Blogs > Necessary Features of an Online Contest Judging Tool
August 2, 2018 Jesse Bickerton
When running an online contest, you may be subject to a huge number of entries. Are you prepared to judge all of the received entries? Do you have a way to make sure you’ve reviewed all entries? Whether it’s you or your contest vendor doing the scoring, do you know all of the necessary features of an online contest judging tool? Here are a few things to consider when selecting one!
Simply put, can the contest judging tool handle more than one user at a time? One of the necessary features of an online contest judging tool requires unique logins to ensure different judges can be logged in at once. This also ensures transparency of those judging each entry.
Similar to the above entry, does the online contest judging tool lock entries if they are being scored or if they have been scored? Depending on the judging requirements, you may only need one judgement per entry. A good tool will lock out entries that have been scored to prevent any lost work.
Does the tool allow the scoring to be changed to your contests needs? For example, some judgements may be a simple score of 1 – 10, while more intensive contests will have several criteria that need scoring. Can you weight each score depending on the category?
Most online contest judging tools allow for a ranking of scored entries. If the tool you’re using requires you to calculate a final score, you need a new tool!
One of the necessary features of an online contest judging tool is the ability to segment and search entries. This is especially important if you’re running an international promotion and you might receive entries in different languages. Search is another key function in case you need to review flagged or specific entries.
Let’s face it, not all entries received to your online contest are going to be relevant or even eligible. Does your online contest judging tool allow flagging or total removal of entries if they are problematic?
Is the tool you’re using secure? Does it protect user data and information? Any tool you use must have superior security to protect your business and your clients.
Are you planning on running an online contest? Need help developing the criteria for judging a contest? What about tips for contest moderation and judging? We at RAVEN5 are experts at contests and sweepstakes. Contact RAVEN5 today to get started!
Jesse Bickerton, RAVEN5, August 2018