Let’s Talk: Winnning Contests
1:35 AM Totally Kristin
Like many mom websites we run giveaways. I personally have run some of the best giveaways on my own site so you could say I know a thing or two about how they run, how
to run one, and what happens. In the last Dear Mom we talked about giveaways but it left the open question. What about us who run the giveaways at what point do bloggers feel TOO entitled?
Every once in a while things happen with giveaways, sponsors get messed up, bail out, kids, husbands, life happens! On more then one occasion I have given my own Amazon cards to make up for lost prizes and missing m.i.a. sponsors. Did I have to? No, but I wanted to. With this you also get the poor losers, the ones who just can’t handle it.
Recently we had a winner who we later found out actually hadn’t won after all the date was wrong on her post and the contest had actually ended. Due to a tiny mistake that she so nicely pointed we just let her win. You get people who threaten to contact and create lies, people who talk trash, people who simply can’t handle it. We as bloggers have to take the brunt of it but it makes me wonder. What about us? Is it not fair?
Why do I say this really? It’s because it’s a FREE prize. Most bloggers don’t even follow simple directions, or blog about giveaways. I have a top of the line $800 HD camcorder being given away and only 10 people have entered correctly. I do hope the next time you win a giveaway you check back and say thanks. Show some appreciation for the bloggers who hand out these goodies. We’ve worked long and hard for these opportunities. Do a post show off what you’ve won. If I win a giveaway I can tell you that you will always see a thank you post. Plus it didn't cost you anything, are you entitled to bash someone for a prize? Are you really a winner or a poor loser?
Give your opinion now! Let’s talk!
March 16, 2009 2:06 AM
I, for one, appreciate all the contests offered out there in Bloggyland. I have won some and have always sent a thank you e-mail. There were a couple I never received, so I contacted the blog sponsor. It was not her fault; the company offering the prize never sent it. I didn't blame the blogger offering the prize. And it is REALLY amazing how many entrants don't follow instructions! But that's fine with me - increases my chances of winning big time!
March 16, 2009 5:06 AM
I have yet to win a single contest (boo!), but I've hosted a few little ones. I really appreciate it when I receive a thank you email 1) letting me knwo the winner received their prize and 2) saying thanks. I take the time to thank the sponsors and I think a winner (especially a blogger) can take the time to thank me for the win and the opportunity.
March 16, 2009 5:31 AM
I have had people win contests and never let me know if they received the item!!! I think that is quite rude!
March 16, 2009 5:37 AM
I appreciate all of the hard work that everyone puts into these giveaways and try very hard to follow the rules.
I am still amazed when I see some of the entries of folks who obviously don't read the rules, you know the "Gimme" or "Me, Me pick me" posts.
Anytime I've been fortunate enough to win something I always express my thanks with either an email or a follow-up post. I applaud you bloggers for being able to host several giveaways at once, it must be a big headache sometimes.
March 16, 2009 5:46 AM
Great post. I've run a few giveaways of my own jewelry a few times and all I request is that you go to my shop an pick your favorite item. Some people don't even do that. I reject those comments. I one a giveaway once and I was so excited! Ithanked her and blogged about it the next day.
March 16, 2009 6:08 AM
Awesome suggestions and insight. Although I do not write a thank you blog post (I have a hard enough time doing my own posts!) I always write a thank you e-mail to the site owner and the giveaway site owner. Because I am appreciative. I love to enter contests and it is exciting to win!
Thanks for having such great contests!
March 16, 2009 7:25 AM
Hurray for thought provoking posts. I love love hosting giveaways, and also like entering when I have time. Winning of course is always exciting, but hosting a giveaway is just as fun for me. Honest!!
I've been doing a monthly wins compilation post on my blog linking back to each giveaway I had the luck to win. As a thank you to each host{ess} and their sponsor because I really do appreciate the time and effort they've put into it. Having done it myself, I can relate!
As someone who also enters giveaways, it isn't often I will blog about a giveaway. I will Tweet, subscribe/follow, etc. I try to have fun with it too.
The only thing I so wish I could fix with the wave of a wand is people who don't leave their email in their blogger profile or on their comment. And people who don't follow the rules and simply say "Oh I like that, enter me kkthxbye". Pfft!
March 16, 2009 11:20 AM
I love these ideas. I don't think some people realize the work that is involved in hosting a giveaway. It's so nice for people to have the opportunity to enter, and I think they should be grateful. I always am tickled when someone responds to their winning email and they are so excited...it just makes my day. I also love hearing that that they've received their prize. I do wish people would at least read the rules though...I don't think we ask too much.
March 16, 2009 6:35 PM
I don't always write about things I win but I try to let the contest provider know if I do so they can show their sponsors. I am always thrilled to hear back from winners and, actually, several of my best bloggy friends have been made via contests- either them winning mine or me winning theirs! I've only had a couple of bad episodes where sponsors don't pony up but for the most part everything has gone very smoothly and people are happy all across the board.
March 16, 2009 11:35 PM
I enter and have won sweeps and giveaways, both blog hosted and non blog hosted. Now, I will voice criticism for those sponsored by major companies. Sometimes the forms really suck. Some have been total doozies and need to be criticized. I have also praised those who have made the entry system simple enough for everyone to enter.
I will not criticize a giveaway hosted by a blog, these are different. Although I have not hosted a giveaway, I do realize the time and effort that has to be involved. At this point I will also add a Thank You to all of you who do host sweeps/giveaways.
I hate to admit it, but I am also guilty of not always following the instructions, so if I were not to win because of this, well, like it or not, there's good reason. Now, I also have to admit that unless it is otherwise specified, I will keep my entry very short. Unless it says I have to say something, you're likely just to get a "I would love to win this" type of entry.
My roommate also enters sweeps and giveaways, but far less than me. She uses my computer, usually in the early evening (to be honest, she not interested enough in computers to own one). One of the things we will do though, if there is a prize one of us really wants, and there is no one per household (physical address)/IP/computer entry specified, we will both enter. I will sometimes question the one per IP rule as we are two separate households, we ust happen to share rent and expenses, but in doing so I actually know the answer. Although we will follow the spirit of the rules, the one per IP is the one that I have the hardest time with, for a lot of reasons. If more than one prize is available and it is something we would both like to enter, I will sometimes also question as to whether the win would be restricted to one per household, I figure if I don't receive an answer that the answer is more than one person in a household can win.
March 17, 2009 5:22 PM
i've hosted a few giveaways and can't stand when people don't follow rules or even visit the sponsor site. i have won a couple giveaways that didn't come and contacted them they sent another one and it wasn't a big deal. there is one giveaway i won and the lady kept telling me it was coming and then she let me choose somemore things from her store for having to wait. and it went one for a year. she still tells me it's coming but i've just given up. it's not worth it. i do think that if you are holdinga giveaway from your own store, you should be true
March 17, 2009 7:22 PM
Thank you. This makes me crazy too. No matter how you switch around the wording or bold it or italicize or make the font huge, they still don't read the rules.
March 17, 2009 10:44 PM
YAY for this post!!! This is something JUST discussed on twitter between a few other reviewing moms and I. Some entrants just go too far and don't understand fair play. I gave you some love and linked to this post in my Notable Newness post this past Sunday. I have had a few sore losers myself and I have permanently banner two people for repeatedly not following the rules and then complain to me that "I am too serious and need to chill" with my rules. I wonder if they would complain to a big company if they entered and didnt win because they failed to follow the rules. They don't realize, we put a lot of work into these giveaways. We don't just magically pull them out of a hat. Oh well. I will just keep disqualifying people. That leaves more prizes for my honest readers. :)
March 17, 2009 10:46 PM
i meant - permanently BANNED - lol
March 18, 2009 6:15 AM
At the risk of entitled (LOL!) who won Blogher giveaway? I can't seem to find the post anymore and I was curious which essay was the lucky devil?