests
🏘️ Neighborhood Contest
Compete with houses in your local area. Perfect for community associations and local groups.
- Limited to specific zip codes or radius
- Great for small prizes
- Easy to judge in person
🗺️ Citywide Contest
Open to all displays in your city. Ideal for municipal events and larger prizes.
- Broader participation
- More visibility
- Sponsor opportunities
🌎 State/National Contest
Large-scale competitions with participants across regions.
- Premium contest feature
- Maximum exposure
- Bigger prizes attract top decorators
🎨 Theme Contest
Focus on specific categories like "Best Animatronics" or "Scariest Display".
- Niche competitions
- Multiple winners possible
- Showcase specific talents
Step-by-Step: Create Your Contest
Download FrightMaps & Create Account
You'll need the FrightMaps app to create and manage contests.
Go to Contests Tab
Tap the trophy icon in the bottom navigation to access the contests section.
Tap "Create Contest"
Fill out the contest creation form with these details:
- Contest Name: Make it catchy and descriptive
- Description: Explain rules, eligibility, and what you're looking for
- Location: Set geographic boundaries (neighborhood, city, state, national)
- Start & End Dates: When can people enter and vote?
- Entry Fee: Free or require FrightCoins (helps prevent spam)
- Voting Rules: Daily voting or one-time vote
Add Prizes (Up to 3)
Set prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Can be physical prizes, gift cards, bragging rights, or recognition.
- $100 Home Depot Gift Card
- Halloween Decoration Pack
- FrightMaps Pro Subscription
- Local Business Sponsorship
- Trophy or Plaque
- Featured on Social Media
Submit for Admin Approval
FrightMaps reviews all contests to ensure quality and prevent abuse. Approval usually takes 24-48 hours.
Promote Your Contest
Once approved, share your contest:
- Post on social media
- Share with neighborhood groups
- Email local decorators
- Put up flyers in your area
- Reach out to local sponsors
Monitor Entries & Voting
Watch entries come in and track voting in real-time. The app handles everything automatically!
Announce Winners
When voting closes, the leaderboard automatically determines winners. You can announce and contact winners through the app.
Contest Best Practices
Clear Rules
Be specific about eligibility, entry requirements, and judging criteria
Realistic Timeline
Give decorators time to enter (at least 1-2 weeks) and voters time to participate
Compelling Prizes
Better prizes = more entries. Even small prizes motivate participation!
Heavy Promotion
The more people know about it, the better the competition
Get Sponsors
Local businesses love sponsoring community events - ask for prize donations!
Fair Voting
FrightMaps has built-in anti-cheat measures, but monitor for suspicious activity
Anti-Abuse Protections
FrightMaps automatically prevents contest fraud with:
- ✓ Persistent voter ID (device-level tracking)
- ✓ Email duplicate prevention
- ✓ Server-side vote validation
- ✓ Audit trails for suspicious activity
- ✓ Admin review of all contests
Premium Contest Features
Upgrade contests for more visibility and features:
Featured Placement
Show your contest at the top of the contests page
Push Notifications
Notify users in your area about your contest
CSV Export
Download entry and voting data for analysis
Custom Branding
Add sponsor logos and custom graphics
Ready to Start Your Contest?
Download FrightMaps and create your Halloween competition today!