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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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Apr 30, 2012 11:57 PM
135 Posts
Joined Apr 2012
ReloadedApr 30, 2012 11:57 PM
135 Posts
Quote from implode :
I won my first trip to New Zealand 18 months in. Its been pretty even ever since hitting trip wins. My best year was 2009 where I won both Super Bowl Trip and Tim Mcgraw about about 4-5 months apart. I won 1 trip this year to UFC, and won a single trip last year that I'm still hoping to schedule if it works out. All of that is over 6 years time.

I'm all in kind of person, I generally enter 400-600 entries most days, baring my schedule not getting in the way.
Thanks!

Those daily entries, are most 1-a-day types or is it a mix of 1 entry/1-a-days? I think I only have about 30-40 daily entry contests atm and I enter probably another 50-75 a day... Didn't even realize there were that many contests to enter!

Edit: 1 other general question: Contests for products for women (clothes, perfume, etc.), if they don't specify that you need to be a woman to win ( I don't know if they even do), I assume those can be won by either sex? Do the companies giving these products away care one way or another? Thanks.
Last edited by Reloaded April 30, 2012 at 04:59 PM.
May 01, 2012 04:00 AM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeMay 01, 2012 04:00 AM
118,455 Posts
Quote from Reloaded :
Thanks!

Those daily entries, are most 1-a-day types or is it a mix of 1 entry/1-a-days? I think I only have about 30-40 daily entry contests atm and I enter probably another 50-75 a day... Didn't even realize there were that many contests to enter!

Edit: 1 other general question: Contests for products for women (clothes, perfume, etc.), if they don't specify that you need to be a woman to win ( I don't know if they even do), I assume those can be won by either sex? Do the companies giving these products away care one way or another? Thanks.
I enter a good mix. Daily, single, instant. weekly. Most contests don't discriminate based on gender. Though always chance they do so, but don't admit it.
May 01, 2012 06:41 PM
2,996 Posts
Joined May 2008
littlelovely21May 01, 2012 06:41 PM
2,996 Posts
If I am personally trying to win a photo contest that is based on votes, am I allowed to post this link and instructions anywhere? The voting is only from today through the 7th daily votes would of course help if I had that kind of help from my fellow SDers. If it's not allowed please let me know and I'll move on, thanks! heart
May 01, 2012 06:56 PM
26,018 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
User1144648May 01, 2012 06:56 PM
26,018 Posts
Quote from littlelovely21 :
If I am personally trying to win a photo contest that is based on votes, am I allowed to post this link and instructions anywhere? The voting is only from today through the 7th daily votes would of course help if I had that kind of help from my fellow SDers. If it's not allowed please let me know and I'll move on, thanks! heart
Nope, vote requests are not allowed anywhere on SD. Good luck to you!
May 01, 2012 07:03 PM
2,996 Posts
Joined May 2008
littlelovely21May 01, 2012 07:03 PM
2,996 Posts
Quote from MLx3 :
Nope, vote requests are not allowed anywhere on SD. Good luck to you!
Okay thanks, I figured it was better to ask then just post something without permission.
May 01, 2012 11:06 PM
561 Posts
Joined Aug 2011
maxximilianMay 01, 2012 11:06 PM
561 Posts
I just can't wait til Mother's Day is past and Father's day sweeps start. If I see one more sweep for wrinkle reducer or butt enhancer, I think I will hurl.....

Bring on the guns, fishing rods, power tools and hazardous toys......!

Big Grin
May 02, 2012 02:29 AM
710 Posts
Joined Mar 2009
sandyalipMay 02, 2012 02:29 AM
710 Posts
Quote from maxximilian :
I just can't wait til Mother's Day is past and Father's day sweeps start. If I see one more sweep for wrinkle reducer or butt enhancer, I think I will hurl.....

Bring on the guns, fishing rods, power tools and hazardous toys......!

Big Grin
You are a riot!Big Grin

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May 02, 2012 05:09 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeMay 02, 2012 05:09 PM
118,455 Posts
what the heck facebook, my account is temporary unavailable?
May 02, 2012 07:14 PM
14,856 Posts
Joined Jan 2012
princess101May 02, 2012 07:14 PM
14,856 Posts
when you are told that you won a trip, how long does it usually take for you to get a confirmation that you REALLY have won?
May 02, 2012 07:20 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeMay 02, 2012 07:20 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from princess101 :
when you are told that you won a trip, how long does it usually take for you to get a confirmation that you REALLY have won?
I usually have a week to get paperwork back, then in another week get a phone call. International trip took longer.
Global Mod
May 02, 2012 09:00 PM
4,819 Posts
Joined Jul 2007
SpaceCallahan
Global Mod
May 02, 2012 09:00 PM
4,819 Posts
I'm curious i get over 100 + emails a day its a chore going thru them any one have any tips ?
Last edited by SpaceCallahan May 2, 2012 at 02:04 PM.
May 02, 2012 09:36 PM
118,455 Posts
Joined May 2006
implodeMay 02, 2012 09:36 PM
118,455 Posts
Quote from spooerman :
I'm curious i get over 100 + emails a day its a chore going thru them any one have any tips ?
Use of filters to delete messages for you--varies by email address. Though always risk losing out on wins.
May 02, 2012 09:44 PM
1,844 Posts
Joined Jun 2009
JangMay 02, 2012 09:44 PM
1,844 Posts
I check my email at least a few times an hour when I'm on my laptop. I do get a ton of email but I like to read and/or delete them asap. I also gradually go through and unsubscribe to currently useless ones.

I keep gmail and slickdeals permanently open in app tabs. Gmail is nice and lights up when I have new mail.
May 02, 2012 10:20 PM
561 Posts
Joined Aug 2011
maxximilianMay 02, 2012 10:20 PM
561 Posts
I use windows live mail program which can check several email accounts at the same time. I set it to check every 5 minutes and get an audio signal when something new arrives. What I like to do is create a new sweep email account every 3 or 4 months. Once I start using the newest one for about a month or so, I can go back to the old one and start unsubscribing as any emails going to the older one are likely from dead sweeps. I do it this way since I am not as organized as others who keep track when sweeps end....and are in a better position to know when they can ditch a spam newsletter subscription. Also might help if a sponsor decides they don't like extreme sweepers and wants to blackball my entries. New email might slip by. Not saying this happens....but you never know.

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Global Mod
May 02, 2012 10:26 PM
4,819 Posts
Joined Jul 2007
SpaceCallahan
Global Mod
May 02, 2012 10:26 PM
4,819 Posts
i try and check before work clear them out but i get home bamm 100 emails i do my best to sift thru them gmail does a good job but i was hoping there was some easy way ..thanks for the ideas

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