Discussions

Online Contests - Love em or Hate em?

Posted by webdiggin • 3/28/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: contest, online contest

Yes, we know. Contests have been around since before time was invented. Ditto for money making blogs.

But we're doing both.

And I'm sure just by starting this discussion, people who are also running contests will drop a plug. Please do.

And the people who hate contests can throw in their two cents. Wonderful.

We're not actually running a contest... yet. We just want to see what kind of reaction we can get and what it would take to get you to participate in a real contest.

So what does the carrot have to be to get you to jump through the hoops? What kind of hoops scare you off?

Ironically, this is a contest. One ballot per comment. Multiple entries allowed. You can either leave your comment on WebDiggin or leave a comment here and you could win $5 cash. (Heck, do both and they'll both count, but no repeating your comments.)

Contest ends Sun April 6th 11:59PM EST. See rules on website.

webdiggin.com/160/win-5-dollars-for-leaving-your-comments-to-this-post/

User Comments

3/28/08

wehireu

I hate them because they take too much time.

[reply]
3/28/08

wehireu

I hate them because they take too much time.

[reply]
1. 3/28/08
  
  webdiggin
  
  wehireu - do you ever sign up for RSS feed contests? Like subscribe to this blog and get a chance to win blah blah blah?
3/28/08

acousticguitarist

love em

[reply]
1. 3/28/08
  
  webdiggin
  
  What are you willing to do for a contest? Send a link? Sign up for a RSS subscription? Write a review? How big does the prize have to be to keep your interest?
3/28/08

kdawg68

I'm undecided because I've never really participated in one.

[reply]
3/28/08

gelene

same with me kdawg68. i've never joined one yet.

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3/28/08

webdiggin

Which would you rather win. Free ad space or cash through paypal. (Not free adspace on my blog. We're PR0. I meant, in general...)

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3/28/08

ninebyzero

i like them, but i even like taking surveys where there's nothing to win... so i don't really count, i guess. :>

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3/28/08

webdiggin

Well, for everyone who's entered a comment in here so far, you've got a shot at winning $5. We've posted the current odds of winning on our blog:

webdiggin.com/160/win-5-dollars-for-leaving-your-comments-to-this-post/

but, right now, your chances of winning are 1 in 6. (Actual odds depend on the total number of comments received)

What do the odds have to be in order for you to say, "why not?" and participate in the contest?

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4/03/08

mmter

I am willing to sign up for rss, but hardly ever read rss anyways.
I am willing to sign up for rss through mail, but will unsubscribe when contest is finished and blog really does not rock my boat.
I am willing to comment on different posts, but would do that anyways if a blog rocks my boat.
I am willing to write a post on it, but only if it a)offers something extra to my readers b)the prize is right. Not just giving links or publicity for a chance of winning $5 when the blog sucks
I am willing to write a review, but only for the same reasons as writing a post.
Hope that helps

[reply]
1. 4/04/08
  
  webdiggin
  
  Hey, that helps a lot. So... bottom line, the blog has to rock your boat. Gotcha.
  
  I wonder how typical we are. We comment on blogs without needing a carrot to comment... well, we do like the nofollow turned off, and the commentluv plugins Is the rest of the world like that?
  
  I wonder if I'll just get a surplus of "Gee, I like your blog" type comments if they're just doing it for the cash carrot.
4/03/08

coeli

It depends on what the contest and the mechanics.

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4/07/08

webdiggin

Mmter won our contest. Enjoy the $5.

webdiggin.com/190/you-just-won-5-bucks-5-dollar-comment-contest-winner/

Thanks for the input everyone. We're still torn about what kind of return you can get from a contest. Sure you might temporarily get more comments or more email subscribers, but does that cover the costs of your contest?

We need to think about it some more. Plus we have a few projects on the side to keep juggling as well...

Do you think contests are worth while to run? Do they pay for themselves, or are they a waste of time/money?

[reply]
4/11/08

webdiggin

Based on some of the feedback we got here and on our site, we're trying out another blog contest. Subscribe on our site, leave a comment, or link back to our site and you could win $25.

Full contest details on WebDiggin:

webdiggin.com/195/win-25-dollars-for-subscribing/

(feel free to plug your contests here or on WebDiggin.)

[reply]
12/19/08

willburns1

There is a cool contest going on at Blogiversity.org. You have to start a blog on their website and post to it. The top 3 bloggers win cool stuff. The prizes are pretty awesome. here is a link to learn more about it. www.blogiversity.org/rewards/

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