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WinMoney101.com
One of the zero cost, zero risk ways of winning money online. Sweepstakes are free to enter and there are hundreds to choose from.
Win Money Sweepstakes
Sweepstake Of The Week
This sweepstake from the Travel Channel gives you the opportunity to win either a $100k luxury vacation to Spain and Morocco, or take $75k in cash.
Entry is valid for US residents aged 21 and up only. You can enter up twice each day from now until March 24th. Click here for details and how to enter...
Entry is valid for US residents aged 21 and up only. You can enter up twice each day from now until March 24th. Click here for details and how to enter...
Win Money at Sweepstakes
Sweepstakes are promotions that work by encouraging people to participate in lucky draws, sometimes known as sweeping. They're often run as some form of promotion, maybe by a business, brand, or website. They're a great way for getting knowledge oif a new product or service out to as many prospective Customers as possible.
Their outcome depends entirely on chance and not any particular skill. These draws are linked to certain products and services, and sponsoring companies give away featured prizes.
The values of the prizes vary, you won't find only money on offer - the prizes can vary from cash, homes, and electronic goods through to cars, holidays, and other such items.
The eligibility to participate in a sweepstake is usually restricted by international, state, local and national regulations.
Sweepstakes are promotions that work by encouraging people to participate in lucky draws, sometimes known as sweeping. They're often run as some form of promotion, maybe by a business, brand, or website. They're a great way for getting knowledge oif a new product or service out to as many prospective Customers as possible.
Their outcome depends entirely on chance and not any particular skill. These draws are linked to certain products and services, and sponsoring companies give away featured prizes.
The values of the prizes vary, you won't find only money on offer - the prizes can vary from cash, homes, and electronic goods through to cars, holidays, and other such items.
The eligibility to participate in a sweepstake is usually restricted by international, state, local and national regulations.
There are two types of sweepstakes - prize drawing and instant win. Prize drawing companies take entries daily and the prizes are sent out by mail after the sweepstakes period is over. There is no indication of winning until you get your prize. On the other hand, the outcome of instant win games is announced immediately. Most companies have both the types of sweepstakes at the same time and even within the same game.
Participating in sweepstakes is a great opportunity to win things for free. Most sweepstakes require no purchase and reward you with grand prizes in exchange for nothing. It is a great de-stressor and a fun way to pass your time. As it is not very time consuming, you can indulge in it during short intervals or breaks between other activities.
Many might consider contests or competitions and sweepstakes to be the same thing. But there is a difference.
Entering cash competitions normally involves some form of skill - generally doing something better than someone else. Maybe writing a great story, or entering a photograph. Sweepstakes are normally very straightforward to enter - often just by filling in a form, or entering a name and email. On Facebook pages it may be as simple as hitting the like button.
In money sweepstakes - or any prize sweepstakes for that matter - it's all down to pure luck. Very similar to the luck you'd need to win money at casino games, though without the risk of losing any of your own cash.
Aside From Money, What Prizes Can You win?
Money sweepstakes are just that, you get cash if you win. But prizes can vary and cover just about anything you can think of.
Cash and gift cards or vouchers are the most likely prizes you'll encounter. But you will see sweeps for holidays and cars, for electronic goods and clothes, anything and everything in fact.
Of course, the bigger the prize, the more entrants it will attract. For this reason it can be a good idea to enter smaller prize sweeps alongside trying to win the big money prizes.
9 Winning Money Tips For Sweepstakes Entries
· Frequency: It is advisable to enter as often as allowed. Many sweepstakes can be entered daily throughout the period of the promotion. If the rules permit entry once a day, make sure you do so to increase your winning chances. And don't limit yourself to just one contest. There are dozens on offer at any one time if you shop around. Entering 100s of sweeps should be your target to tip the probability of winning in your favour.
· Following rules: Pay attention to rules that accompany the sweep. Do not enter if you are under the age limit or ineligible in any way. It won't cost you anything, but nothing can be more disappointing than winning and finding out you cannot have the prize. Some sweeps are limited to certain countries, regions or US states only, while others may have a specific entry period. Age requirements are also worth checking. Make sure you go through all the rules and regulations properly before entering. It is vital to enter the required information accurately while entering.
· Seek out sweepstakes: Go through your mail frequently. Make note of sweepstakes that you come across on the TV or radio. You can look out in newspapers as well. Great cash prize deals are advertised through these mediums. Remember that you can enter some sweeps daily - so the earlier you know about them, the more entries you can make.
· Picking the right sweep: If participating entails buying something or paying an entry fee, don’t enter (unless you desperately want the prize and/or you're prepared to lose the entry fee). Really it is not worth entering unless it is entirely free. You chances of winning should be equally good even if you do not spend money, and there are plenty of free entry opportunities.
· Answer correctly: Some sweepstakes require an answer, often to a very simple question. They're designed so that the vast majority of entrants will know the answer. There is no point in participating if you are unsure about your answer. Double check the accuracy of your answers before submitting them.
· Making an entry: If you are mailing your entry, follow all requirements like the size of the envelope and deadlines. Make sure you write legibly and distinguish your entry is some way. If you are entering online, make sure you fill in all the required information.
· Set yourself up with a dedicated email address to be used just for registering. You're likely to be getting a lot of mails with offers afterwards. Some sweeps are run just with the intention of collecting email addresses to help with subsequent marketing.
· Watch out for tax requirements. In the US in particular, you need to pay tax on wins. The best way to handle this is to keep good records of what you've entered and when, and what you've won.
· Work out a plan to make the most of your time. There are hundreds of opportunities to enter, and only so much time to spare. You won't be able to enter everything, so make a plan. Maybe spend 30 minutes each day reviewing new opportunities. Choose those which offer the prizes you really want. Keep a record so you know which ones to go back to daily and enter again.
You'll find sweepstakes offered in a variety of land based locations - shops, banks, grocery stores, clubs, charities. However, the internet is now the most popular place for making entries.
There are many websites that offer sweepstakes, but it is vital to ensure that the site you use is authentic. Whether you find sweepstake sites through referral websites or blogs, you need to make sure that the one you choose is legitimate.
The cash prizes offered can be limitless and playing often can help you win a number of goodies. One of the best ways to keep up to date with the latest offers is through membership sites.
Online-sweepstake.com looks to be one of the most valuable to remember. It has listings broken down into all sorts of categories.
SweepstakesAdvantage.com is another directory type site with hundreds of sweeps to enter. Their strapline says they're the ''largest directory of free sweepstakes and contests.
About.com has some very useful pages on a range of different sweeps, including one specifically on cash contests.
You'll find plenty of money sweepstakes on popular social sites such as Facebook and Twitter. These two links will take you to the respective and relevant pages. Blogs too are a good source, often asking you just to post a comment to make an entry. These might be company blogs advertising products, or personal blogs where the writer is just trying to increase readership.
Participating in sweepstakes is a great opportunity to win things for free. Most sweepstakes require no purchase and reward you with grand prizes in exchange for nothing. It is a great de-stressor and a fun way to pass your time. As it is not very time consuming, you can indulge in it during short intervals or breaks between other activities.
Differences Between Money Sweepstakes and Cash Contests
Many might consider contests or competitions and sweepstakes to be the same thing. But there is a difference.
Entering cash competitions normally involves some form of skill - generally doing something better than someone else. Maybe writing a great story, or entering a photograph. Sweepstakes are normally very straightforward to enter - often just by filling in a form, or entering a name and email. On Facebook pages it may be as simple as hitting the like button.
In money sweepstakes - or any prize sweepstakes for that matter - it's all down to pure luck. Very similar to the luck you'd need to win money at casino games, though without the risk of losing any of your own cash.
Aside From Money, What Prizes Can You win?
Money sweepstakes are just that, you get cash if you win. But prizes can vary and cover just about anything you can think of.
Cash and gift cards or vouchers are the most likely prizes you'll encounter. But you will see sweeps for holidays and cars, for electronic goods and clothes, anything and everything in fact.
Of course, the bigger the prize, the more entrants it will attract. For this reason it can be a good idea to enter smaller prize sweeps alongside trying to win the big money prizes.
9 Winning Money Tips For Sweepstakes Entries
· Frequency: It is advisable to enter as often as allowed. Many sweepstakes can be entered daily throughout the period of the promotion. If the rules permit entry once a day, make sure you do so to increase your winning chances. And don't limit yourself to just one contest. There are dozens on offer at any one time if you shop around. Entering 100s of sweeps should be your target to tip the probability of winning in your favour.
· Following rules: Pay attention to rules that accompany the sweep. Do not enter if you are under the age limit or ineligible in any way. It won't cost you anything, but nothing can be more disappointing than winning and finding out you cannot have the prize. Some sweeps are limited to certain countries, regions or US states only, while others may have a specific entry period. Age requirements are also worth checking. Make sure you go through all the rules and regulations properly before entering. It is vital to enter the required information accurately while entering.
· Seek out sweepstakes: Go through your mail frequently. Make note of sweepstakes that you come across on the TV or radio. You can look out in newspapers as well. Great cash prize deals are advertised through these mediums. Remember that you can enter some sweeps daily - so the earlier you know about them, the more entries you can make.
· Picking the right sweep: If participating entails buying something or paying an entry fee, don’t enter (unless you desperately want the prize and/or you're prepared to lose the entry fee). Really it is not worth entering unless it is entirely free. You chances of winning should be equally good even if you do not spend money, and there are plenty of free entry opportunities.
· Answer correctly: Some sweepstakes require an answer, often to a very simple question. They're designed so that the vast majority of entrants will know the answer. There is no point in participating if you are unsure about your answer. Double check the accuracy of your answers before submitting them.
· Making an entry: If you are mailing your entry, follow all requirements like the size of the envelope and deadlines. Make sure you write legibly and distinguish your entry is some way. If you are entering online, make sure you fill in all the required information.
· Watch out for tax requirements. In the US in particular, you need to pay tax on wins. The best way to handle this is to keep good records of what you've entered and when, and what you've won.
· Work out a plan to make the most of your time. There are hundreds of opportunities to enter, and only so much time to spare. You won't be able to enter everything, so make a plan. Maybe spend 30 minutes each day reviewing new opportunities. Choose those which offer the prizes you really want. Keep a record so you know which ones to go back to daily and enter again.
Where Can You Enter Money Sweepstakes?
You'll find sweepstakes offered in a variety of land based locations - shops, banks, grocery stores, clubs, charities. However, the internet is now the most popular place for making entries.
There are many websites that offer sweepstakes, but it is vital to ensure that the site you use is authentic. Whether you find sweepstake sites through referral websites or blogs, you need to make sure that the one you choose is legitimate.
The cash prizes offered can be limitless and playing often can help you win a number of goodies. One of the best ways to keep up to date with the latest offers is through membership sites.
Dedicated Sweepstake Sites
Online-sweepstake.com looks to be one of the most valuable to remember. It has listings broken down into all sorts of categories.
SweepstakesAdvantage.com is another directory type site with hundreds of sweeps to enter. Their strapline says they're the ''largest directory of free sweepstakes and contests.
About.com has some very useful pages on a range of different sweeps, including one specifically on cash contests.
Facebook, Twitter, Blogs
You'll find plenty of money sweepstakes on popular social sites such as Facebook and Twitter. These two links will take you to the respective and relevant pages. Blogs too are a good source, often asking you just to post a comment to make an entry. These might be company blogs advertising products, or personal blogs where the writer is just trying to increase readership.
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2 Sweepstakes Organized by How Winners Are Selected
One thing to consider when deciding which giveaways you want to enter is how the winners will be selected. Will winners be chosen at random, by judges, by public vote? Does your entry time affect your chances of winning?
Sweepstakes
Many people use the terms "sweepstakes" and "contests" interchangeably. This is not correct, however. A sweepstake is a giveaway where the winner is drawn at random. Every entry has an equal chance of being drawn as the winner.
For sweepstakes to enter see the BIG Daily Sweepstakes List.
Contests
On the other hand, contests, also known as skill contests or creative contests, are giveaways where the winner is selected by judges (or sometimes by random vote). They always have an aspect of skill to them. For example, the winner might be the person with the best essay, photograph, or recipe, or the winning entry might be drawn from the pool of all people who perform a specific action, such as correctly answering a trivia contest.
See the Current Creative Contests list for skill contests that you can enter today.
Instant Win Sweepstakes
Instant Win Sweepstakes work a little bit differently. Before the sweepstakes start, winning times are selected at random, with one winning time per prize. The first person who plays the instant win game after that moment is the prize winner. So the winner selection method is not quite random, but not selected by judges, either.
For more information about how to win, read All About Instant Win Sweepstakes. Check out the Instant Win Sweepstakes List for instants that you can enter today.
3 Sweepstakes Organized by Entry Method
How you enter sweepstakes affects the cost of your hobby as well as your chances to win. Some common entry methods include:
Online Sweepstakes
Online sweepstakes allow you to enter using your computer and your internet connection.
Advantages: Easy to enter, free of charge.
Disadvantages: Because online sweepstakes are free and easy to enter, there is usually more competition for the prizes, and therefore a lower chance to win.
Email Sweepstakes
Email sweepstakes are a type of online sweepstakes where you send the sponsor an email with your entry information.
Advantages: Free to enter, better odds than other online sweepstakes
Disadvantages: Usually more time-consuming than regular online sweepstakes.
More info: Should You Enter Sweepstakes Online and By Mail?
Mail-In Sweepstakes
Mail-In sweepstakes involve sending your entry to the sponsor by postal mail.
Advantages: Fewer people tend to enter mail-in sweepstakes, so the odds are higher.
Disadvantages: Time consuming to enter. You must pay for postage.
Call-In Sweepstakes
Call-in sweepstakes have a phone number that you use to give your entry information to a representative.
Advantages: Less well-known than online sweepstakes.
Disadvantages: Must be careful of hidden phone charges. More time-consuming than online entries.
Drop Boxes
Drop boxes are often found at supermarkets, malls, conventions, and local businesses. You fill out an entry form and drop it in a box.
Advantages: Free and easy to enter. Oftentimes, drop box sweepstakes are local entry only, meaning your odds of winning are significantly higher.
Disadvantages: You must be at the location of the drop box to enter. It can be difficult to tell if the sweepstakes are legitimate.
Text Message Sweepstakes
Use your cell phone to enter sweepstakes. Some sweepstakes use text sweepstakes as an alternate entry method, while other sweepstakes can only be entered by text.
Advantages: Entering text sweepstakes is as easy as sending a text message to a shortcode.
Disadvantages: By entering, you may be agreeing to receive marketing messages by text. You may also be subject to standard and premium text message charges.
More info: All about Entering Text Message Sweepstakes
What SMS Short Codes Are
How to Send Texts to Short Codes
Radio Contests
Many radio stations offer giveaways with prizes ranging from concert and movie tickets to cars and cash.
Advantages: Many of these giveaways are local, so you aren't competing with sweepers from around the country.
Disadvantages: You have to be alert as well as lucky to win.
More info: How to Win Radio Contests
Blog Contests
Blogs are a powerful voice on the internet, so companies are turning to them to offer giveaways promoting their products.
Advantages: Fewer people enter blog contests, raising the odds of winning.
Disadvantages: Not all blog contests are fair about giving away prizes. It can be hard to sort through all of the blogs.
How to Win Blog Contests
4 Sweepstakes Organized by Entry Frequency
Entry frequency is another common way to organize sweepstakes. How often you can enter can have a large impact on your chances of winning. Sweepstakes entry frequencies include:
One Entry Sweepstakes
Each person (or household, or computer, or IP address) can enter one time only. This means that everyone who enters has the same chances to win. These are great sweepstakes if you don't have much time to sweep, or to enter for prizes that you'd like to have but aren't really wild about.
List of One Entry Sweepstakes
Daily Sweepstakes
These sweepstakes allow you to enter daily. If you enter daily sweepstakes every day, you can increase your odds of winning over other people who don't enter regularly. However, entering daily takes time and dedication.
Daily Sweepstakes to Enter
Weekly Sweepstakes
Sweepstakes that you can enter on a weekly basis are more rare than either one time or daily sweepstakes. Because their entry period is more irregular, it is harder to remember to enter these weekly. This does, however, increase your odds over people who enter them once or twice.
Weekly Sweeps to Enter
Monthly Sweepstakes
Monthly sweepstakes can award a prize every month, or they can allow monthly entries for a grand prize that is given away at the end of the entry period. Either way, they tend to be ignored by many sweepers, and therefore to have better chances of winning for people who enter regularly.
Sweepstakes to Enter Monthly
Unlimited Entry Sweepstakes
Unlimited entry sweepstakes allow you to enter as often as you want. Unless you have an awful lot of time to dedicate to entering these sweepstakes, these will have high odds against winning.
Are Unlimited-Entry Sweepstakes Worth Entering?
Odd Entry Sweepstakes
Odd entry sweepstakes are sweepstakes with irregular entry periods. For example, an odd entry sweepstakes might let you enter every two weeks, or it might have entry periods of varying lengths, where one entry period lasts for a week and the next for 12 days.
What Are Odd Entry Sweepstakes?
Ongoing Sweepstakes
Ongoing sweepstakes can fall under any of the above categories, but they have no set expiration date. They continue indefinitely, until the sponsor announces that the sweepstakes is over. They usually award prizes at set intervals throughout the giveaway, such as weekly or monthly.
5 Sweepstakes Organized by Prize
Just about any imaginable prize can be won by entering sweepstakes. Some prizes are universally attractive - after all, who wouldn't want to win cash or a new house? Others might not interest some people - international vacation sweepstakes for people who don't like to fly, or car sweepstakes for people with no driver's license. Therefore, sweepstakes organized by prize make it easy to find exactly the prizes you want to win. Some common prize categories include:
Car Sweepstakes
This is one of the big sweepstakes prizes that just about anyone would love to win. Car sweepstakes give you the chance to win a new car, truck, boat, or other vehicle. To enter some today, check out the Car Sweepstakes List
Cash Sweepstakes
The most flexible of prizes! Enter to win cash or other forms of money like gold coins and credit card gift cards. If you're ready to get started, check out the Cash Sweepstakes List.
Vacation Sweepstakes
Win a trip to an exotic destination or a getaway closer to home. Get your chance to win a dream vacation with these lists:
US Vacation Sweepstakes
Sweepstakes to Win a Trip Abroad
Disney Sweepstakes List
Win a Free Cruise
Go to Las Vegas for Free
Win a Free Hawaii Getaway
Electronics Sweepstakes
If you love staying on top of the latest gadgets, these sweepstakes are for you. Enter to win everything from big-screen Smart TVs to laptops, iPads, and more.
Electronics Sweepstakes
Win Free iPad Tablets
Win Free Computers and Laptops
Sweepstakes Organized by Prize Value
Want to win a life-changing prize? Big sweepstakes can fall under any prize category. What sets them apart is that the total ARV for the contest is very large. Find big sweepstakes to enter on these lists:
Big Sweepstakes with Prizes Worth $10,000 - $29,999
Mega Sweepstakes with Prizes Worth $30,000+
Just Started or Ending Soon?
Sweepstakes can also be organized by how new they are, or whether they're going to be expiring soon. Here are some lists to help you find these sweepstakes:
New Sweepstakes
Sweepstakes Ending Soon
These are just a few of the sweepstakes prize lists that I offer. Visit the Sweepstakes Directory to see all of the sweepstakes lists.
6 Sweepstakes Organized by Who Can Enter
It doesn't make any sense to comb through sweepstakes if you are not eligible to win. On the other hand, if you belong to a group that a sweepstake is targeting, then your chances of winning are much higher. That's why another popular sweepstakes organization method is to separate the contests by who can enter. Examples include:
Eligibility Based on Country
Most of the sweepstakes on this site are targeted toward U.S. residents. However, every country has its own contests and giveaways. Listings of sweepstakes by country is the broadest way to help you find sweepstakes that you can enter. For example:
Top Sweepstakes for Canadians
Eligibility Based on Entrants' Age
While the majority of sweepstakes are targeted toward adults aged 18 and above, there are also sweepstakes for other age ranges. For example, there are sweepstakes for kids, sweepstakes for teens, sweepstakes for seniors, and more. For example:
Sweepstakes for Kids and Teens
Local Sweepstakes
Some sweepstakes focus on very small geographical areas, like states, counties, or even towns. The drop boxes you find in your local grocery store and the contests held by your local radio station are examples.
Eligibility Based on Your Line of Work
Sometimes there are also sweepstakes that target people in a specific line of business. I've seen sweepstakes for advertising executives, technology professionals, teachers, and more.
Other Sweepstakes Restrictions
Sweepstakes can also restrict entry to other groups, like smokers, diabetics, and more. Read the sweepstakes rules for details.
7 Types of Contests
Contests can also be broken down into categories, depending on what you have to do to enter them. Some examples include:
Writing/Essay Contests
Writing contests judge entrants on their essays, blurbs, poems, fiction, or other pieces of writing. Here are some tips on how to win writing contests:
How to Win Essay Contests
How to Improve Your Contest Writing
Qualities of Great Writing Contest Entries
Video and Photography Contests
Photography contests judge entries on the quality of the submitted photos. Some have a specific theme or ask you to take a picture with a product. Video contests ask you to film commercials, songs, or other videos to enter. You can find a list of Current Video and Photography Contests to enter. Here are some tips on winning photography and video contests:
How to Take Prize-Winning Photographs
How to Win Video Contests
Cooking/Recipe Contests
Submit your favorite recipe, often including the sponsors' products, to win. Find current Recipe Contests you can enter today. For more information on winning cooking contests, see:
How to Win Recipe Contests
Recipe Contests and Copyright
Get Inspiration for Creating Original Recipes
Trivia Contests
Answer trivia questions to enter the pool of eligible winners. See Where to Find Answers for Trivia Contests for winning advice.
For information about why entering contests is a good idea, see 5 Reasons to Enter Skill Contests.
Check out the list of Current Creative Contests for available skill contests to enter.
8 Social Media Sweepstakes
Social media websites are becoming the most popular way for people to communicate online. It's no surprise, then, that more and more companies are running their sweepstakes on social media platforms. If you want to enter many of the big giveaways going on today, you need to become familiar with these sites and how to use them safely.
Twitter Sweepstakes
Twitter is a micro-blogging platform that lets people communicate in short messages of 140 characters or less.
Advantages: Not all sweepers have jumped on the Twitter bandwagon yet, meaning that your odds of winning are high. Entry is usually very easy. Most of the time, you just need to send a short message with a specific hashtag attached.
Disadvantages: You have to be careful that the sweepstakes you are entering are legitimate. There is a learning curve for using Twitter, and it might seem difficult to use at first (though it's very easy once you get the hang of it).
More Info:
How to Enter and Win Twitter Contests
Twitter Review for Sweepstakes Fans
Facebook Sweepstakes
Facebook is a very popular social media website, where you can follow friends, family members, and your favorite companies and share photos, comments, and more.
Advantages: Fewer people tend to enter sweepstakes on Facebook than online sweepstakes, so the odds of winning may be good.
Disadvantages: To enter Facebook sweepstakes, you usually need to "like" the company's pages, and sometimes you need to allow applications access to your Facebook account. Be sure to Remove Facebook Applications that you're not using anymore.
More Info:
How to Win Prizes on Facebook
How to Protect Your Privacy While Entering Facebook Sweepstakes
How to Share Facebook Sweepstakes without Annoying Your Friends
Avoid Sweepstakes Scams: Fake Facebook Pages
Facebook Contests and Sweepstakes to Enter
Pinterest Sweepstakes
Pinterest is a social bookmarking site where you can "pin" images from websites for inspiration and to remind yourself to return to the site. Unsurprisingly, many companies are hoping that you'll pin their images to buy later or to come back and visit again -- and they're rewarding you for pinning their images with sweepstakes prizes.
Advantages: Pinning images is quick and easy, and you don't have to worry much about privacy issues.
Disadvantages: You need to be careful what you pin. Some people and companies do not want their images shared without permission, and doing so can violate copyright law. You're pretty safe sticking with images that you have taken yourself, companies that have "Pin It" buttons on their sites, and the images that sweepstakes sponsors make available for entering their sweepstakes.
More Info:
How to Enter (and Win!) Pinterest Sweepstakes
How Pinterest Can Help You Win More Sweepstakes
oking/Recipe Contests
Submit your favorite recipe, often including the sponsors' products, to win. Find current Recipe Contests you can enter today. For more information on winning cooking contests, see:
How to Win Recipe Contests
Recipe Contests and Copyright
Get Inspiration for Creating Original Recipes
Trivia Contests
Answer trivia questions to enter the pool of eligible winners. See Where to Find Answers for Trivia Contests for winning advice.
For information about why entering contests is a good idea, see 5 Reasons to Enter Skill Contests.
Check out the list of Current Creative Contests for available skill contests to enter.
8 Social Media Sweepstakes
Social media websites are becoming the most popular way for people to communicate online. It's no surprise, then, that more and more companies are running their sweepstakes on social media platforms. If you want to enter many of the big giveaways going on today, you need to become familiar with these sites and how to use them safely.
Twitter Sweepstakes
Twitter is a micro-blogging platform that lets people communicate in short messages of 140 characters or less.
Advantages: Not all sweepers have jumped on the Twitter bandwagon yet, meaning that your odds of winning are high. Entry is usually very easy. Most of the time, you just need to send a short message with a specific hashtag attached.
Disadvantages: You have to be careful that the sweepstakes you are entering are legitimate. There is a learning curve for using Twitter, and it might seem difficult to use at first (though it's very easy once you get the hang of it).
More Info:
How to Enter and Win Twitter Contests
Twitter Review for Sweepstakes Fans
Facebook Sweepstakes
Facebook is a very popular social media website, where you can follow friends, family members, and your favorite companies and share photos, comments, and more.
Advantages: Fewer people tend to enter sweepstakes on Facebook than online sweepstakes, so the odds of winning may be good.
Disadvantages: To enter Facebook sweepstakes, you usually need to "like" the company's pages, and sometimes you need to allow applications access to your Facebook account. Be sure to Remove Facebook Applications that you're not using anymore.
More Info:
How to Win Prizes on Facebook
How to Protect Your Privacy While Entering Facebook Sweepstakes
How to Share Facebook Sweepstakes without Annoying Your Friends
Avoid Sweepstakes Scams: Fake Facebook Pages
Facebook Contests and Sweepstakes to Enter
Pinterest Sweepstakes
Pinterest is a social bookmarking site where you can "pin" images from websites for inspiration and to remind yourself to return to the site. Unsurprisingly, many companies are hoping that you'll pin their images to buy later or to come back and visit again -- and they're rewarding you for pinning their images with sweepstakes prizes.
Advantages: Pinning images is quick and easy, and you don't have to worry much about privacy issues.
Disadvantages: You need to be careful what you pin. Some people and companies do not want their images shared without permission, and doing so can violate copyright law. You're pretty safe sticking with images that you have taken yourself, companies that have "Pin It" buttons on their sites, and the images that sweepstakes sponsors make available for entering their sweepstakes.
More Info:
How to Enter (and Win!) Pinterest Sweepstakes
How Pinterest Can Help You Win More Sweepstakes
How To Beat Sweepstakes Burnout and Stay Motivated to Win Prizes
Feeling Discouraged about Sweepstakes? These Tips Can Help
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Entering sweepstakes can be SO frustrating. Here's what to do when you feel like screaming. Zachary Miller / Getty Images
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By Sandra Grauschopf
Updated August 12, 2016
At some point, just about every sweeper experiences it – the crippling feeling that Lady Luck is gone for good, that you're wasting your time, and that you'll never win another prize again. Oh, no, it's sweepstakes burnout!
One of the keys to winning sweepstakes is having the persistence to keep entering steadily, even when you don't believe you're going to win. After all, you can't win if you don't enter.
In my experience, sweepstakes burnout always hits hardest right before winning a big prize, if you can power through the frustration and avoid giving up. Here are some tips to help you revitalize your love of sweeping!
Enter More Sweepstakes Instead of Fewer
It sounds counterintuitive, but try to talk yourself into entering more sweepstakes, not fewer. The number one cure for sweepstakes burnout is to win a prize, even if it's just a little win like a baseball cap, candy bar or a t-shirt. And the more you enter, the higher your chances are of scoring a prize.
Try to add some sweeps to your daily regime that have especially good odds, even if the prizes are smaller. If you're not sure how to do that, check out my tips on how to pick the best sweepstakes to enter. It's also a good idea to add some sweepstakes that are giving away lots of prizes.
Enter Instant Wins:
Instant win sweepstakes help fight sweepstakes burnout because they notify you immediately when you win a prize. You don't have to wait for the entry period to finish and a name to be drawn. And it's such a rush when that "Congratulations, You've Won!" message appears on your screen that your frustration could disappear instantly, too. I always add a good number of instant wins to my sweepstakes mix, to keep my enthusiasm levels high.
Enter Creative Contests:
They may take more time than regular sweepstakes, but there are some excellent reasons to enter contests. Creative contests not only let you express your inner writer, chef, or photographer, but they also have significantly higher odds of winning a prize. They're a little more interesting than just filling out another entry form, and the prizes can be huge. Want to get started? Here are some current contests to enter.
Read About Other People's Wins:
You can't always count on getting a win when you need it most, but you can read about the good fortunes of others. There's nothing like hearing about someone who hit a big prize just when he or she was about to give up to motivate you to keep going! Some places to look for winning stories include:
Do People Really Win Sweepstakes?
About Sweepstakes Facebook Page
Shake Up Your Sweepstakes Routine:
Sometimes you just can't stand to enter the same giveaways day after day, and forcing yourself doesn't help you feel any better. Give yourself permission to cut back on your dailies or to swap them out for new sweepstakes. Try entering at a different time of day or from a different location, if you have a laptop computer available. Shaking up your entry process can make entering fun again. Here are some different types of sweepstakes to enter:
Try Entering for Different Prizes:
If you've been concentrating on winning only large sweepstakes, try entering some smaller, lesser-known contests. . You'll have less competition, and your chances of winning will be higher. A win is a win, and those small prizes can really keep you motivated to win. Try finding some local contests to enter, entering radio contests, or giving blog contests a shot.
???Enter Sweepstakes on Social Media
Many companies have turned to social media to run their giveaways. Experienced sweepers who have seen the number of prizes they win through regular giveaways drop have started winning more prizes through social. If you're not familiar with how to do it, see:
How to Win Facebook Sweepstakes
How to Tweet and Win
Get the Lodown on Pinterest Sweepstakes
Have More Fun
Sometimes, the key to staying motivated is just to have more fun with the entry process. You might want to try decorating your computer desk with lucky symbols or one of my other tips to
improve your luck. Making your own vision board might also help you get more motivated.
Take a Short Break
If all else fails, give yourself permission to take a break. Remember that sweepstakes is a hobby, and it's meant to be fun. If you're not enjoying yourself, you need a break. Just be sure to keep reading about sweepstakes, to ensure that you won't give up for good.
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Feeling Discouraged about Sweepstakes? These Tips Can Help
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Entering sweepstakes can be SO frustrating. Here's what to do when you feel like screaming. Zachary Miller / Getty Images
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By Sandra Grauschopf
Updated August 12, 2016
At some point, just about every sweeper experiences it – the crippling feeling that Lady Luck is gone for good, that you're wasting your time, and that you'll never win another prize again. Oh, no, it's sweepstakes burnout!
One of the keys to winning sweepstakes is having the persistence to keep entering steadily, even when you don't believe you're going to win. After all, you can't win if you don't enter.
In my experience, sweepstakes burnout always hits hardest right before winning a big prize, if you can power through the frustration and avoid giving up. Here are some tips to help you revitalize your love of sweeping!
Enter More Sweepstakes Instead of Fewer
It sounds counterintuitive, but try to talk yourself into entering more sweepstakes, not fewer. The number one cure for sweepstakes burnout is to win a prize, even if it's just a little win like a baseball cap, candy bar or a t-shirt. And the more you enter, the higher your chances are of scoring a prize.
Try to add some sweeps to your daily regime that have especially good odds, even if the prizes are smaller. If you're not sure how to do that, check out my tips on how to pick the best sweepstakes to enter. It's also a good idea to add some sweepstakes that are giving away lots of prizes.
Enter Instant Wins:
Instant win sweepstakes help fight sweepstakes burnout because they notify you immediately when you win a prize. You don't have to wait for the entry period to finish and a name to be drawn. And it's such a rush when that "Congratulations, You've Won!" message appears on your screen that your frustration could disappear instantly, too. I always add a good number of instant wins to my sweepstakes mix, to keep my enthusiasm levels high.
Enter Creative Contests:
They may take more time than regular sweepstakes, but there are some excellent reasons to enter contests. Creative contests not only let you express your inner writer, chef, or photographer, but they also have significantly higher odds of winning a prize. They're a little more interesting than just filling out another entry form, and the prizes can be huge. Want to get started? Here are some current contests to enter.
Read About Other People's Wins:
You can't always count on getting a win when you need it most, but you can read about the good fortunes of others. There's nothing like hearing about someone who hit a big prize just when he or she was about to give up to motivate you to keep going! Some places to look for winning stories include:
Do People Really Win Sweepstakes?
About Sweepstakes Facebook Page
Shake Up Your Sweepstakes Routine:
Sometimes you just can't stand to enter the same giveaways day after day, and forcing yourself doesn't help you feel any better. Give yourself permission to cut back on your dailies or to swap them out for new sweepstakes. Try entering at a different time of day or from a different location, if you have a laptop computer available. Shaking up your entry process can make entering fun again. Here are some different types of sweepstakes to enter:
Try Entering for Different Prizes:
If you've been concentrating on winning only large sweepstakes, try entering some smaller, lesser-known contests. . You'll have less competition, and your chances of winning will be higher. A win is a win, and those small prizes can really keep you motivated to win. Try finding some local contests to enter, entering radio contests, or giving blog contests a shot.
???Enter Sweepstakes on Social Media
Many companies have turned to social media to run their giveaways. Experienced sweepers who have seen the number of prizes they win through regular giveaways drop have started winning more prizes through social. If you're not familiar with how to do it, see:
How to Win Facebook Sweepstakes
How to Tweet and Win
Get the Lodown on Pinterest Sweepstakes
Have More Fun
Sometimes, the key to staying motivated is just to have more fun with the entry process. You might want to try decorating your computer desk with lucky symbols or one of my other tips to
improve your luck. Making your own vision board might also help you get more motivated.
Take a Short Break
If all else fails, give yourself permission to take a break. Remember that sweepstakes is a hobby, and it's meant to be fun. If you're not enjoying yourself, you need a break. Just be sure to keep reading about sweepstakes, to ensure that you won't give up for good.
LIST
Do you ever get too busy to check for new sweepstakes news? When it comes to sweepstakes, it's important to stay up-to-date. After all, finding out about a big sweepstakes a day earlier could give you that one extra entry that you need to win.
Luckily, there are a lot of different ways to have sweepstakes news delivered directly to you, so that you don't have to remember to seek it out yourself. Here are 9 of my favorite ways to keep up with sweepstakes news.
1. Sign Up for Sweepstakes Newsletters
Many sweepstakes websites offer free newsletters that inform you about sweepstakes news. About.com Contests sends out newsletters three times a week, featuring the most exciting new sweepstakes to enter, plus tips and advice to help you win more. Get sweepstakes news in your email by signing up for free newsletters from the sweepstakes sites you enjoy the most. Sign up now.
What to Expect from the About.com Sweepstakes Newsletter
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2. Get Daily Updates from the Sweepstakes Forum
Did you know that you can get a daily email that lets you see all of the new discussions in the Sweepstakes Forum? This is an easy reminder that lets you see the most interesting discussions about winning tips, motivation, and new sweepstakes to enter. To sign up, log into the Sweepstakes Forum and scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the subscription link.
Visit the Sweepstakes Forum to Subscribe
3. Use the About.com Sweepstakes Toolbar
The Sweepstakes Toolbar from About.com Contests sits right in your Firefox or Internet Explorer web browser, delivering the latest in sweepstakes advice. It also includes handy shortcuts to some of my most popular pages, like the New Sweepstakes page and other lists, the Sweepstakes Forum, and more.
Read More about the Free About.com Sweepstakes Toolbar
4. Get Sweepstakes News in Your Gmail Account
If you use Google's Gmail for your email account, you could see headlines from your favorite sweepstakes sites every time you check your mail. Click the link above to read the details about how to set up your Gmail account to display sweepstakes news.
Find Out How to Add Sweepstakes News to Gmail
5. Use Feedburner to Get a Daily Sweepstakes Digest
Feedburner is a nifty program that takes the articles that I post in the About.com Contests blog every day, and puts them into a daily sweepstakes digest that they deliver to your inbox once per day. This is an easy way to make sure that you don't miss any sweepstakes announcements.
Subscribe to About.com Contests and Sweepstakes by Email
6. Get Sweepstakes Blog Updates By Email
If you use a program like Microsoft's Outlook or Mozilla's Thunderbird to read your email, you could have sweepstakes blog updates sent to you by email. Look for an RSS feed on your favorite site (About.com Contests offers several different RSS feeds; you can see them all here: About.com Contests' RSS Feeds). Then follow these instructions to receive them by email:
Adding RSS Feeds to Mozilla Thunderbird
Adding RSS Feeds to Microsoft Outlook
7. Use an RSS Reader to Monitor Sweepstakes News Feeds
The About.com Contests Blog offers an RSS feed, which can be read using a program called a feed reader. You can add several different feeds to a feed reader, which helps you keep up with news from various sweepstakes sites. About.com's Net for Beginners site has some great information about what RSS feeds are, plus a list of the best free feed readers to use.
Read More about What RSS Is and How to Use It
8. Use Firefox's Live Bookmarks Option
If you use the Firefox internet browser, you can use its Live Bookmarks option to keep track of sweepstakes news through RSS feeds. You'll be able to click a button to see all of the latest sweepstakes headlines.
Read How to Use Firefox's Live Bookmarks from About.com's Web Trends Guide
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9. Follow Sweepstakes Sites on Twitter
Twitter is a great place to find sweepstakes news (read my Twitter review for more information why). Companies announce sweepstakes through Twitter, and many sweepstakes sites post updates about sweepstakes news.
Follow About.com Contests on Twitter
10. Follow Sweepstakes Companies on Facebook
There are two ways to find sweepstakes information on Facebook: by following companies that hold sweepstakes and by following people who write about sweepstakes. Aside from sweepstakes, many companies offer freebies, coupons, and exclusive offers to their Facebook followers. And don't think that you can only find small giveaways there! I've seen cars, dream vacations, big cash prizes, and much more being given away on Facebook.
Facebook accounts are free, and with so many free giveaways, it's prudent for sweepers to try it out. You can start by following the About.com Contests Fan Page for updated tips and information.
Follow About.com Contests on Twitter
How to Make a Winning Sweepstakes Strategy
How to Keep Up with Sweepstakes Entries
How to Organize Sweepstakes
How to Use Diigo to Track Sweepstakes Entries
Common Sweepstakes Questions
How Do Winning Emails Look?
What's the Difference Between Sweepstakes and Freebies
What Should You Look For in a Privacy Policy
How to Win Sweepstakes - The Key to Winning Fabulous Prizes
The Secret to Winning Sweepstakes and Contests: The Three P's
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By Sandra Grauschopf
Updated June 21, 2016
Do you believe you can win sweepstakes? Many people avoid entering contests and sweepstakes because they feel that they'll never really win. Sweepstakes, after all, have long odds, and many people feel they've never really been lucky.
However, luck is only the smallest and least important part of winning fantastic prizes. To consistently win sweepstakes, what you really need is the Three P's of Sweeping: Patience, Perseverance, and a Positive Attitude.
1. Patience
Entering sweepstakes is a frustrating hobby for the impatient. Even if you are lucky enough to win a sweepstakes prize on your very first day you enter, it will usually take a while for you to be notified of your win. After all, the sweepstakes entry period has to draw to a close, the entries must be verified, your name must be drawn, and the sponsor has to get in touch with you before you know that you've won. And each of these steps can take weeks or months. And of course, the chances are high that your first entry will not be the winner.
For most people, the minimum length of time to wait before they know they've won a prize is three months.
And patience isn't only important for your first win. Even the luckiest sweepers go through dry spells where they're entering tons of sweepstakes, following all of the recommended tips to win, and still don't receive a prize notification for weeks or months at a time.
That's why patience is an important part of winning sweepstakes. If you don't have the patience to wait for wins, sweepstakes entry won't be fun and you won't stick around long enough for the prizes to come in.
How to Beat the No-Win Sweepstakes Blues
Use Instant Wins to Boost Your Motivation
How Long Does It Take to Win Sweepstakes?
2. Perseverance
The second important thing that people need to win sweepstakes is perseverance. Not only do you need to keep up your enthusiasm even when you are going through a dry spell, but you have to enter a good number of sweepstakes whether or not you feel like you'll win.
This doesn't mean that you should spend every waking moment of the day entering giveaways, but you should set an achievable amount of time aside that you can commit to every day, even if it's only half an hour. And then put in that amount of time on days you're feeling good and on days when winning another prize seems unimaginable.
The fewer sweepstakes you enter, the longer you will have to wait until another prize shows up at your door. Persevering through the dry spells and sticking to your sweepstakes strategy is the best way to win amazing prizes.
Creating a Winning Sweepstakes Strategy
Picking the Best Sweepstakes to Enter
How to Enter More Sweepstakes in Less Time
3. Positive Attitude
A positive attitude toward entering sweepstakes will make being patient and persevering through hard times so much easier.
It's very important to remember is that entering sweepstakes is not a job or a sure way of earning money. Sweeping is not just about winning prizes, but also about making friends, dreaming about great prize wins, and sharing the excitement of winning prizes with others.
So how do you do it? Try having a little fun with sweepstakes by decorating your sweeping area with lucky charms, creating a scrapbook of the prizes you've won so far, or coming up with a winning mantra.
Good Reasons to Love Entering Sweepstakes
Meet Friends and Stay Motivated with Sweepstakes Clubs
It's Time to Make Your Own Luck!
Even if you're not a lucky person, you can win amazing prizes with a little bit of time and dedication - and you can have fun doing it! These links can help you take the next step and start winning fantastic prizes.
Enter Online Sweepstakes Like a Pro
Learn How to Improve Your Luck
Where to Find Sweepstakes
Once you're ready to start improving your luck and winning fabulous prizes, you'll need to have some sweepstakes on hand to get started. Here are some great places to look to find trustworthy sweepstakes that are offering amazing prizes to win.
Sweepstakes Directory: Find the Prizes You Want to Win
Sign Up for My Free Sweepstakes Newsletter
10 Great Sweepstakes to Enter NOW
The Secret to Winning Sweepstakes and Contests: The Three P's
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Contests
Basics
HGTV & Scripps
PCH
Taxes & Finances
FAQs
Tips and Tricks
Win Money
Dream Vacations
Electronic Prizes
Home and Garden
Win Vehicles
Lotteries
Jewelry and Clothing
Types of Contests
Creative Contests
Scams
VIEW ALL
By Sandra Grauschopf
Updated June 21, 2016
Do you believe you can win sweepstakes? Many people avoid entering contests and sweepstakes because they feel that they'll never really win. Sweepstakes, after all, have long odds, and many people feel they've never really been lucky.
However, luck is only the smallest and least important part of winning fantastic prizes. To consistently win sweepstakes, what you really need is the Three P's of Sweeping: Patience, Perseverance, and a Positive Attitude.
1. Patience
Entering sweepstakes is a frustrating hobby for the impatient. Even if you are lucky enough to win a sweepstakes prize on your very first day you enter, it will usually take a while for you to be notified of your win. After all, the sweepstakes entry period has to draw to a close, the entries must be verified, your name must be drawn, and the sponsor has to get in touch with you before you know that you've won. And each of these steps can take weeks or months. And of course, the chances are high that your first entry will not be the winner.
For most people, the minimum length of time to wait before they know they've won a prize is three months.
And patience isn't only important for your first win. Even the luckiest sweepers go through dry spells where they're entering tons of sweepstakes, following all of the recommended tips to win, and still don't receive a prize notification for weeks or months at a time.
That's why patience is an important part of winning sweepstakes. If you don't have the patience to wait for wins, sweepstakes entry won't be fun and you won't stick around long enough for the prizes to come in.
How to Beat the No-Win Sweepstakes Blues
Use Instant Wins to Boost Your Motivation
How Long Does It Take to Win Sweepstakes?
2. Perseverance
The second important thing that people need to win sweepstakes is perseverance. Not only do you need to keep up your enthusiasm even when you are going through a dry spell, but you have to enter a good number of sweepstakes whether or not you feel like you'll win.
This doesn't mean that you should spend every waking moment of the day entering giveaways, but you should set an achievable amount of time aside that you can commit to every day, even if it's only half an hour. And then put in that amount of time on days you're feeling good and on days when winning another prize seems unimaginable.
The fewer sweepstakes you enter, the longer you will have to wait until another prize shows up at your door. Persevering through the dry spells and sticking to your sweepstakes strategy is the best way to win amazing prizes.
Creating a Winning Sweepstakes Strategy
Picking the Best Sweepstakes to Enter
How to Enter More Sweepstakes in Less Time
3. Positive Attitude
A positive attitude toward entering sweepstakes will make being patient and persevering through hard times so much easier.
It's very important to remember is that entering sweepstakes is not a job or a sure way of earning money. Sweeping is not just about winning prizes, but also about making friends, dreaming about great prize wins, and sharing the excitement of winning prizes with others.
So how do you do it? Try having a little fun with sweepstakes by decorating your sweeping area with lucky charms, creating a scrapbook of the prizes you've won so far, or coming up with a winning mantra.
Good Reasons to Love Entering Sweepstakes
Meet Friends and Stay Motivated with Sweepstakes Clubs
It's Time to Make Your Own Luck!
Even if you're not a lucky person, you can win amazing prizes with a little bit of time and dedication - and you can have fun doing it! These links can help you take the next step and start winning fantastic prizes.
Enter Online Sweepstakes Like a Pro
Learn How to Improve Your Luck
Where to Find Sweepstakes
Once you're ready to start improving your luck and winning fabulous prizes, you'll need to have some sweepstakes on hand to get started. Here are some great places to look to find trustworthy sweepstakes that are offering amazing prizes to win.
Sweepstakes Directory: Find the Prizes You Want to Win
Sign Up for My Free Sweepstakes Newsletter
10 Great Sweepstakes to Enter NOW
http://hunt4freebies.com/sweepstakes/