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How to Win: Tips & Tricks to Become
a Winner
First, follow the contest rules. Make sure that you are eligible
to play. Some contests are valid for certain age groups (like
kids only), or in only a few states. Read the rules!
Second, check how many times players can enter the contest.
The contest or sweepstakes may require one entry per household,
or one entry per person. Other contests allow you to enter
once a day. Still others have no entry limits. You may be
able to enter by mail, phone or online, but make sure not
to enter more than once a day if the rules specify this.
Third, check the dates of the contest to see if it is still
going on. It is often reported that players have a greater
chance of winning contests that have a shorter length. For
example, a contest spanning six weeks will attract fewer entrants
than a contest spanning months.
Fourth, use the appropriate entry form, which is either an
official entry blank (OEB) or a specially sized card or paper.
Fill out the information neatly and accurately.
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How to Win FAQ
What are special tips for contests involving a talent?
Recipe contests or essay contests often have wonderful prizes
and attract fewer entrants because many people do not take
the time to enter, or feel they do not have the talents to
win. Like other contests, follow the rules carefully. If it
is a recipe, test it first. For an essay contest, follow the
specified word count, and check spelling and grammar.
What special tips are there for winning mail-in contests?
If entries are unlimited, decide how many times to enter
the contest. Each mail-in entry requires a postage stamp,
so your budget will be a determining factor. Some contest
winners decorate their envelopes to attract attention. Others
leave them blank. Experiment and see what brings more prizes
your way! Some contest winners spread out their entries over
the life of a contest, and many send in multiple entries at
a time (each in a separate envelope).
What special tips are there for winning contests in stores?
Fold your entry form! Crinkle it. Dog-ear the corner. Do
anything to make your form bigger and bulkier than others
in the box. Enter as often as allowed.
Are some contests easier to win?
Some contest winners say that they win more prizes when the
contest requires writing something (like a UPC number) or
finding an answer. Many people don't take time to enter these
contests, so odds of winning are greater.
How can I find out about contests?
There are contest newsletters, as well as websites for sweepstakers.
Visit big company websites and look for contests there. Check
your local stores. You'll be surprised what you'll find.
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Do's and Don'ts for Sweepstakes
DO increase your chances of winning by entering daily sweepstakes
every day.
DO only enter sweeps where you want the prize. Don't waste
time.
DO find sweeps to enter with small prizes that you fancy
- you will have more of a chance to win a little prize than
the big bucks prize / million dollar sweepstakes that everyone
and his brother have entered.
DON'T enter contests for which you are not eligible - read
the rules!
DON'T give a fake e-mail address or snail mail address. They
won't be able to contact you if you win. Plus, lots of prizes
just arrive on your doorstep with no notice whatsoever.
DO get a new free e-mail address to keep track of your sweepstaking
separate from your regular e-mail. Yahoo.com is a good place
to start for a free e-mail address.
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How To Win Contests
Based on information published in national magazines and
papers, it is believed a minimum of somewhere near FIFTY MILLION
DOLLARS is given away each year in PRIZE CONTESTS.
Is it any wonder that smart people, men and women of all
ages in about every walk of life, are taking home these prizes?
Some devote their full time to solving contests for money
(or prizes), usually of extremely sizeable amounts and value.
Refer to about every magazine you see, a large number of newspapers,
about all TV and Radio stations - to name a few - plus some
publications which are 100% CONTEST NEWS.
Many persons receive many times larger yearly total earnings
devoting their full time or a generous part of their spare
time to solving the CONTESTS which come to their attention.
They do it year after year as their ONLY occupation. Others
like to try their hand solving contests whenever they feel
in the mood, but do no have any regular time schedule to tie
them down.
An article in the Wall Street Journal stated that many spare
time contest men and women receive over $600 year after year.
One article I read states that someone they knew had earned
in excess of $40,000 and had solved more than 2,000 contests
for prizes. Another item I read says some other contest solver
won over 80 different contests to receive over $25,000 within
TWELVE MONTHS.
However, a study of winning CONTESTS proves for the most
part that it is not based on luck. Therefore, it is wise to
find out what the true fundamentals are before one starts.
That way alone, it is possible for one to compete with the
others working on the solution of the same contest.
You'll find the necessary (easy-to-understand and follow)
instructions in this text.
A. Be sure that you carefully read the rules of each contest
- and understand before you start - that these rules must
be followed, in every particular, in order to win, or be one
of the top winners. Almost half of all contests entries are
thrown out, with hardly more than a single "glance"
by the contest headquarters, for the sole reason, that the
sender did not follow the clearly printed rules. It pays to
be extremely careful when working on any contest. Check and
recheck it with the rules before you mail it in.
B. Be sure your entry is as neatly presented as possible.
This is extremely important. Whenever possible typewrite your
entry, as this adds greatly to the neatness requirement. If
you do not have a typewriter or a friend who would type it
for you, and you are obliged to mail it in longhand, write
neatly, and only with a pen and ink - never with a lead pencil.
C. Mail your entry in a suitable large sized envelope, even
if you have to go to your nearest store to buy it.
D. If the contest requires a box top or label, coupon, etc.,
make sure that you do not forget to enclose it in the envelope.
(You may be surprised to learn that many do forget - so their
entry is discarded - even if in all other ways it is the best,
qualifying for the top prize money.)
You'll find that your chances for winning are multiplied ten
fold if you own or rent from a library the latest unabridged
dictionary as well as a copy of a thesaurus.
Some of the winners of the larger contests are strong in
their feeling that one should have a Rhyming Dictionary, an
Almanac, Atlas, and one of the many editions of a Crossword
Puzzle Dictionary. Most folks have a dictionary and encyclopedia.
Both are needed to properly enter most contests. Time and
time again, one or the other of the books will come up with
the word or answer your seek to solve the contest.
However, for folks just starting, and with limited money
to spend, you should confine yourself to the books named above
that you may now have and buy the others as you win smaller
contests and can afford to.
E. Visit your nearest (or best) public library and ask the
clerk to help you locate their various books, magazines, etc.,
relating to contests. Make notes on the winners of contests
- their style or entry - for your future thoughts and guidance.
Jot down in a notebook the things you want to remember or
refer to, or think you would be likely to want to consider
at some future date. It will most likely prove priceless to
you much more quickly than you think. It will help you to
think of first prize winning steps to take, etc.
F. An ever-increasing number of larger firms feel contests
help them put their items or offers in the right hands with
the best results. They therefore often start a new contest
almost as soon as their last one is completed. This is especially
true in contests where a wrapper, label or box top, bottle
cap, etc. is requested. This method is usually very successful
in getting more people to try their product than any other
form of advertising.
G. Above all else, make a point of having your entry worded
as briefly as you can. Many contests even ask for an opinion
within an specified number of words. In other words, the advertiser
wants you to tell him briefly why you prefer his product to
any other.
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Tips to help increase your chances of winning
Tip #1: Try to enter the daily entry sweepstakes every single
day to increase your chances.
Tip #2: Follow all rules for eligibility and number of entries
allowed, so you are not disqualified.
Tip #3: Try the contests of skill -- trivia, fantasy sports,
games, recipes, etc. You will have a better chance since these
contests don't get as many entrants as some of the big sweepstakes.
Tip #4: Get a new email address to use just for sweepstaking.
You will be getting lots of newsletters, and maybe some junk
mail when you enter sweeps, but you may also get notice of
winning a prize which you must respond to! Try Yahoo or Hotmail
for a free email address.
Tip #5: Be on the lookout for new sites offering prizes -
they may have less entrants since not everyone is aware of
the site yet - so you get a better chance to win!
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Sweepstakes