Contests & Sweepstakes Tips, Advice, and Questions

Quote from Cheez01 : How do you stay motivated when just starting out? I can never seem to keep at it for the months it takes for the first wins to roll in. I get discouraged after a few weeks and end up giving up. Rinse and repeat a few months later.

I'd start out with single entry sweepstakes. It takes far less time and it's much easier starting off. If you want to do dailies and instant wins, limit yourself to just a few that you really want or that have a large number of prizes. Even small wins like pens will keep you motivated.

I listen to Youtube stuff in the background...music, reviews, and my favorite, To Catch a Predator.


Edit: Oh yea, I've found it way easier to enter on a laptop or some type portable device. I mostly enter when I'm relaxing in bed, eating, or doing something where I don't have to sit straight up at a desk.

Quote from Cheez01 : How do you stay motivated when just starting out? I can never seem to keep at it for the months it takes for the first wins to roll in. I get discouraged after a few weeks and end up giving up. Rinse and repeat a few months later.

Strong resolve . It can be tough at times, but I find the best thing to do is to just enter and forget it. Do the daily IWGs when you get the chance for small instant wins here and there (I sometimes go for weeks without winning anything on these too). Entering contests that have a lot of prizes is usually a good idea because you're more apt to come away with something that contests that have one big prize.

I haven't really won anything +$200 yet and my last win over $50 was a month and 1/2 ago, but entering contests with a lot of prizes and getting small wins can help keep you going.

Quote from Cheez01 : How do you stay motivated when just starting out? I can never seem to keep at it for the months it takes for the first wins to roll in. I get discouraged after a few weeks and end up giving up. Rinse and repeat a few months later.

I like to read what everyone else wins. I know if they could win something so can I. We all get discouraged, but you have to keep at it. My biggest wins were when I just started sweeping-and then I got hooked.

Why do my facebook pages occassionally jump?

Quote from sandyalip : I like to read what everyone else wins. I know if they could win something so can I. We all get discouraged, but you have to keep at it. My biggest wins were when I just started sweeping-and then I got hooked.

Yeah, reading your sig just gave me a little boost

Thanks for the tips everyone. I entered a bunch today, and I plan to get at least a few entries in every day from now on. I'll keep at it and hopefully have something nice to show for it before the summer ends.

Another newb question: Sweeps always say they'll contact you by email, mail, and/or phone. What's the most common? I worry because I'm a lot more likely to ignore a phone call from a number I don't recognize than to miss an email or letter.

Quote from Cheez01 : Yeah, reading your sig just gave me a little boost Thanks for the tips everyone. I entered a bunch today, and I plan to get at least a few entries in every day from now on. I'll keep at it and hopefully have something nice to show for it before the summer ends. Another newb question: Sweeps always say they'll contact you by email, mail, and/or phone. What's the most common? I worry because I'm a lot more likely to ignore a phone call from a number I don't recognize than to miss an email or letter.

Usually email. Larger wins are usually by phone, at least in my case.

I always check how they're going to contact me so I at least know that I won't have to check a website or for a FB announcement.

Btw, all of my larger wins have been from single entry sweepstakes so don't feel like you have to spend hours a day to win something.

Quote from Cheez01 : Yeah, reading your sig just gave me a little boost Thanks for the tips everyone. I entered a bunch today, and I plan to get at least a few entries in every day from now on. I'll keep at it and hopefully have something nice to show for it before the summer ends. Another newb question: Sweeps always say they'll contact you by email, mail, and/or phone. What's the most common? I worry because I'm a lot more likely to ignore a phone call from a number I don't recognize than to miss an email or letter.

I want to say:
85% Email
10% By phone
5% By Mail

I always pick up my phone, any company worth their salt will respect your privacy. 1) I'm on do not call lists 2) I always opt out of sales calls. Company doesn't have a good privacy policy don't enter, nor buy their products.

I've having some trouble with FaceBook sweepstakes today. The app is off center and screwed up...just wondering if anyone else is having that problem or if it's just me. It looks the same in both FireFox and Chrome.

Quote from Jang : I've having some trouble with FaceBook sweepstakes today. The app is off center and screwed up...just wondering if anyone else is having that problem or if it's just me. It looks the same in both FireFox and Chrome.

had some like that, but you could tab down to actual entry...

Quote from implode : had some like that, but you could tab down to actual entry...

Thanks for the reply. I could get to the entry button but it wouldn't work. Weird.

Quote from Jang : I've having some trouble with FaceBook sweepstakes today. The app is off center and screwed up...just wondering if anyone else is having that problem or if it's just me. It looks the same in both FireFox and Chrome.

I'm having that problem today. My first instinct is to tab, but that isn't working either on a lot of them and they won't submit. Tried in both FF and Chrome (wouldn't touch IE with a ten foot pole ); same problem. It is happening with the Buddymedia FB sweeps for me.

Are you allowed to sell/gift any part of a prize you win since it becomes your property, or does saying "prizes are non-transferrable" in the terms prohibit that?

Quote from Cheez01 : Are you allowed to sell/gift any part of a prize you win since it becomes your property, or does saying "prizes are non-transferrable" in the terms prohibit that?

I'm not positive but my understanding is that no one but you can accept the prize and if it's something like a vacation, only you can take it.

I don't see why you couldn't sell a prize. I won an iPad back in January and I sold it to get a different tablet I wanted.

Quote from Cheez01 : Are you allowed to sell/gift any part of a prize you win since it becomes your property, or does saying "prizes are non-transferrable" in the terms prohibit that?

I agree with Jang. When they say "non-transferable" I take that to mean you can't say something along the lines of "Oh, I'm going to let Uncle Bob take this win" leaving him with the responsibilities of tax, etc. I think it just means they will only handle transferring ownership of the prize to the winner of the contest.