Confessions of a Contestant: How to Enter Contests Like a Pro

Be Prepared

Like the Boy Scouts say, ‘Always be prepared!’  The same is true for contests.  If a contest sponsor calls you to claim your prize it’s not uncommon for them to ask a skill-testing question.  So always have a calculator on hand.  If for whatever reason you’re just to busy to take the call ask for their name and number and call them back shortly.  If a contest sponsor calls you on your cell phone and you don’t feel up to answering the question, simply say you’re caught in traffic and ask to have them call you back in an hour.

Be Weary of Scams

There is no surefire way to tell if a contest is a scam.  Usually most promotions offered act in good faith with the general public.  The best advice I can give is to use your best judgment.  If you’re unsure about something offered in a contest or have any questions there should be a contact number in the official rules section of the contest.  If the company being promoted is not a recognizable company or website, simply don’t enter it.

BEDMAS vs. Left to Right

There are two ways to solve a skill-testing question.  The first is through the BEDMAS method, an acronym for how to solve math questions with multiple symbols within it (i.e. brackets, exponents, division, multiplication, addition, subtraction).  The second method is the left-to-right method, which requires answering the question from left to right.  If the contest sponsor has done their homework the question can be answered either way.  However, if it is unclear on which method to use don’t be afraid to ask. 

Look For Contests with Shorter Entry Periods

One question that often comes up in the contesting community is, ‘Which garners more results, single-entry contests or daily entry contests?’  Most contestors are divided on this issue.  However, most of them will agree that the shorter the contest period, the greater chance you have of winning, simply by virtue of the fact that less people will enter.  Make sure to keep an eye out for contests where the contest periods are less than a week.

Universal Product Codes (UPCs)

While online contests will garner the best turn-around for the time spent entering them, many hardcore contestors enter contests that require entries to be submitted by snail mail.  These usually involve sending a product’s barcode from a cardboard carton or cereal box.

These are known as Universal Product Codes (or UPCs).  If you decide to send UPCs with product packaging that is wet or otherwise sticky be sure you clean it off before mailing.  Also, don’t bother cutting the UPCs from hard plastic products like shampoo and lotions bottles.  Companies are more than happy to accept hand-drawn facsimiles of the barcodes as long as the lines and numbers are legible.

Another good suggestion is to keep track of your winnings in either Word or Excel.  Again, being organized is the key to success with contesting.  Follow these steps and before you know it you too will be winning more contests than you can handle.