Try CRAZY KART - new online casual racing! Click Here
Powered by MaxBlogPress  

10 Tips on How To Start Your Own Blog Contest


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

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!



31 Comments so far »

  1. MyAvatars 0.2

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

    am August 5 2007 @ 9:29 pm

    […] >> READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY […]

  2. MyAvatars 0.2

    links for 2007-08-05 « PinoyBlurker @ PinoyBlogoSphere.com said

    am August 5 2007 @ 11:19 pm

  3. MyAvatars 0.2

    links for 2007-08-05 « PinoyBlogoSphere.com | PhilippineBlogoSphere.com said

    am August 5 2007 @ 11:21 pm

  4. MyAvatars 0.2

    kidglove said

    am August 6 2007 @ 3:02 pm

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

  5. MyAvatars 0.2

    GM T said

    am August 6 2007 @ 3:49 pm

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

  6. MyAvatars 0.2

    Starting Contest, Being Honest, Mon’s Tips in Starting Contest » SELaplana said

    am August 6 2007 @ 6:50 pm

    […] Tristan emailed about his 10 tips in starting a blog contest and these tips […]

  7. MyAvatars 0.2

    How to Blog Successfully - 70 Reader Blogging Tips said

    am August 8 2007 @ 12:14 pm

    […] 10 Tips on How to Start Your Own Blog Contest by Mon Macutay […]

  8. MyAvatars 0.2

    ProBlogger's How to Blog Successfully Links | Blogging | SEO said

    am August 8 2007 @ 12:58 pm

    […] 10 Tips on How to Start Your Own Blog Contest by Mon Macutay […]

  9. MyAvatars 0.2

    gmtristan.com on ProBlogger | gmtristan.com said

    am August 8 2007 @ 4:53 pm

    […] recent article, 10 Tips on How to Start Your Own Blog Contest, got featured on Darren’s 31 Day Blogging […]

  10. MyAvatars 0.2

    uylog said

    am August 8 2007 @ 11:08 pm

    thanks for this useful article.

  11. MyAvatars 0.2

    redwall_hp said

    am August 9 2007 @ 12:00 am

    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.

  12. MyAvatars 0.2

    boogiemum said

    am August 9 2007 @ 10:36 pm

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

  13. MyAvatars 0.2

    redwall_hp said

    am August 9 2007 @ 10:43 pm

    No problem.

  14. MyAvatars 0.2

    Michael from Pro Blog Design said

    am August 10 2007 @ 7:54 am

    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

  15. MyAvatars 0.2

    GM T said

    am August 10 2007 @ 12:59 pm

    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

  16. MyAvatars 0.2

    Michael from Pro Blog Design said

    am August 11 2007 @ 5:15 am

    Thanks for the reply. :)

  17. MyAvatars 0.2

    GM T said

    am August 11 2007 @ 2:39 pm

    You’re welcome. Happy you dropped by

  18. MyAvatars 0.2

    How to Make a Better Post | gmtristan.com said

    am August 12 2007 @ 5:25 pm

    […] week, I tackled some tips on how to organize your blog contests. This week, I wanted to write a short article on how to make a good […]

  19. MyAvatars 0.2

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

    am August 12 2007 @ 10:06 pm

    […] gmtristan 10:05 pmAdd comment1 Views Last week, I tackled some tips on how to organize your blog contests. This week, I wanted to write a short article on how to make a good […]

  20. MyAvatars 0.2

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

    am August 14 2007 @ 11:34 am

    […] 10 Tips on How to Start Your Own Blog Contest by Mon Macutay […]

  21. MyAvatars 0.2

    Blogging Monetization - The Truth As I See It at Money Making said

    am August 15 2007 @ 12:17 am

    […] 10 Tips on How to Start Your Own Blog Contest by Mon Macutay […]

  22. MyAvatars 0.2

    Blogging Articles said

    am August 22 2007 @ 7:02 am

    […] 10 Tips on How to Start Your Own Blog Contest by Mon Macutay […]

  23. MyAvatars 0.2

    Blogging Articles said

    am August 22 2007 @ 7:02 am

    […] 10 Tips on How to Start Your Own Blog Contest by Mon Macutay […]

  24. MyAvatars 0.2

    markofando said

    am October 3 2007 @ 1:02 am

    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

  25. MyAvatars 0.2

    HopsOccusense said

    am October 5 2007 @ 11:10 am

    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.

  26. MyAvatars 0.2

    Blogadeur said

    am October 8 2007 @ 5:40 pm

    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,,,,

  27. MyAvatars 0.2

    ebzzqfybyeqan said

    am November 14 2007 @ 2:05 am

    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

  28. MyAvatars 0.2

    Mary Prize said

    am December 15 2007 @ 3:04 pm

    Anybody that does decide to take your advice is welcome to promote their contest on my blog, 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.

  29. MyAvatars 0.2

    Best CreditCard said

    am January 7 2008 @ 4:36 pm

    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

  30. MyAvatars 0.2

    SEO Aware » ProBlogger’s How to Blog Successfully Links said

    am May 24 2008 @ 11:56 am

    […] 10 Tips on How to Start Your Own Blog Contest by Mon Macutay […]

  31. MyAvatars 0.2

    Kathy said

    am June 21 2008 @ 1:08 pm

    Wonderful pages! Keep up the grat work.o

Comment RSS · TrackBack URI

Leave a comment

Name: (Required)

eMail: (Required)

Website:

Quicktags: Comment: