While many of my readers are familiar with the ins and outs of entering blog contests, I’ve seen so many new visitors these past few months and one of them recently asked me an innocent question that made me chuckle.
“How do I grab your button, and why do I want to do that?” LOL Ok, so maybe it’s time to go back to basics for my newer readers and those new to the blogosphere. I thought now would be a great time since there’s so many contests still available to be won over the next few days before Christmas.
- The basic entry requirement is pretty self-explanatory. Sometimes I’ll ask you to tell me your favorite item from a website, other times I’ll just ask who you’d like to win the item for. When working with smaller companies where word of mouth exposure, and website clicks, are so very important, I will always ask you to check out the site. That’s why companies work with bloggers – they want to share information about the product and we are the medium to do so. By getting you to visit the site and pick a favorite item, the companies are really hoping you may see something you want to purchase while you’re there – or maybe just bookmark the site to come back to later.
- Follow Me Via Google Friend Connect – this is a bonus option that’s really easy to do. Just click on the Google Friend Connect box on the right hand sidebar and a window will open asking you which account you’d like to connect it with. If you have a Google, Twitter, or Yahoo account it’s so easy to link up!
- Subscribing via email or Reader (usually Google Reader) is another way to share info about my site with readers. When you subscribe, you will automatically get an email each time new content is posted (in the case of my site that’s pretty much every day). It’s a way for bloggers to keep ourselves prominent in your inbox and your mind! I will never share your subscribed email address with anyone. In fact, the only time I check them is when a reader wins saying they have subscribed to my blog – I need to make sure you did that! Remember, just entering your email address is step 1, you also need to confirm the subscription via a link in a follow-up email you will get.
- Grab my button/Grab my Gift Guide Button – this is for people who have their own blog, whether it be a family blog to share stories, a recipe blog, or another review blog. Grabbing my button, which means taking the code for my button and posting it on their web page, is pretty easy too. It helps me, of course, because it’s an advertisement!
- Blog about this giveaway – pretty self explanatory and same as above!
- Follow on Twitter and Tweeting the giveaway – if you’re unfamiliar with Twitter it can be overwhelming at first. If you check it out though, and start following other people who enter contests, you’ll be able to network and find a lot more to enter!
- Like me on Facebook – oh please like me! That’s another very easy way to get a bonus entry. For those uncertain, liking a company on Facebook is not like a friend request. You can always see my Facebook Fan Page, whether or not you “like” it, but when you officially like it and are a member, it does not mean I can see anything more on your page. All your photos and information is still kept private.
I hope that helps explain a few of the bonus entries you can get! It kills me when I see someone entering just once, with a single entry requirement, when there are so many bonus entries to be had.
Each bonus entry you do must be left as a separate comment – think of them as ballots in a draw. The more ballots you have, the better your chances! So, make sure you come back and leave a new comment for each bonus entry you do!
Good luck everyone, and thanks for another hugely successful Holiday Gift Guide – my 3rd annual! Now, go enter some contests!
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