But today, I want to share with you my thoughts on "Giveaways."
I recently hosted a giveaway sponsored by CSN to celebrate my over 200 Followers. It was easy-peasy with the only requirement for entry being a comment about your favorite Halloween memory. That was it.
It got me thinking about how other bloggers conduct their giveaways.
I rarely enter giveaways because the "rules and regulations and requirements" are so long, so extensive and require me to practically give away my first born.
"Become a public follower of my blog. Follow me on Twitter, on Google Face Connect, on Facebook, on MySpace, on YourSpace, on OurSpace, blog about my giveaway, tweet about my giveaway, grab my button, add my banner to your website, buy something from the sponsor, subscribe to my blog, visit this blog and that blog."
No joke people. I read this on a recent blog giveaway.
Really? I have to do all this for handsoap?
I want to celebrate the readers of my blog by hosting a giveaway - a simple giveaway.
I don't require them to sign their life away or join other sites or cloud their inbox with more crap than is already in there.
Lighten up people.
I will not be doing all of this to just get that!
Nor will I ever require you to.
Overlook a great deal.
Correct a little."
- Pope John XXIII
Posts
21 comments:
Two thumbs up on this post. :)
could not agree with you more on this topic! I refuse to enter those types of contests because I have more important things to do than jump through those hoops to promote that particular blog. I totally get viral marketing but those kinds of requirements are getting out of control.
Bravo to you for taking a stand :)
WOW,great post!..you know your RIGHT!...sure gives me something to think about!...why does some want this and that,when it could be so much more fun...KISS(keepingitsimplestupid)I agree!
-Jo
-LazyonLoblolly
Thanks for this! I totally agree, too. :)
Did you get blow back for your giveaway requirements? lol
so true. i like the simple ones best! :D
Simply said. and I love your little piece of wisdom
simple is the best way!!!
I like your rules. I would like a few more followers, that's why I have included that, but perhaps I'll try it your way on my next contest . Thanks.
ps, I have an award for you at my blog.
http://conestogo.blogspot.com/2010/10/veratile-blogger-award.html
I hear ya!
I know *why* some do it--sponsors look at the statistics of a blogger (number of visitors, hits on site, number of followers etc.)...and use that info whether or not to give product to that blogger.
In a way, though...it's cheating, isn't it? Having one person entering with 20 different entries, doesn't mean there are 20 people that hit the site!
Giveaways *should* be fun, all round--not a chore.
:o)
Bravo!!! I feel the same way...and had no rules for my first giveaway. I plan to do the same for my next one which is coming up soon.
I HATE those that require you to do a jillion things...nope, not me.
xo
Pat
I agree to an extent. I always just have 1 mandatory entry. That's all it takes to enter. The rest are only if you want extra entries. Most of the time the company will ask the blogger to add lots of ways to enter. Sometimes it is a little ridiculous. lol. If I enter a giveaway, I am most likely not going to enter more than 3 to 4 times. However, there's a lot of people that want 500 ways to enter a giveaway, and boy do they enter 500 times! lol
Well said. And I agree with you!!!
Completely agree! :)
we love you for being awesome like that!YAY! Have a great week.
I've done several CSN giveaways, as well as others, plus just some I do on my own. When I started doing giveaways I did do a "you have to follow me" deal. I stopped doing that when I realized that I didn't want to have to follow people just to enter their giveaways, so why would people have to follow me! If I get new followers while a giveaway is running, at least I can know that they are following me because they want to ~ not because I'm giving something away.
Well said! Thanks for saying exactly what I've been thinking! Go girl!
-ME
Hi Carmie-
Thanks for posting on this topic. I could not agree with you more. I have had a few giveaways and did the follower thing, but it felt all wrong to me. I don't want people to follow my blog only so they can enter a giveaway. I want them to follow me because they like my blog. This way I know my followers are truly followers and not just pumped up numbers. I am going to have them simply leave me their name and contact info from now on. Keeps things simple.
I am looking forward to your college visit post. Going to college towns makes me want to be back in college again.
My best- Diane
So my dear, stop by my blog and see my rules. I hated all that too. Simple, enjoyable that's all.
Take care and God Bless!!
I agree. The simpler the better. I only entered that type of giveaway a couple of times and might consider it on a friend's page, if not I don't bother.
As far as me giving away anything, I did it once and it's not for me. Now I just send blogging friends gifts when my heart prompts me.
Amen!!
New Friendly Friday Follower,
Jules
I navigate this by only entering giveaways when I really, really want the prize. The karma seems to pay off - I think I've been disproportionately lucky.
As a giveaway host, the thing that has really irritated me in the past is when the winner doesn't even email back to say thank you. OK, so I wasn't giving away a BMW, but a simple acknowledgement would have been nice. When I win, I make very sure to say thank you, and I usually blog about the prize and host blog, too.
Congrats on so many followers!
Post a Comment