How to Use Whatnot Giveaways to Grow Your Sales (Without Losing Money)

If you sell on Whatnot or you have been thinking about it, giveaways are one of the best tools to get more people watching your live shows and actually buying from you. But they cost money if you get them wrong. Here is how they work, what they cost and how to use them without eating into your profits.

Key Takeaways

• Whatnot offers three types of giveaways: standard giveaways (open to everyone), follower only giveaways (viewers must follow the seller) and buyer appreciation giveaways (only people who make a purchase during the show can enter). All three only run during live shows.
• Sellers always cover shipping costs on giveaway wins. Winners never pay postage. If shipping is higher than expected, your Whatnot balance can go negative, which is then taken from future sales.
• Running giveaways strategically during live shows can increase viewer engagement, encourage longer watch times, and ultimately boost sales without significantly cutting into your profits.

What Whatnot giveaways are and why sellers use them

Whatnot is a live shopping app that started around 2019 and has become popular for collectibles, trainers, fashion and more. Sellers host live shows where they run auctions, list items at fixed prices and can add giveaway listings for free items. Giveaways on Whatnot are free to enter sweepstakes hosted by sellers during live streamed auctions, and they are structured around the themes of the live stream being hosted.

Here is how they work in practice:

• They are temporary listings added to a scheduled live show
• Viewers tap to enter for a chance to win a prize
• Whatnot randomly picks the winner in real time during the stream
• Giveaways do not require a purchase to enter (with one exception for buyer appreciation, covered below)

The three giveaway types are standard giveaways (anyone watching can enter), follower only giveaways (you must follow the seller first) and buyer appreciation giveaways, often called BUYERS (only buyers who purchase during the show can enter).

Giveaways on Whatnot are designed to boost engagement and attract new followers. They act as marketing tools for sellers to boost viewer counts and keep the chat active, which means people stay longer and are more likely to buy. Giveaways can include a variety of prizes, such as collectibles and clothing items. Running one is optional, but it has become a common method to warm up a show, reward regular customers and thank new followers.

How to add and start a giveaway in your Whatnot live show

You can only run giveaways during a live show, and they must be tied to a scheduled show. You can create the actual listing either before going live or while already streaming. In the app, a giveaway listing looks like a temporary listing card with a title, photo and description of the prize. On whatnot.com these appear as temporary listings which vanish when the show ends.

To add one, open your scheduled show in the app, tap to add a new listing, choose the giveaway option, upload a photo of the prize, write a short honest description, select your giveaway type, check your shipping settings and publish it ready to be started live.

When the giveaway starts during the show, tap the giveaway listing and set the timer. Giveaways can last up to five minutes. Keep chatting while people enter, then let Whatnot auto draw the winner at the end or complete it early if you are ready. Once the giveaway is running it cannot be paused or cancelled, so double check item details, your shipping profile and eligibility rules before tapping start.

Types of Whatnot giveaways and who can enter

There are three main types, and knowing the differences helps you pick the right one for each show.

Standard giveaways are open to everyone who enters. Viewers just need to tap the enter button in the app and stay in the show until the winner is drawn. No follow or purchase needed. Each user can enter a giveaway only once.

Follower only giveaways work the same way, but viewers must follow the seller before they can enter. These are useful for rewarding your community of regular followers or encouraging new viewers to hit follow. The entry requirement stays within Whatnot’s own rules.

Buyer appreciation giveaways are for buyers who make a purchase during the show window. Entries only count for purchases made after the BUYERS listing is created and before the winner is drawn. In the US and Canada, there is typically a no purchase needed entry route through a web form for legal reasons.

Some giveaways are limited to viewers in the seller’s own country for shipping and customs reasons, so buyers outside that region may not always be able to participate.

Shipping costs, eligibility rules and common pitfalls

This is where money matters. Sellers always cover giveaway shipping costs themselves, including international postage where they allow it. Those costs are taken from the seller’s Whatnot account balance once the giveaway is processed. For UK sellers, Royal Mail handles most domestic orders, with typical costs around £2.62 for a large letter and £3.27 for a small parcel.

If a seller has no money in their Whatnot balance, the account can go into a negative balance which is later cleared from future sales. This is why checking your shipping profile weight and region settings before running lots of giveaways matters.

Winners never pay for shipping on a giveaway prize, but they may be responsible for any local customs duties or import taxes in their country. Sellers cannot swap or deny a prize based on who wins the giveaway.

To enter giveaways, viewers need to meet these rules:

• Have the Whatnot app installed (not just whatnot.com)
• Be logged in with a valid shipping address and payment method saved on the account
• Be present during the livestream when the winner is chosen
• Meet any country restrictions the seller has set
• You must not use multiple accounts to enter

If a viewer enters and then leaves the show, they are usually removed from the active entry list. If they come back before the draw, they are added back automatically. If a giveaway item never arrives, contact the seller first, then Whatnot support.

Practical tips to run buyer appreciation giveaways that actually help sales

Plan one or two buyer appreciation giveaways per show rather than lots of tiny ones. This keeps shipping costs under control and makes the prize feel special enough to motivate purchases. A popular trading card bundle or a limited print fashion item works better than something generic.

Time your BUYERS well. Create the buyer appreciation giveaway listing once the show has a decent number of viewers, explain calmly that any purchases from that point until the timer ends count as entries, and remind buyers every few minutes without being pushy. Be transparent about odds and rules. Each buyer typically gets one entry per eligible order, and you cannot add off platform requirements like following on TikTok or Instagram.

Before the show, weigh the prize properly so the shipping profile is right. Keep an eye on international entries if postage is expensive. Avoid promising oversized giveaway items until you have checked the numbers add up. When the winner is selected, thank them by name on stream, pack the prize carefully and post it promptly. Buyer appreciation should feel genuine, not like a marketing trick.

How to enter Whatnot giveaways as a viewer (and grab free credit)

Entering giveaways on Whatnot is free, quick and can be a handy way to pick up collectibles or clothes without paying a penny. You do not need to shop to enter standard giveaways.

To enter, download and open the Whatnot app, sign in, join a live show that is running a giveaway, and tap the “Enter Giveaway” button before the timer runs out. You need a shipping address and payment method saved to your account. For follower only giveaways, you will need to follow the seller first. For buyer appreciation giveaways, you will need to make a qualifying purchase during the show or use the official no purchase route where available.

You must be present during the livestream to win. Leaving the show before the draw normally removes you from entries, but rejoining in time should add you back. Winners of giveaways on Whatnot are selected randomly by the system, announced live on stream and notified in the app. Sellers are not allowed to pick winners manually.

New users who sign up through whatnot.com/invite/extremesavings will receive between £10 and £200 credit for free with no minimum spend. Just sign up with your phone number, download the app and add a payment card. Use that credit on something you genuinely wanted from a trusted UK based seller, or put it towards shipping on a low cost find, rather than spending for the sake of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

These FAQs cover extra questions that often come up once people start running or entering Whatnot giveaways.

Can I run a Whatnot giveaway while I am also running an auction?

Yes. Sellers can run a giveaway at the same time as an auction in the same live show. Doing so can keep the chat lively during slower bidding. Just keep your explanations clear so buyers do not get confused between the paid auction and the free giveaway item. You can find similar advice in related articles and show notes from other promotions on Whatnot’s help pages.

Are follower only giveaways allowed to ask people to follow other social accounts too?

No. Follower only giveaways on Whatnot can require viewers to follow the seller’s Whatnot account, but sellers are not allowed to make following off platform accounts like TikTok or Instagram an extra condition for winning or receiving the prize. This technology rule is built into how the platform works.

What happens if my Whatnot balance is negative after giveaway shipping costs?

Your balance can go negative if shipping costs from giveaways are higher than the money in your account. Whatnot takes the negative amount automatically from future sales until it is cleared. Check shipping weights and regions before creating several giveaways in one show to avoid this.

Can I enter Whatnot giveaways from the website instead of the app?

At the moment, viewers normally need to use the Whatnot app to enter giveaways. The enter giveaway option does not usually appear on whatnot.com. The safest way is to watch live shows and enter via the app on a phone or tablet.