So I've decided to share my secrets with y'all (free of charge, haha!):
How to Win Giveways
1. Find them! I like Etsy Giveaways and Tip Junkie but there are tons of site that do giveaway roundups out there!
2. Read and follow the directions. Play by the rules!
3. Leave your email address in the comments (like this: johndoe at gmail dot com) OR check back on the day it ends for a winning announcement. Not all bloggers notify by email!
4. Do the extra entries. This is just basic math: probability. The more comments = the higher the likelihood that the Random Integer Generator will be your friend!
5. If you're worried about clogging your personal Facebook or Twitter account with likes and tweets, consider opening separate accounts reserved for giveaways. (Confession: I originally did this with a separate FB account and it turned into a pretty active account - I love keeping track of all of the small businesses I admire!)
6. Don't be afraid of being comment #1.
7. Avoid giveaways that have thousands of entries already. Especially if it's for something you feel ambivalent about. I only spend time on high volume entry giveaways if I reeeeeeeeeeeally want it.
8. Save time with copy/paste. If someone is giving 5 extra entries for putting their button on your blog, copy/paste your entry five times.
9. If you have a short amount of time, focus on the high value entries. Many bloggers will give 2 extra entries for spreading the word, or 5 extra entries for signing up for a newsletter.
10. Do the extra entries. Yes I know I already said that but it's worth repeating!
These are no guarantee that you'll win every time. But you may win more often! And even if/when you don't win, you'll have probably discovered a fun new blogger and a great new-to-you company or small business!
What about you? Are you "lucky"? Do you have any tips or tricks to share?
PS: Speaking of winning giveaways, the winner of the Toaster Transformations $20 gift certificate is Angie. Congrats!
PS: Speaking of winning giveaways, the winner of the Toaster Transformations $20 gift certificate is Angie. Congrats!
Great tips, Sarah! I do most of them and giveaways are def a reason I opened my second Twitter account :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah! I love giveaways, but I have curtailed my entries to those items that I REALLY want, because all of your winnings are taxable at their retail value.
ReplyDeleteIf at all possible do all your entries before you comment , then put them all in at once so your name is all together , and it seems to me , most of the time random picks a lower number , so try to get your entries in at the beginning of a big giveaway !!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips Sarah! I too have won a few things, always fun...tho I'm not quite sure if it was just my lucky day or my expert commenting skills! ;-)
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of giveaways...today's the last day to enter mine! ;-)
Yep!!! I agree with you! I win occasionally and I think its because I do the extra comments. Also, I too only enter the giveaways I really really reallllllllllllly want to win!! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat tips!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I honestly don't have any tips except, just keep trying! You will not win some, but then you win amazing ones! I've had my fair share of winning giveaways and then there are some that I don't win...but you just keep going!
ReplyDeleteIt's such a great way to meet new bloggers as well! Make your comments fun too!
Keeps things interesting :)
I've gotta add-- Read the directions! I've seen so many where the mandatory entry is like, to list your favorite item from a store, but people will just comment "I want to win!".
ReplyDeleteI think I've only entered one giveaway ever. I'm quite unlucky.
ReplyDeletehttp://mandycrandell.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/MandyCrandell