Sunday, June 26, 2011
SWEEPSTAKES ARE FUN ....
Sweepstakes ARE fun, especially if you win. I just started sweepstaking recently and have made some observations about entering sweeps as well as sponsoring sweeps. I love them and appreciate all the work the wonderful bloggers put into these contests, but there are a few things I wish I could see changed. And I'm sure the bloggers have some things THEY would like to see changed as well--more on that later. Please don't take these comments as criticism; they are just suggestions, things that would make me happy!
TIPS FOR CONTEST SPONSORS
1. I am SOOOO happy to see that many bloggers are now using Rafflecop. How many times have I started entering a sweeps with lots of entry methods, only to be interrupted? Of course, this will be the type of sweeps where you don't see your post until after owner approval. So I don't know what I've already done! Now, with Rafflecop, I can go back days later and see what I have missed. And there are no annoying Captcha words that take three or four tries to get through. And best of all, it doesn't take 5 minutes per entry as with Wordpress. Why is that bloggers who offer 10 entries for everythng always use Wordpress? It takes forever!!
2. Another frustrating thing is ending dates! What does "Ends Friday at midnight" mean? Does it mean the sweeps ends at the end of the day on June 30? Or does it mean the end of the day July 1? I have seen both. I entered one contest that said the sweep expired at 11:59 PM Friday. I went in Friday about 1:15 AM and it had ended! Please word the ending dates so there is no question about it--like "Expires 8 A.M. EST on Friday." Mentioning the time zone is nice also, but I usually just assume it is EST to be safe.
3. And the other thing I find frustrating is how the winner will be notified. I don't mind checking back, but please state that this will be the case and then put the winner's notice up somewhere it can be found easily. Some contests don't say anything about whether they e-mail the winner. Others say something ambiguous like "Winner will be announced Friday." Will they also be e-mailed? Just come right out and say "The winner will be e-mailed" or "The winner must check back on Friday."
2. Another frustrating thing is ending dates! What does "Ends Friday at midnight" mean? Does it mean the sweeps ends at the end of the day on June 30? Or does it mean the end of the day July 1? I have seen both. I entered one contest that said the sweep expired at 11:59 PM Friday. I went in Friday about 1:15 AM and it had ended! Please word the ending dates so there is no question about it--like "Expires 8 A.M. EST on Friday." Mentioning the time zone is nice also, but I usually just assume it is EST to be safe.
3. And the other thing I find frustrating is how the winner will be notified. I don't mind checking back, but please state that this will be the case and then put the winner's notice up somewhere it can be found easily. Some contests don't say anything about whether they e-mail the winner. Others say something ambiguous like "Winner will be announced Friday." Will they also be e-mailed? Just come right out and say "The winner will be e-mailed" or "The winner must check back on Friday."
TIPS FOR CONTEST ENTRANTS
1) Read the rules. DUH.
a) Do you qualify? Check for citizenship requirements, how many times you can enter, etc.
b) Follow the rules and make sure you leave a way to be contacted.
c) Type your e-mail something like this to avoid spammers: YourName{at}AOL{dot}COM
d) Make sure there are no rules stating only one entry per household before you enter under 5 different names/e-mails. They CAN tell -- it's called IP address. Even entering on your husband's computer is going to come up with the same IP address if you both of you are using the same Internet Provider! Check here if you aren't sure: http://whatismyipaddress.com/
2) Try not to be the first entrant or the last -- and if you have the time, space out your entries.
3) Note the expiration dates: Better if you enter a day or two early since everyone seems to interpret ending dates differently. Don't waste your time entering a contest that may have already been expired.
4) Unless the blog specifically states that they will notify the winners by e-mail, you better check back and see if you won. Takes up a lot of time, but I have found myself as the winner this way several times!
5) Spend your time wisely and enter only for things you want/need. If you aren't pregnant and don't know anyone who is, why waste your time entering for a nursing bra? Let someone win who can use it and devote your time to things you really want! There is no shortage of contests out there in Bloggyland!
6) And last but NOT least....when you receive your prize, send an e-mail to the sponsor thanking them. Judging from the comments I receive back after thanking a sponsor, this must not happen very often. That is just rude!
a) Do you qualify? Check for citizenship requirements, how many times you can enter, etc.
b) Follow the rules and make sure you leave a way to be contacted.
c) Type your e-mail something like this to avoid spammers: YourName{at}AOL{dot}COM
d) Make sure there are no rules stating only one entry per household before you enter under 5 different names/e-mails. They CAN tell -- it's called IP address. Even entering on your husband's computer is going to come up with the same IP address if you both of you are using the same Internet Provider! Check here if you aren't sure: http://whatismyipaddress.com/
2) Try not to be the first entrant or the last -- and if you have the time, space out your entries.
3) Note the expiration dates: Better if you enter a day or two early since everyone seems to interpret ending dates differently. Don't waste your time entering a contest that may have already been expired.
4) Unless the blog specifically states that they will notify the winners by e-mail, you better check back and see if you won. Takes up a lot of time, but I have found myself as the winner this way several times!
5) Spend your time wisely and enter only for things you want/need. If you aren't pregnant and don't know anyone who is, why waste your time entering for a nursing bra? Let someone win who can use it and devote your time to things you really want! There is no shortage of contests out there in Bloggyland!
6) And last but NOT least....when you receive your prize, send an e-mail to the sponsor thanking them. Judging from the comments I receive back after thanking a sponsor, this must not happen very often. That is just rude!
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