Confessions of a Contestant: How to Enter Contests Like a Pro
by I enter a 100 daily contests a day in 30 minutes, roughly 5000 entries a month. I’ve won five ipods, my plasma television, my BBQ, gift certificates that pay for my furniture and clothing, as well as my parent’s 30th anniversary trip to London. What to know how I did it? Read on.
I used to think when it came to luck the matter was pretty black and white. Some people were lucky and some were not. However, I’ve recently come to embrace an on-line community that when it comes to luck take matters into their own hands. ‘Contestors’ (as they’re known in Canada) make it a hobby of entering contests on a regular basis. Some even do it on a professional basis.
The first contest I ever won was a little over a month ago. The giveaway’s sponsor was a magazine – which for the purpose of this article I shall remain nameless – and it took me a few days to realize why I’d won. No, it wasn’t because I entered daily. No, it wasn’t because I had the most ballots. I had won simply because the entry period was a mere twenty-four hours. The grand prize was (and still is) two tickets to see Ill-Scarlett in concert, two autographed CDs, a shirt, a hat, as well as an opportunity to meet the band.
Within this community I’ve met people who’ve never paid for a vacation or gift, own more than one car that’s completely paid off, who regularly receive prizes in the mail for very little effort on their part. But without a clue on where to start, the eager newbie might become flustered, confused, or maybe even discouraged as they won’t will prizes right away. However, for the small percentage that wish to give contesting a try, here are some simple ways they can drastically improve their odds.
Set Up a Dummy Email Account
Before you get crazy and go entering contests willy-nilly, it’s a good idea to set up a free, dummy email account with either Hotmail, Gmail, Outlook, or some other inexpensive e-mail system. Many contests online require you to sign up as a member first, and while you can usually opt-out of receiving e-newsletters in your inbox, law of averages states a good number of entry confirmations will still make it through. Not to mention the last thing you want is your legitimate e-mails to be mixed up with your spam. Also, be sure to check your junk mail regularly, even prize confirmations make it in there sometimes.
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Post CommentTricia
On June 30, 2009 at 7:57 am
I very much enjoyed reading about all of your hard work and your winnings. I am very new to sweepstaking. Last week, I finally won something. A notebook. It wasn’t much but it was fun getting something in the mail that I didn’t order, pay for or owe a bill for. It was enough to keep me ging for another couple of weeks. I’ve been doingthis now for about two months. Hearing about what is possible is exciting. I appreciate your sharing how you have done with the rest of us. Thank you.