> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.rafflex.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.rafflex.io/create-your-first-raffle/hidden-vip-competitions.md).

# Hidden VIP Competitions

Run exclusive draws for select customers by hiding a competition from your public site while keeping it fully playable through a direct link.

Sometimes you want to run a competition that only certain people can find. Maybe it is a thank you draw for your most loyal customers, an exclusive offer for your VIP list, or a quiet test before a bigger launch. The **Hidden / VIP Competition** setting lets you do exactly that.

When you mark a competition as hidden, it disappears from your public site but stays completely live. Anyone you give the direct link to can open it, buy tickets, and take part as normal.

***

### What "hidden" actually means

In the admin panel, the setting describes itself like this:

> Hides this competition from every public listing, feed, related/upsell section, search engines (sitemap) and marketing catalogues. It stays fully playable, but only for customers who have the direct link.

In practice, turning on **Hidden / VIP Competition** keeps the competition out of every place customers would normally discover it:

* It will not show on your [**homepage**](/customise-your-site/set-up-your-homepage.md), including the **Product grid**, **Product horizontal grid** and **Sliders** blocks (even if **Add To Slider** is switched on).
* It will not appear on your **category pages** or in the category counts, even if you have given it a [category](/create-your-first-raffle/product-categories.md).
* It will not appear on your public **Entry Lists** page.
* It will not appear in **related competitions** on other competition pages, or as an [**upsell**](/marketing/website-tools/upsell.md) suggestion during checkout (even if **Upsell** is switched on).
* It is kept out of **search engines** like Google. It is left out of your sitemap, and the competition page tells search engines not to index it, even if someone shares the link publicly.
* It will not be pushed out through your **connected marketing feeds**, such as your [Meta product catalogue](/marketing/facebook-and-meta/product-catalogue.md) and [Klaviyo](/marketing/sms-and-email/klaviyo-integration.md) product feed.
* Its winners are kept off your public winner pages (see [What your customers see](#what-your-customers-see) below).

What stays the same:

* The competition is **fully playable**. Tickets, payments, [promotions](/marketing/website-tools/promos-and-discounts.md), [instant wins](/create-your-first-raffle/add-instant-wins.md), and the draw all work exactly as normal.
* Anyone with the **direct link** can open and enter it.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Hidden is not the same as inactive**

The **Active** toggle decides whether a competition is running at all. The **Hidden / VIP Competition** toggle only decides whether people can find it.

For a hidden competition to accept entries, it still needs to be **Active**. Think of it as live and running, just unlisted.
{% endhint %}

***

### Make a competition hidden

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Open your competition

In the **admin panel**, click **Competitions** on the left, then open the competition you want to hide. To start a fresh one, click **New Competition**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Switch on Optional Extras

Scroll down to the **Optional Extras** bar ("Entry questions, ticket quantities, video and visibility rules"). Switch it on using the toggle on the right of the bar. Its settings panels open up underneath.

If the competition already uses any optional extras, the panels are already open and you will see a badge such as **1 configured** on the bar.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Turn on Hidden / VIP Competition

Find the **Visibility & Eligibility** panel ("Who can find this competition, and who is allowed to enter."). Switch on the **Hidden / VIP Competition** toggle.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Make sure it is Active

Check that the **Active** toggle is on as well, otherwise the competition will not accept entries.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Save your changes

Click **Save changes** (or **Create** for a new competition). Your competition is now live but hidden from your public site.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="info" %}
**Want only recent customers to enter?** In the same **Visibility & Eligibility** panel, the **Active Players Only** toggle limits a free competition to customers who have bought tickets recently. You can use it together with Hidden / VIP Competition for an extra exclusive free draw. See the Optional Extras section of [Create a Competition](/create-your-first-raffle/create-a-competition.md).
{% endhint %}

***

### Share it with your VIPs

A hidden competition can only be reached through its direct link, so this is how you invite people in.

1. Open the competition in your admin panel. Near the top of the form you will see the **Shareable competition link** card ("Send customers straight to this page"). It shows the competition's full web address and whether it is **Active** or **Inactive**.
2. Click **Copy link** to copy the address. The button briefly changes to **Copied!** to confirm. You can also click the small open in new tab icon next to it to check the page first.
3. Share that link with your chosen customers, for example by email, SMS, or a private social post.

Anyone who clicks the link lands straight on the competition and can enter as normal. Anyone who does not have the link will not stumble across it.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Keep the link to trusted people**

Hidden means it will not be listed or indexed, but it is not password protected. If someone you share the link with passes it on, the new person can also enter. Only share it with people you are happy to have take part.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Changing the title changes the link.** If you rename a hidden competition and save, its web address updates to match the new title (unless you typed your own **Slug**). The old link will stop working, so check the **Shareable competition link** card and resend the new link to your VIPs.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
**Planning a VIP launch for later?** You can combine Hidden / VIP Competition with a future **Start Date (Scheduler)**. Until the start time, anyone with the link sees a Coming Soon countdown, and then it opens automatically, still hidden from everyone else. See [Schedule a Competition](/create-your-first-raffle/create-a-competition/schedule-a-competition.md).
{% endhint %}

***

### Find your hidden competitions later

Hidden competitions still appear in your **admin panel** so you can manage them as usual.

* In your **Competitions** list, the **Hidden** column shows an eye with a line through it for every hidden competition. Hover over it to see "Hidden from public listings, reachable only by direct link."
* To see them on their own, open the filters above the list and set **Visibility** to **Hidden only**. Choose **Public only** to see the rest, or **All competitions** to go back to everything.

For more on the list, its filters and columns, see [Managing Your Competitions](/create-your-first-raffle/managing-competitions.md).

***

### What your customers see

If a customer enters a hidden competition, it behaves just like any other for them:

* It shows in their **account**, under their orders and tickets.
* They receive the usual confirmations.
* They can see their ticket numbers and the result once the draw takes place.

The only difference is on the public side of your site. Because the competition is hidden, its **winners will not appear** publicly. That covers:

* Your **Results** and **Completed** competitions pages.
* Your **Instant Winners** list page and the **instant winners carousel**.
* The recent winners and instant winners data used by [custom Twig blocks](/advanced/twig-templating/custom-twig-block.md).

Everything still draws and pays out normally behind the scenes.

{% hint style="info" %}
Simple "instant winners today" totals, such as the one in the **Instant Winners Counter** block, count every instant win on your site, including wins from hidden competitions. Only the named winner lists leave hidden competitions out.
{% endhint %}

***

### Make a competition public again

Changed your mind? Open the competition, switch the **Hidden / VIP Competition** toggle off in the **Visibility & Eligibility** panel, and click **Save changes**. It will return to your homepage, listings, and the rest of your site within a few minutes.