Six Tips to Win Contests & Sweepstakes

" I never win anything" is a refrain often heard during a contest.  But in this segment on Good Morning America, average people, win regular contests and sweepstakes in the coveted four C's: Cars, Computers, Cruises and Cash.

They are a growing group of Sweepstakes Clubs across the country and it's a sure way to strategize, fraternize, and monetize! 

These clubs share techniques, which sweepstakes are worth entering and which ones to avoid.

We, Blog Sisters, have actually dabbled in contests in our younger years when we had free time. Some of the tips the Sweepstakes Club share are actually techniques we tried in the past and they do work!

1.  Check the time period for entry. If it's more than six months, scratch it off your list.You want to increase your odds. Three months or less is better.
2. Study the rules and following the entry requirements. Any deviation will definitely get you disqualified.   If the contest states "only one entry per person or household" don't even think of duplicating entries. 
3. Enter daily if permitted. If the contest allows you to enter daily, DO IT! It's about the odds and you want to increase your chances.
4. Mail in your entry and/or via website, if permitted.  More people will enter via web  and very few send the physical entry. 
5. As the GMA video states, if the contest is a "blind drawing", where the judge picks an entry form without looking, the use crinkled or textured paper. One idea is to take their entry form and fold in accordion, or bunch it in a ball. This increases your chances via a flat piece of paper.
6. Also, if the drawing is not blind, where person selecting the entry can see the envelopes, use colored or decorative envelopes.

Christine once entered a local contest sponsored by the local ABC affiliate in Miami for a kitchen makeover. The drawing was live where the reporter picked from a clear bowl of envelopes. Sure enough she sent her entry in a bright pink envelope and it was selected! But the selection was for the top 5 finalists and from their the TV station selected one of the final five. Unfortunately she didn't win. But she knew her technique would land her in the top five.

One last tip to ensure the contest is legitimate if you're not familiar with the company, you can request the name and city/state of the winner. Often within the rules are instructions on how to obtain the winner's list by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope.  Mark your calendar of when the contest ends, the winner announced, and give them a couple of weeks to send you winner's name. If they don't, you may want to consider notifying a government agency for possible fraudulent means for obtaining consumer information.

Part of the reason companies hold contests is to get your postal or email address to add to their database. A customer or database list is GOLD to any business.  Again read the rules carefully to learn if you will be receiving solicitation emails. Another tip is to create a separate email address just for entering contests if you're going to make this habit!

Some websites dedicated to providing Sweepstakes:
http://www.sweepstakesadvantage.com/
This site provides a summary of limitations, entry expiration, how many entries...