Hashtag Filters: Only Count Entries That Follow Your Rules
Not every comment on a giveaway post is an entry. Some people ask questions, some reply to friends, some just say "this looks great." If you pick from every comment, someone who never meant to enter could win, and someone who followed your instructions might feel cheated.
A hashtag requirement solves this neatly, and the hashtag filter makes it easy to enforce.
How it works
You ask entrants to include a specific hashtag in their comment, such as #bakeryspring. When you load your comments into RaffleSelect and switch on the hashtag filter, only comments containing that hashtag are counted. Everything else is left out of the draw. After filtering, every eligible entry has an equal chance.
The hashtag filter is included on every plan, including Free.
Why ask for a hashtag at all?
- It shows intent. Including the hashtag is a clear signal that someone wants to enter, not just chat.
- It filters out drive-by comments. Generic spam and bots rarely include your specific tag.
- It's easy to check. Anyone can look at the winning comment and see that it followed the rules.
- It keeps the conversation open. People can ask questions in the comments without worrying that they're accidentally entering, or being disqualified.
Choosing a good hashtag
A giveaway hashtag is a tool, not a branding exercise. It needs to be easy to type correctly on a phone. Some guidelines:
- Keep it short. One or two words joined together.
- Make it unique to this giveaway. A generic tag like #giveaway appears in so many comments it doesn't prove much. A tag that combines your name and the occasion works better.
- Avoid easily confused spellings. Double letters, numbers that look like letters and unusual spellings all lead to typos.
- Write it exactly the same everywhere. In the caption, on any graphics, in stories.
Decide how strict to be, before you start
The filter checks for the hashtag you give it. That means you need to think about near-misses ahead of time. What happens if someone writes #bakerysprng or forgets the # symbol?
There are two reasonable approaches:
- Strict: the hashtag must be correct to count. Simple to explain, simple to enforce. Say so in the rules: "Comments must include #bakeryspring exactly to be entered."
- Lenient: you'll accept obvious typos. Kinder, but you'll need to review comments yourself, and it's harder to show people the draw was consistent.
Most businesses go strict and make the hashtag very easy to type. Whichever you choose, state it in your rules and stick to it.
Help people get it right
You can reduce mistakes before they happen:
- Put the hashtag on its own line in the caption so it's easy to copy.
- Leave a pinned comment with the hashtag in it as an example entry.
- If you notice someone missing it during the giveaway, a friendly reply ("Don't forget #bakeryspring to enter!") is a nice touch. Just be consistent, and don't promise to catch everyone.
Combining the hashtag filter with other settings
The hashtag filter is often one part of a fair setup. A typical combination:
| Setting | What it handles | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Hashtag filter | Only comments with the tag count | All plans |
| Duplicate filter | One entry per person, even with several tagged comments | All plans |
| Block list | Excludes your own account, staff or co-hosts | Silver and above |
| Substitutes | Backup winners if the first doesn't respond | Set at draw time |
The duplicate filter is worth highlighting. Without it, someone who posts the hashtag in five comments would have five entries. With both filters on, they have one, the same as everyone else who followed the rules.
Hashtags across platforms
Hashtag requirements work on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok comments alike, since the filter is simply looking at comment text. If you run the same giveaway across more than one platform, use the identical hashtag everywhere. On the Platinum plan you can combine entries from several posts into a single multi-network draw, and a shared hashtag keeps the rules consistent across all of them.
Announcing the result
When you share the winner, mention the rule: "Picked at random from all comments that included #bakeryspring, one entry per person." It reminds everyone what the rules were and shows the winner earned their place by following them. Saving the winner certificate gives you a simple image to share alongside the announcement.
In short
- A required hashtag separates real entries from casual comments.
- Pick a short, unique tag that's easy to type.
- Decide on strict or lenient before you start, and say which.
- Pair it with the duplicate filter for one entry per person.
Ready to try it? Start a giveaway and turn on the hashtag filter when you load your comments.