Competition Website Launch Checklist

Launching a competition website is not just a design task.

A serious operator needs to check the business model, prize structure, terms, free entry route, payment setup, marketing, customer support, draw process and fulfilment plan before going live. This checklist is designed to make that process easier.

Quick Summary

Before launching, operators should check five areas: business model, compliance basics, platform setup, marketing readiness and operational delivery.

A good launch is not only about getting traffic. It is about being ready to handle customers, entries, winners and support properly.

1. Business Model Checklist

Before building the site, confirm:

• The promotion structure has been reviewed

• The free entry route is planned

• Prize margins are understood

• Ticket pricing has been modelled

• Refund and cancellation scenarios are considered

• The business has a clear niche or positioning

See lotteries, skill-based prize games, free draws and prize competitions explained to confirm your promotion structure sits on the right side of the law.

2. Compliance and Trust Checklist

Before publishing, check:

• Terms and conditions are written in plain English

• Free entry route is clearly visible

• Privacy policy is in place

• Cookie consent is set up

• Complaints process exists

• Draw process is documented

• Marketing claims are supportable

• Customer protection approach is defined

The Voluntary Code of Good Practice is a useful benchmark here, and the ICO cookies guidance covers consent requirements.

3. Platform Checklist

Your platform should support:

• Competition creation

• Entry management

• Ticket allocation

• Customer records

• Draw records

• Order and payment visibility

• Customer support workflows

• Operational reporting

For a fuller comparison, see choosing the right competition website platform.

4. Marketing Checklist

Before launch, prepare:

• Brand positioning

• Launch offer

• Email capture

• Ad account readiness

• Meta RMG review where relevant

• Organic content plan

• Customer FAQs

• Clear prize pages

If you plan to advertise on Facebook or Instagram, read Meta RMG approval for competition websites before you build campaigns.

5. Operations Checklist

Before selling entries, confirm:

• Who handles support

• Who handles fulfilment

• How winners are contacted

• How prizes are delivered

• How complaints are logged

• How free entries are processed

• How draw evidence is stored

• What happens if a competition undersells

Our View

The best competition launches are not rushed.

Operators often focus on the visible parts: logo, homepage, prize images and ads. Those matter, but the real quality of the business shows up in the invisible systems.

Can the team handle support? Are records clear? Are the terms accurate? Are draw processes documented? Is the free route genuine?

A good platform should reduce the number of things that rely on memory, spreadsheets or manual workarounds. BaseComp is designed to help operators move from setup to launch with clearer workflows.

Pre-Launch Red Flags

• No clear free entry route

• No written complaints process

• No documented draw process

• No customer support plan

• No margin model

• No fulfilment process

• Unclear company information

• Overstated marketing claims

• Too many plugin dependencies

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I launch with one prize or many?

It depends on budget, audience and operational capacity. New operators often benefit from keeping the first launch simple.

Can I launch before everything is perfect?

You do not need perfection, but you do need the fundamentals right: terms, entry route, payments, support, draw process and fulfilment.

What is the most common launch mistake?

Launching marketing before the operating model is ready.