I imagine that this is the major thing you really want to know. For more details, you'll need to read the other chapters. This is just the quick and dirty version for people in a hurry who don't want to read about anything else (which is fine).

I've also noticed that a lot else of what I have to say in the other chapters in this book doesn't play nearly as great a role in success as the stuff below. There are many contests run by people that clearly have no business running writing contests that have become popular, and I imagine the following is how they did it (it's how I did it):

(1). In your entry form (which you should require be posted as a comment on a chapter in your awards book, not sent to you as a message→ see later chapters), you need to require account tags. Minimum 3, but less than 10. I suggest 5-6.

What do you mean?

-Tell the applicants that, as a requirement to enter, they must tag 5-6 accounts of other Wattpad writers that are:

-(1) active and

-(2) have works they might be interested in submitting

-Check and make sure that the accounts tagged actually are exactly that as often as possible. If they aren't, require that the applicant tag other people. During my contest, I had several applicants tag users that either didn't exist or were long abandoned.

-Do not accept fewer tags unless someone has very few followers. Don't make exceptions for whiny people, it's not fair to others.

(2). Make sure you use appropriate hashtags in the description of your awards book (see following chapters for more detail). All contest books should include the following hashtags:

-awards

-award

-contest

-competition

-prizes

-open or closed (as appropriate)

Below you will see a screenshot of the hashtags I used for my contest. They are appropriate because of the kind of material that was allowed to enter (real person fanfiction):

Make sure you make use of all possible spots for hashtags.

(3) Have a chapter (later on) where you share the contests of others that your participants might be able to enter.

-This is mostly so your participants are shown other competitions to join, BUT it also serves as a suggestion to the contest admins (that you will tag alongside the mention of their contest, to draw their attention to the fact that you are promoting them) that it would be polite if they promoted yours in return.

-Alternatively, you can contact the admins of other contests in advance, to verify that cross-contest promotion will occur.

(4) ***NOTE- I don't think the forums exist in the same spot anymore, might be worth investigating on your own***

Advertise your contest in the only place in the forums where you are permitted to do so.

Where?

a) On a computer, go to the top of the screen and click 'Community.'

b) Click the 'Clubs' option.

c) On the Clubs main page, look to the right. Under 'Specialty Clubs,' second from the top, is the 'Improve Your Writing' Club. Select it.

d) Pinned towards the top of the Forum is a thread called, '📌⭐️Writer Resources⭐️ Tips, Tricks, Advice and Notices.' Select it.

e) There are a variety of resources on that thread that are linked to from there. However, you are looking for one in particular. Scroll down quite a ways, until you find the clickable link that looks like this:

f) After you click on 'Writing Contests,' you should see the following (which also contains instructions):

g) Go for it. Make sure that, whenever the thread is refreshed, you re-list your contest, until the final date for entry has passed.

(5) Have a 'Tagfest' chapter in your contest. Optionally, you can include a reward for the participant that tags the most accounts within a set period of time. Here is a screenshot of my tagfest chapter:

(Note that the first sentence is only appropriate for a contest that has closed and is in the judging stage, as mine was when I took the screenshot.)

(6) Here it is- the secret weapon. All of the above is well and dandy, and may be enough for some contests to succeed. But it was not until I did this next tip that my contest really took off....

[This chapter's really long, so I put the secret weapon in a chapter on its own.]