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Contest Setup Guide

Everything you need to launch a successful Dempsi voting contest, from naming your competition to going live. Follow these six steps and you will be up and running in minutes.

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Voting Packages & Pricing

Voters purchase vote packages at checkout. Here are the current tiers:

Votes Price Per Vote
2,500 $750 $0.30 Best Value
1,000 $400 $0.40
450 $200 $0.44
200 $100 $0.50
75 $50 $0.67 Popular
30 $25 $0.83
1 $1 $1.00

10-vote minimum per purchase. A 4,000-vote tier at $1,000 is available as an upsell at checkout.

1
Create Your Contest

Contest Name — Use the specific division name so voters know exactly what they are voting for. For example, "2026 Little Miss State Finals People's Choice" is far better than a generic "People's Choice."

State — Select the state where the contest is being held.

Pro Tip A creative name adds prestige and excitement. Try something like "Queen of Hearts" or "Ambassador of Elegance" instead of a generic title. Memorable names drive more votes.
2
Write Your Description

This is the first thing voters see when they land on your contest page. Make it compelling.

Your description should include:

Do NOT Use your description to explain how to vote (e.g., "Click the contestant, select votes, complete payment"). Voters already know how to click a button. Contests with how-to-vote instructions consistently earn less. Use that space for your cause and prizes instead.
Pro Tip Keep your description between 76 and 150 words. That is the sweet spot based on our data. Lead with the prize, follow with the cause, and close with a call to action.
Description Template 🌟 This is the live voting for [Contest Name]! 🌟 [Top X / Overall winner description] 💙 A portion of the proceeds goes towards [your cause]! ✨ An amazing prize package for the overall winner includes: 👑 [List specific prizes] & More! Vote for your contestant below!
3
Set Up Your Emails

Dempsi automatically sends status emails to your contestants on Sundays and Wednesdays, then daily during the final week. These keep contestants engaged and motivated to rally votes.

Custom status email paragraph — Add a custom message that appears in every status email. This is your chance to create urgency: mention upcoming deadlines, highlight prize details, or encourage sharing.

Welcome email — Personalize the welcome email that goes out when contestants are first added. A warm, on-brand welcome sets the tone.

Pro Tip Try something like: "Welcome to [Contest Name]! Share your voting link with friends, family, and followers. Every vote counts, and you could win an incredible prize package. Good luck!"
4
Add Your Contestants

There are three ways to add contestants:

  1. Drag and drop photos — Upload contestant photos directly
  2. Add manually — Enter contestant details one by one
  3. CSV import — Bulk upload from a spreadsheet
Important Include both an email address and a phone number for every contestant. This is critical.

Without an email address, contestants will not receive status update emails. Without a phone number, they cannot get CyberTracker text notifications when their rankings change.
Pro Tip Our data shows that contests with CyberTracker engagement earn significantly more. When contestants get real-time SMS alerts about ranking changes, it drives urgency and more vote purchases.
5
Connect Stripe and Launch

Stripe handles all payments. You keep 75% of every vote purchase. Dempsi never sees your banking information — Stripe connects directly to your bank account.

Once Stripe is connected, set your contest status to Active and you are live.

Pro Tip Launch early. Directors who open voting weeks before the pageant consistently earn 2-3x more than those who wait until the last minute. Give your contestants time to rally their supporters.
6
Pre-Launch Checklist

Before you go live, make sure you have completed every item:

Need help? Click the Help button in the top navigation bar.

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