How to Get More Contest Votes from Friends, Family, and Strangers

One of the first questions people ask when entering a voting-based contest is:
“How do I get people to actually vote for me?”

It’s a valid question. Because even if you have the best entry, that won’t guarantee a win if no one’s clicking “vote.”

Over the years, I’ve helped countless people win contests by refining the art of asking for votes without sounding awkward, annoying, or desperate. Whether you're reaching out to friends, family, or total strangers, there are respectful and highly effective ways to make it happen.

Here’s how to get more votes in the right way from people you know and people you’ve never met instead of buying contest votes.

1. Make It Personal (Not Just a Link Dump)

Let’s be honest. No one wants to receive a copy-paste message that just says “Hey, vote for me!” People want to understand why they should care.

Whenever I help someone craft their vote request, I suggest this format:

●      A warm greeting

●      A quick explanation of the contest

●      Why it matters to you

●      A clear, clickable voting link

●      A genuine thank-you

✅ Example:
“Hey Sarah! I just entered a photo contest with a picture of my dog, Luna, who helped me get through some tough times. I’d really appreciate it if you could vote. Here’s the link: [insert link]. It only takes one click. Thanks a ton!”

The more human and heartfelt your message feels, the more likely someone is to click and vote.

2. Make It Easy to Vote

You wouldn’t believe how many people lose votes simply because their instructions are unclear.

If someone has to:

●      Create an account

●      Click five times

●      Search for your name

●      Or read a confusing paragraph…

…they probably won’t bother.

So your job is to remove friction.

●      Provide the direct voting link.

●      Mention if login is required.

●      Offer simple step-by-step instructions if needed.

📌 Tip: Test the process yourself and describe it like you’re explaining it to your grandmother.

3. Ask at the Right Time

Timing really matters.

From what I’ve seen, the best times to ask for votes are:

●      Morning (8–10 AM) – People check messages over coffee.

●      Lunch Break (12–2 PM) – A quick vote during downtime.

●      Evening (7–9 PM) – People are online, scrolling, and relaxed.

Avoid sending requests super late at night or early in the morning. Also, don’t send multiple reminders in one day—that’s the fastest way to be ignored.

Instead, space out your reminders with updates:

●      “Hey, only 3 days left to vote!”

●      “We’re so close to the Top 10!”

4. Use Stories, Not Just Posts

If you only post your voting link once on your Facebook timeline and expect a flood of votes—you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.

Social media algorithms bury posts fast. But Stories on Facebook and Instagram show up at the top of everyone’s feed, and they’re more casual and easier to engage with.

Here’s what works great in Stories:

●      Countdown stickers (especially if voting ends soon)

●      A behind-the-scenes photo

●      A thank-you video update

●      Polls like “Have you voted yet? ✅/❌”

💬 Don’t forget to add a direct link if possible (Instagram link sticker or Facebook swipe-up).

5. Ask People to Share Your Entry

Here’s something that surprises a lot of people—most of your friends would love to help, but they don’t always know how.

So, ask them to share your entry. Send a short message like:

“Hey! I’m trying to reach more people. Would you mind sharing my voting link on your timeline or Story today? I’d be super grateful.”

To make it easier, give them:

●      A short message they can copy and paste

●      The image or caption you’re using

●      A reminder of when voting ends

Even if just 5 people share your entry, that could reach hundreds (or thousands) of new voters.

6. Join Voting Exchange Communities (Use with Care)

Over time, I’ve seen some people get great results by joining contest support groups, especially on Facebook. These are places where people help each other by exchanging votes—you vote for them, they vote for you.

But I’ll be real with you—this is not for everyone. You need to:

●      Be active

●      Be honest and follow through

●      Avoid anything that looks like spam

The best groups have daily threads or comment chains where you can leave your link. Just don’t rely solely on these—you’ll want organic support too.

Final Thoughts

Getting votes from people isn’t about manipulation. It’s about connection. People vote when:

●      They understand your story

●      You make it easy

●      They feel included

Don’t be afraid to ask, but always do it with kindness, respect, and authenticity. One genuine vote from a friend is better than 10 fake ones from bots. And one kind stranger might just become your biggest supporter.

So go ahead reach out, share your story, and don’t be shy about asking for help. Most people are more willing to vote than you think… they just need to be asked the right way.