In the past I've mentioned the two-fold benefit of running contests and promotions on your website.  For one, they're fun for your customers.  And who doesn't like a little fun?  But they also engage customers with your brand and make that brand stick in their head.  One of the best types of contests, in my opinion, is a scavenger hunt.  People love them and it gives you the chance to expose more of your website or service to customers.  What better way to get people to pour over your entire website than to hide something in it that they have to find?

I used to run scavenger hunts on a website of mine all the time.  The prizes didn't have to be monstrous, either.  But they always worked out well and I definitely noticed big spikes in traffic.  It's part psychology and part marketing (which is itself part psychology).  Regardless of what you're offering, people like to compete… they like to win… and they like to get free stuff.  A scavenger hunt is a surefire way to get people exciting about your website and, in turn, your brand.

ClickZ even has a story about a new promotion being run between eBay and Domino's Pizza that involves a scavenger hunt.  Starting January 1, and running until February 5, customers will be able to go to the promotion's website and solve skill puzzles.  After successfully solving the puzzle, they'll be given a clue which might lead them to an item on eBay.  But here's the kicker.  The items on eBay will all have But it Now prices of $9.99 (to match the price of Domino's promotional pizza offer that coincides with the scavenger hunt).  eBay and Domino's are offering iPods… flat screen TVs… and even a Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible for $9.99.  But you have to solve the puzzles and use the clues to find the listings that will be hidden on eBay's site.

Even if you don't win a car, Domino's has a great pizza deal going on to supplement the contest:  any large pizza, any crust, any toppings, any day of the week for just, you guessed it, $9.99.  Now tell me… do you think folks will remember this contest?  You bet they will!  And, at least for the next month or so, where do you think they're going to be getting their pizza?  That's right… Domino's!

See how the whole thing works?  eBay gets traffic and more exposure out of the deal.  People that might not have ever used eBay before will be sifting through the site to find their $9.99 Saab.  Becoming familiar with the site will greatly increase the chance those people will return as regular eBay customers.  Domino's gets to promote their pizza deal and, in all likelihood, sell the crud out of some inventory.

More traffic… more exposure… more customers… and more sales.  Hmm… sounds like a terrific idea, doesn't it?