10 Tips on How To Start Your Own Blog Contest

August 5th, 2007 44 Comments

Contests are cool and netizens are eager to join them.

Top bloggers like John Chow practically broke barriers with it (with his “evil” blog contests) and raised to the top of the Technorati charts (creating some issues with Google and adsense though).

That aside, there’s just something irresistible with FREE stuff on the Internet. Starting an online blog contest with the right attitude (and steps) will mean rewards for your blog.

Below are some tips to help you organize a successful blog contest (after the jump).

10 TIPS ON STARTING YOUR OWN BLOG CONTEST 

1. Open the contest to bloggers only. The “link loving” and the pollination of your links will only happen if bloggers are your main target
2. Identify what parameters are for joining. The most common ones are a link back to your post and offering a way for others to know that you have a contest and/or giving away free stuff.
3. Give out something valuable. At the same, targeting your niche. In gmtristan.com, I try to give out stuff that the gamers would want such as free Open Beta Accounts or videogame guidebooks like the Ragnarok Ultimate Game Guide.
4. Write your mechanics clearly. Enumerate them and spell out the parameters to be qualified in the draw.
5. Set out the conditions for winning. If it’s just a random draw, tell your readers. If it’s something subjective (like having a “themed post” or judging the most creative writers) then inform your participants so they know what to expect.
6. Post a nice photo of your prize. Hopefully, with the specs and its current market value (and convert it to USD). Not everyone will be familiar with your national currency.
7. Generate at least 30 days for the link to proliferate. That means the contest must run for at least a month.
8. Have a system so that you will be informed of entries. A simple email to you will do.
9. Give back to the link love. Try to make a weekly “summary” of the entries. Make an effort to link back to them and show them that you care.
10. Mail the prize ASAP and tell everyone who won by writing a special post. (and then thank all who joined)

I hope that these tips help you out. Do tell me if you’re making your own blog contest. Who knows? I might join and hopefully, with a bit of luck, I might win.

PLUG: This post is an official entry to Darren Rowse’s 31 Days to Building a Better Blog group writing project.

GM Tristan (Mon Macutay)
www.gmtristan.com

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Posted in Blogging, Contests, Infotech, Musings Tags: , , , , , , , ,
«
»


  • Pingback: 10 Tips on How To Start Your Own Blog Contest - PinoyBlogoSphere.com | Pinoy Bloggers Society (PBS)

  • Pingback: links for 2007-08-05 « PinoyBlurker @ PinoyBlogoSphere.com

  • Pingback: links for 2007-08-05 « PinoyBlogoSphere.com | PhilippineBlogoSphere.com

  • http://kidglove.blogspot.com kidglove

    Good tips! I’m sure everybody in the blogosphere will study your tips to come up with a good blogging contest.

  • http://gmtristan.com GM T

    Thanks. Much appreciated. Thanks for the kind words and for dropping by

  • Pingback: Starting Contest, Being Honest, Mon’s Tips in Starting Contest » SELaplana

  • Pingback: How to Blog Successfully - 70 Reader Blogging Tips

  • Pingback: ProBlogger's How to Blog Successfully Links | Blogging | SEO

  • Pingback: gmtristan.com on ProBlogger | gmtristan.com

  • http://www.uylog.com uylog

    thanks for this useful article.

  • http://www.webmaster-source.com redwall_hp

    Looking for good, but cheap, prizes to offer? How about refurbished iPods? Apple sells refurbs (though the link is buried on their site). The iPod Shuffle is $50 refurbished and the 2GB Nano is $100.

  • http://www.boogiemum.com boogiemum

    Thanks this is a timely post as I was getting ready to open a contest today. I will be using your advice!

  • http://www.webmaster-source.com redwall_hp

    No problem.

  • http://www.problogdesign.com Michael from Pro Blog Design

    Good post – What wold you usually offer as prizes though? Something unique to your site (Like the betas you mentioned) or something that might just interest your readers? (Books, games etc.)

    Michael

  • http://gmtristan.com GM T

    Yes. I usually offer beta accounts. Occasionally, gadgets or stuff appealing to gamers would be good such as original software or even game-related merchandise such as shirts, toys or jackets.

    Thanks fro dropping by

  • http://www.problogdesign.com Michael from Pro Blog Design

    Thanks for the reply. :)

  • http://gmtristan.com GM T

    You’re welcome. Happy you dropped by

  • Pingback: How to Make a Better Post | gmtristan.com

  • Pingback: How To Write A Better Post - “Anyone Can Blog” | Pinoy Bloggers Society (PBS) - PinoyBlogoSphere.com

  • Pingback: GroundFloorSEO.com | Top SEO Blogs & Bloggers » How to Blog Successfully - 70 Reader Blogging Tips

  • Pingback: Blogging Monetization - The Truth As I See It at Money Making

  • Pingback: Blogging Articles

  • Pingback: Blogging Articles

  • http://tinyurl.com/2qul3c markofando

    Want to start your private office arms race right now?

    I just got my own USB rocket launcher :-) Awsome thing.

    Plug into your computer and you got a remote controlled office missile launcher with 360 degrees horizontal and 45 degree vertival rotation with a range of more than 6 meters – which gives you a coverage of 113 square meters round your workplace.
    You can get the gadget here: http://tinyurl.com/2qul3c

    Check out the video they have on the page.

    Cheers

    Marko Fando

  • http://tinyurl.com/38sojf HopsOccusense

    I’ve got an Amazon gift certificate burning holes in my pocket,
    and I want to get the most bang for my buck.

    Enter the Secret Amazon Web Pages:

    http://tinyurl.com/38sojf

    This is where you’re going to find the “latest sales, rebates, and limited-time offers” from
    Amazon, and you can score some pretty deep discounts if you’re a savvy shopper.

    Next, there’s the special Sale link. This is open every Friday, and ONLY on Fridays.

    You can find the same good discounts here as you would in hidden Deals, although some
    Fridays you can really get lucky and make off like an Amazon bandit – I’ve seen discounts
    there as low as 75% off sticker price.

  • http://www.blogadeur.com Blogadeur

    I wish I can start a blog contest but I’m just wondering what kind of prize that suits my blog.

    Any input is appreciated.

    thanks,,,,

  • http://fastdecisioncardes.info ebzzqfybyeqan

    Hello guys! Please, somebody, give me wise advice. My credit is really bad. I have one bad credit card and need one more to solve some money problems. How to know whether my application will be denied or not. And is this a reliable website to apply online? I am waiting for your answer. Thanks

    п»ї

    hiohwrkhcsnzd

  • http://www.prizeisright.b-logging.com Mary Prize

    Anybody that does decide to take your advice is welcome to promote their contest on my blog, http://www.prizeisright.b-logging.com . The blog lists the very best prizes, contests, awards and more; and it is absolutely free to post your contest.

  • http://fastdecision-cards.cn Best CreditCard

    Hi, everybody. I am going to get married but my boyfriend and I are still running credit card debt we made when at college yet. They say that we’d better improve our credit ratings if we want to apply for a loan to celebrate the wedding. So, now we both are looking for bad or fair credit card applications to repair our scores. We wonder if

    discovery creadet card

    Ne72Ma9rod

  • Pingback: SEO Aware » ProBlogger’s How to Blog Successfully Links

  • http://justbbig.com/the-zone-diet Kathy

    Wonderful pages! Keep up the grat work.o

  • http://ulupongdotcom.blogspot.com/ nepspeed82

    I’m planning to setup a contest in the near future. Thanks for the tips. ^__^

  • Pingback: 31 Days to Building a Better Blog « Sztuka Spekulacji

  • http://asas sae

    asasas

  • http://web.zone.ee/stit/boschrel63/index.html Elvis

    Nice site! Big thanx to webmaster!

  • http://web.zone.ee/tif/cajunbas62/index.html John

    Hello stupid pendosegi.h

  • http://www.liveinternet.ru/?baddickaze.sandrey.ru Katyamoskva

    Женскому мозгу видимо до этого далекооо
    хотелось бы ваше мнение услышать!

  • http://web.zone.ee/stacd/catchall2a/index.html Rush

    Wonderful and informative web site.I used information from that site its great.>

  • http://www.easydissertationhelp.com Dissertation Help

    I like the post.
    Thanks for sharing

  • http://cid-8d4c8f01d99682cc.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!8D4C8F01D99682CC!107.entry Lakeisha Vanhofwegen

    What a great post. I just happened to find your website and wanted to say that it has been nice reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be adding your feed to my reader and I’m looking forward to the next post.

  • http://e-businessmoms.com/blog/?p=1805 ebusinessmom

    great post!blog contest are awesome and its really a good idea.thanks for the info

  • Pingback: 31 Days to Building a Better Blog « blogging how to

  • http://www.travelcultures.com/ Rosaria Lucchesi

    I am just lucky I am planning to hold a contest since it seems so hard to get new subscriber to my blog and your tips other resources that you provide here is really helpful for me to jump start the contest. 
    Thanks 

  • Pingback: 31 Days to Building a Better Blog « Email Server


Photobucket
Buy VerizonCell Phones and Save. | Thanks to Bank Rates & Reviews, CD Rates and UK Loan