Why isn't my customer campaign getting submissions?

A campaign that gets zero submissions usually has a diagnosable problem. In order of likelihood:

1. Visibility. The QR code is on a stack of menus no one reads. The table tent is next to the ketchup. The link is in your bio that no one visits. Customers cannot redeem an offer they don't know exists. Fix: put the offer at the moment-of-payment, where every customer's eyes already are. Receipt printouts, payment terminal display, post-purchase email.

2. Clarity. The customer reads the offer and thinks "wait, what do I do?" If the ask is "engage with us on social media," no one engages. If the ask is "post a story tagging @yourshop for a free latte," people post. Specificity wins. Use exact handle, exact action, exact reward.

3. Friction. Even if they see it and understand it, every extra step kills conversion. Common friction points: "download our app first," "create an account," "come back tomorrow to claim," "valid only Tuesdays." Strip all of it. The fewer steps between ask and reward, the higher the completion rate.

4. The perk is too small. A 5% discount for a 30-second video isn't worth the customer's effort. Rule of thumb: the perceived value of the perk should be 3-5x the effort. A free $5 item for a 30-second story is the sweet spot for most F&B and retail businesses.

5. The perk is too big. Counterintuitive, but a 50% discount or a free $20 item attracts deal-hunters, not advocates. They post the minimum required, often with low-quality content, then never come back. 10-25% discounts and small free items produce higher-quality content from higher-quality customers.

6. Wrong platform. If your customers are 35-year-old parents and your campaign asks for TikTok videos, you'll get nothing. Check where your customers actually post — for most F&B/retail, that's Instagram first.

7. Wrong moment. Asking for a video review at 7am during a coffee rush will fail. Asking at 11am on a Saturday brunch is different. Match the ask to the customer's actual headspace.

If you've got more than 2 weeks and fewer than 5 submissions, walk into your business and try to redeem the perk yourself as a customer would. If you can't find the offer, can't figure out what to do, or hit any friction, that's your fix.