How to Run a Successful March Madness Survivor Contest

Running a Survivor contest for March Madness on Splash Sports is about more than just setting it up and hoping people join. Whether you’re organizing a contest for friends and family or leveraging an existing community as a brand or influencer, your path to a successful contest begins immediately after you create it. Here’s how to run a Survivor contest that keeps players invested from start to finish.

The Invite Process: Growing Your Contest from Day One

A great Survivor contest starts with a strong invite strategy. If you’re running a personal contest, start by reaching out to friends, family, and co-workers via the Splash Sports invite manager, group chats, or social media. If you’ve played on Splash Sports, RunYourPool, or OfficeFootballPool in the past, you’ll be able to invite players from previous contests with ease in the Splash Sports invite manager. People are more likely to join when invited directly, so make it personal and emphasize the fun and competitive nature of the contest. Mentioning the cash prize won’t hurt, either! 

For influencers, brands, or businesses, leveraging an existing audience is key. Use email lists, social media channels, and community groups to spread the word. Create engaging posts that highlight what makes your contest special—whether it’s a unique prize structure, a big community rivalry, or the thrill of March Madness. Splash makes sharing your contest easy with custom invite links, allowing you to streamline the process.

Engaging Your Community

Keeping your participants engaged throughout the tournament is essential. For personal contests, regular check-ins via the Splash Sports chat feature can keep excitement high. Friendly trash talk and reminders about upcoming picks ensure players stay involved.

In-app recaps and updates provide a great way to keep everyone in the loop. Highlighting the biggest eliminations, the most popular picks, or key upsets helps add an extra layer of storytelling to the contest. Whether you’re running a contest for friends or for thousands of followers, leveraging these tools ensures everyone stays connected and invested until the final buzzer.

Brands and influencers can take engagement further by using their platforms to provide contest updates, feature player spotlights, and even go live to discuss the tournament’s biggest moments. Sending email updates or posting leaderboard updates on social media helps keep players connected and invested in the contest.

Customizing Your Contest for Your Community

One of the biggest advantages of hosting a Survivor contest on Splash Sports is the ability to tailor it to your group’s preferences. Choose custom entry fees, payout structures, and contest rules that fit your audience. Some groups may prefer higher stakes with multiple entries allowed, while others might enjoy a more casual approach with additional lives or revivals.

Brands and influencers offering incentives beyond just winning—such as rewards like free subscriptions to content or products—can make the contest even more engaging. Setting these custom rules ensures your contest stands out and fits the personality of your community.

Running a Contest That Becomes a Tradition

A well-run Survivor contest on Splash Sports doesn’t just last for one tournament—it becomes an annual tradition. Engaging participants throughout March Madness, customizing the experience to fit your audience, and leveraging in-app features to keep everyone connected ensures that players will want to return year after year. By focusing on strong invites, ongoing engagement, and dynamic customization, you’ll create an unforgettable experience that keeps your Survivor contest thriving beyond just this year’s tournament. Start your NCAAB Survivor contest today!