When a new phone or app hits the market, it’s easy to think the product will sell itself. After all, if it’s good, people will come. However, that is not how it works. These days, even the best ideas need a little extra push to stand out. That’s where raffles come into play.

Tech companies have caught on to the fact that people love the thrill of winning. A well-timed raffle can spark excitement, pull in thousands of new users, and create the kind of buzz that money alone can’t buy. Instead of just announcing a new product and hoping for the best, brands are using raffles to turn their launches into full-blown events, and it’s working. They do this by;

1. Building a waiting list before launch

Getting people excited before a product even launches is half the battle. One smart way tech companies are winning this fight is by building a waiting list through raffles. Instead of just asking people to “stay tuned,” they invite them into a fun draw with prizes up for grabs on their official site. This gives people a reason to sign up early and stay connected.

This is similar to what visitors find on exclusive raffle platforms like the RealRaffle official site. The site makes it easy for brands to set up raffles that not only build buzz but also collect a goldmine of potential customers. These platforms don’t just help companies throw random contests; they help them organise serious, professional raffles that drive real attention where it matters.

The beauty of this method is simple. Once the product finally drops, there’s already a ready-made list of people waiting to jump in. That early wave of interest can be all the difference between a quiet launch and one that feels like a major event.

2. Turning raffles into referral engines

Some tech companies don’t stop at just getting one person to sign up; they cleverly turn every participant into a promoter. By offering extra raffle entries for every friend someone invites, they turn a simple giveaway into a viral loop of excitement.

It’s a smart move when you think about it. Instead of paying huge amounts for ads, companies let the raffle participants do the marketing for them. Every time someone shares the raffle with friends and family, the company’s reach grows bigger, and all for the cost of a few extra prizes. It’s a win-win.

This strategy supercharges the launch because it doesn’t just build a small community, it creates a network effect. More people mean more talk, more hype, and when launch day finally comes, it feels like the whole world already knows about the new product.

3. Creating urgency and exclusivity

Nobody wants to miss out on something exciting. That’s exactly what tech companies are tapping into when they design their raffles with urgency and exclusivity in mind. Instead of letting people join at any time, they set tight deadlines and limit the number of winners. Suddenly, the raffle feels rare and special.

For example, in July 2024, Infinix Nigeria celebrated its anniversary with a month-long campaign that combined product promotions with an enticing raffle. Customers who purchased smartphones like the Note 40 series, Hot 40 series, or GT 20 Pro received raffle tickets for a chance to win high-value home appliances such as smart TVs, refrigerators, and washing machines. The strategy was a hit. It used the fear of missing out (FOMO) and raffles to boost immediate sales. 

4. Using raffles as live promotional content

Raffles aren’t just one-time events. Tech companies stretch the life of their raffles by turning them into living, breathing promotional machines. Every update, every winner announcement, and every countdown becomes fresh content to share on social media, websites, and email newsletters.

These contents remind people that the product is coming and keep the buzz alive. Instead of talking about the launch once and hoping people remember, the raffle gives companies a reason to keep appearing in people’s feeds repeatedly.

And the truth is, people love seeing real-time excitement. Watching others win prizes, seeing the growing number of entries, and feeling the clock ticking down makes everything feel alive. It draws in more people, builds momentum, and helps turn a simple product launch into a major event.

5. Collecting valuable data for post-launch marketing

Now, here’s where raffles quietly become even more important. While everyone is busy signing up and hoping to win, companies collect priceless information: names, emails, interests, and even how people found out about the raffle. This data is collected with the consent of the customers. 

After the launch, companies don’t have to guess who their audience is. They know exactly who showed interest and can reach out with targeted messages, special offers, and future updates. Recent studies have shown that 94% of marketers believe that personalisation is a cornerstone for email marketing. With this collected information, tech companies can effectively launch successful targeted promotions in the future. 

A raffle that seemed like a fun game ends up building a roadmap for long-term customer relationships. This data-driven approach means tech brands can stay connected to their audience long after the prizes have been handed out.