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forum threadFreebiesRGreat posted Jun 03, 2008 02:50 AM
forum threadFreebiesRGreat posted Jun 03, 2008 02:50 AM

Contests & Sweepstakes Tips, Advice, and Questions

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The intent of this thread is for users, both new and not-so-new, to ask questions, and help with tips/advice. This is not by any means the "gospel". Please feel free to add your words of wisdom, and if you have questions, just ask! If you have a tip that will make sweeping easier for folks, please feel free to share. This is a community effort. We all will benefit in some way.


The Basic Advice/Tips for the new-to-sweeping folks.
Enter for the items you want/need. If you have no interest in trips, avoid the sweeps where the only prize is a trip. If you know you can't afford the tax on a new vehicle, avoid entering for those.

Set up folders in your bookmark/favorites. Create a separate one for each month, and file any sweeps you are interested in into the folder corresponding with when it ends. Then, if you have a day where you're pressed for time, enter at least the ones ending that day.

Play the instant win games.

Follow the rules! If a sweep is restricted to only females, a certain age group, certain states, etc, make sure you fit the criteria! If you don't, move on to another sweep that you do qualify for. Do not create a bunch of email addresses so you can enter something more than once, or so you can play an Instant win game more. The Sponsors can tell, and will DQ you. You're better off playing by the rules than cheating and getting disqualified and having NO entries.

Don't immediately dismiss essay required sweeps (or recipes, photos, etc)....well, unless you know you don't want to write something. A lot of people pass on them, so you might have a better shot at winning something.

Don't expect this to be lucrative enough to become a job. Yes, a lot of us win, and often, but not nearly enough to quit a job!

Expect things to go slow at first. It takes a while for the wins to roll in. But once they do...look out!

Expect to occasionally hit a dry spell. It happens to ALL of us.

DEFINITELY USE YOUR REAL INFO! If you use a fake phone number, and a sponsor is calling to notify people of wins, you'll never know what you missed out on. I, and many others, have been doing this for a long time, and we have no problems with sales calls. Also, use your real name. If your name is Robert or Catherine, using Bob or Cathy is ok, as they are known acceptable shorter versions of that name. if your name is Matilda, and you go by Fluffy, don't use Fluffy. Looking at your ID to get an affy notarized, they may reject it because the names don't match. The sponsor may also say "Fluffy won, not Matilda". So stick with using your real name, or something close to it.

Most of all, HAVE FUN! And don't be afraid to ask questions. We were all new to this at one time. Any one of us would be happy to answer questions.


For easy form filling, check out Roboform [roboform.com]. Google Tool bar and the autofill feature on IE also work well.

For Mac users, the best form filler is 1Password: http://agilewebsolutions.com/products/1Password (thanks javaFlower!)

FireFox Form Filler browser extensions: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/...ll&cat=all

To set up the autofill feature in IE: Click on Tools, then internet options, then choose 'content'. When that pops up, click on "Autocomplete", and make sure to check the boxes for forms and passwords on forms. This is not a good idea if you are on a shared/public computer!

February 17, 2009, 3:10 am: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.

July 12, 2010, 3:23 pm: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
The intent of this thread is for users, both new and not-so-new, to ask questions, and help with tips/advice. This is not by any means the "gospel". Please feel free to add your words of wisdom, and if you have questions, just ask! If you have a tip that will make sweeping easier for folks, please feel free to share. This is a community effort. We all will benefit in some way.


The Basic Advice/Tips for the new-to-sweeping folks.
Enter for the items you want/need. If you have no interest in trips, avoid the sweeps where the only prize is a trip. If you know you can't afford the tax on a new vehicle, avoid entering for those.

Set up folders in your bookmark/favorites. Create a separate one for each month, and file any sweeps you are interested in into the folder corresponding with when it ends. Then, if you have a day where you're pressed for time, enter at least the ones ending that day.

Play the instant win games.

Follow the rules! If a sweep is restricted to only females, a certain age group, certain states, etc, make sure you fit the criteria! If you don't, move on to another sweep that you do qualify for. Do not create a bunch of email addresses so you can enter something more than once, or so you can play an Instant win game more. The Sponsors can tell, and will DQ you. You're better off playing by the rules than cheating and getting disqualified and having NO entries.

Don't immediately dismiss essay required sweeps (or recipes, photos, etc)....well, unless you know you don't want to write something. A lot of people pass on them, so you might have a better shot at winning something.

Don't expect this to be lucrative enough to become a job. Yes, a lot of us win, and often, but not nearly enough to quit a job!

Expect things to go slow at first. It takes a while for the wins to roll in. But once they do...look out!

Expect to occasionally hit a dry spell. It happens to ALL of us.

DEFINITELY USE YOUR REAL INFO! If you use a fake phone number, and a sponsor is calling to notify people of wins, you'll never know what you missed out on. I, and many others, have been doing this for a long time, and we have no problems with sales calls. Also, use your real name. If your name is Robert or Catherine, using Bob or Cathy is ok, as they are known acceptable shorter versions of that name. if your name is Matilda, and you go by Fluffy, don't use Fluffy. Looking at your ID to get an affy notarized, they may reject it because the names don't match. The sponsor may also say "Fluffy won, not Matilda". So stick with using your real name, or something close to it.

Most of all, HAVE FUN! And don't be afraid to ask questions. We were all new to this at one time. Any one of us would be happy to answer questions.


For easy form filling, check out Roboform [roboform.com]. Google Tool bar and the autofill feature on IE also work well.

For Mac users, the best form filler is 1Password: http://agilewebsolutions.com/products/1Password (thanks javaFlower!)

FireFox Form Filler browser extensions: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/...ll&cat=all

To set up the autofill feature in IE: Click on Tools, then internet options, then choose 'content'. When that pops up, click on "Autocomplete", and make sure to check the boxes for forms and passwords on forms. This is not a good idea if you are on a shared/public computer!

February 17, 2009, 3:10 am: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.

July 12, 2010, 3:23 pm: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.

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Global Mod
Aug 18, 2012 10:49 PM
4,817 Posts
Joined Jul 2007
SpaceCallahan
Global Mod
Aug 18, 2012 10:49 PM
4,817 Posts
Quote from implode :
ignore it, is like quitting facebook. Your account is suspended until you provide the info. Really really sucks.
everyday i log in it ask for my phone number i just click on the Facebook icon on top and proceed to sweep Smilie
Aug 18, 2012 11:49 PM
9,879 Posts
Joined Dec 2009
whocares13Aug 18, 2012 11:49 PM
9,879 Posts
Guys, do you use your real facebook page for sweeps or have a fake one ?? My FB page is getting full due to sweeps. Should I use a different FB for sweeps?
Last edited by whocares13 August 18, 2012 at 05:53 PM.
Aug 19, 2012 02:37 AM
265 Posts
Joined Apr 2011
allison1887Aug 19, 2012 02:37 AM
265 Posts
I have a different one for sweeps
Aug 19, 2012 03:03 AM
1,103 Posts
Joined May 2008
conehead433Aug 19, 2012 03:03 AM
1,103 Posts
Quote from implode :
ignore it, is like quitting facebook. Your account is suspended until you provide the info. Really really sucks.
Quote from spooerman :
everyday i log in it ask for my phone number i just click on the Facebook icon on top and proceed to sweep Smilie
I have never had my account suspended on FB, and I have never given them my phone number for their security check; so obviously your account isn't necessarily suspended. If they want my number it's actually listed on my FB home page.
Aug 19, 2012 03:09 AM
115 Posts
Joined Aug 2012
SamTheSham626Aug 19, 2012 03:09 AM
115 Posts
Quote from whocares13 :
Guys, do you use your real facebook page for sweeps or have a fake one ?? My FB page is getting full due to sweeps. Should I use a different FB for sweeps?
The only reason I have FB, Twitter and Pinterest accounts is to enter contests. While entering the "Win the Gear, Search the West" contest, I received the security check. Shortly after entering the code, I received the message that I couldn't use the "Like" button for 30 days due to my "spamming" content.Confused I have 0 friends on this account and the only posts I make are the ones required for contests. I believe what triggered this was liking about 7 pages in short order.
Last edited by SamTheSham626 August 18, 2012 at 08:12 PM.
Aug 19, 2012 04:48 AM
465 Posts
Joined Jun 2004
elloryAug 19, 2012 04:48 AM
465 Posts
I think a combination of things trigger FB security checks. One of the inputs I suspect is an account that has no friends
Aug 19, 2012 09:35 AM
67 Posts
Joined Apr 2012
Aurora2011Aug 19, 2012 09:35 AM
67 Posts
I got froze out of my facebook account for verification like three times in three months, I can only imagine it has something to do with my liking tons of pages. One time they said I couldn't post for thirty days but I didn't care so much since I hardly ever post any comments anyway. Facebook is really annoying but, I will jump through hoops if that's what it takes. At least half of my wins have been through Facebook contests.

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Aug 19, 2012 10:24 PM
945 Posts
Joined Jul 2007
sixthr33Aug 19, 2012 10:24 PM
945 Posts
I just want to say a big THANK YOU to all who post sweeps and contests daily. The one's who take time out to post for the rest of us to not have to do the work of hunting any down.
Aug 19, 2012 11:25 PM
465 Posts
Joined Jun 2004
elloryAug 19, 2012 11:25 PM
465 Posts
Quote from sixthr33 :
i just want to say a big thank you to all who post sweeps and contests daily. The one's who take time out to post for the rest of us to not have to do the work of hunting any down.
hear! Hear!
Aug 21, 2012 03:15 AM
18 Posts
Joined Aug 2008
BOBSCATAug 21, 2012 03:15 AM
18 Posts
Did anybody here win from the Clorox Recipe sweep that ended 6/27? I won in April and still haven't received my gift card.
Aug 22, 2012 01:30 AM
284 Posts
Joined Dec 2005
casinobirdAug 22, 2012 01:30 AM
284 Posts
Quote from sixthr33 :
I just want to say a big THANK YOU to all who post sweeps and contests daily. The one's who take time out to post for the rest of us to not have to do the work of hunting any down.
A lot of people on this forum have won a lot of awesome prizes...and we could not do it without the the big contest posters...yes this forum rocks.woot
Aug 22, 2012 01:37 AM
26,018 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
User1144648Aug 22, 2012 01:37 AM
26,018 Posts
Quote from sixthr33 :
I just want to say a big THANK YOU to all who post sweeps and contests daily. The one's who take time out to post for the rest of us to not have to do the work of hunting any down.
Hug2
Pro
QA
Aug 22, 2012 04:20 PM
3,567 Posts
Joined Feb 2009
rachaelm
Pro
QA
Aug 22, 2012 04:20 PM
3,567 Posts
I feel kind of petty complaining, because I love all of the contests being posted.

BUT why are there so many new contests being posted that aren't in the right format??? I mean, the FAQ is pretty clear about how you should post a contest. IDK, I guess I'm just being biotchy.

That is all. Move along. Nothing more to see here....
Aug 22, 2012 05:31 PM
945 Posts
Joined Jul 2007
sixthr33Aug 22, 2012 05:31 PM
945 Posts
Quote from rachaelm :
I feel kind of petty complaining, because I love all of the contests being posted.

BUT why are there so many new contests being posted that aren't in the right format??? I mean, the FAQ is pretty clear about how you should post a contest. IDK, I guess I'm just being biotchy.

That is all. Move along. Nothing more to see here....
I realized last night that I had made errors when posting sweeps. Decided to read the FAQ and learn from my mistakes. There are people who are new to this hardcore lifestyle lol and maybe get a little too excited to share with their fellow sweepers, but I do understand where you are coming from as well.

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Pro
QA
Aug 22, 2012 05:55 PM
3,567 Posts
Joined Feb 2009
rachaelm
Pro
QA
Aug 22, 2012 05:55 PM
3,567 Posts
Quote from sixthr33 :
I realized last night that I had made errors when posting sweeps. Decided to read the FAQ and learn from my mistakes. There are people who are new to this hardcore lifestyle lol and maybe get a little too excited to share with their fellow sweepers, but I do understand where you are coming from as well.
Embarrassment And now I really feel guilty for posting such a nasty. I wasn't trying to call anyone out. I like to search by end date every day for contests, to make sure I haven't missed any, and a lot of new contests don't have an end date in the title or it's not in the standard "M/D/YR" format.

I guess if this is what I'm bitching about, my life must not be too bad. Cool

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