 Contests & Activities: September 08, 2010 Issue [#3957] |
  Contests & Activities
This week: Successful Contests Edited by: spidey  
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Welcome to the Contests & Activities Newsletter. I'm spidey , and I'm your Editor this week. I'd like to discuss Successful Contests. |
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Successful Contests
What is exactly is a successful contest? I think we can agree that it would be one that attracts many entrants and continues to do so. How can you create and run a successful contest? Well, that can depend on a number of things.
Theme
Every contest has a theme, even if its theme is having none at all. Having an attractive theme can help bring in interested entrants. One way to go is to choose something that is popular amongst the general public. Vampires, for example, have always been a popular subject, so it may attract more people to your contest. On the other hand, there may be a great number of people who are tired of that theme, wishing for something a little more unique. Also, with popular themes, you'll most likely be competing with a good number of contests already dealing with the same theme.
Be Unique
A lot of successful contests differ just a little bit; they have something extra that makes someone think, "I really want to enter this one!" Following a popular theme might help you attract more people, but you'll need something to really capture their interest. At the same time, if you try to be too different, you can also scare people away. Try to offer something unique but perhaps not too complicated.
Advertise
This is a big one for successful contests! If you've got the gift points, try using the "BidClick System: Sponsored Items, Links & Genres" . If you don't, you can still advertise. There are plenty of places to let people know about your contest! You can add a link to your signature, post messages in forums like "Noticing Newbies" and "Writing.Com General Discussion" , not to mention plug pages. There's an In & Out designed for only plugging contests: "Writing Contests @ Writing.Com"
Be Consistent
Be clear with your rules and judging regulations and stick to them! If you say you're going to have winners announced within a week, do your best to do that! Make sure you're able to come through with your promises of reviews, prizes, etc. We all understand that life gets in the way, but a contest is a serious commitment, and it's important that you do your best to follow through.
Luck
Let's say you've done all of the above and still haven't had a successful contest. Well, that happens. There's a certain amount of luck involved here. It can take some time for a contest or activity to catch on. Don't give up! Keep on trying and you never know what can happen!
Happy Hosting!!
Always keep on writing!
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Contests:
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Know of some gems that deserve exposure? Submit them in the feedback form or submission form at the end of this Newsletter, and I'll put them in my next one!
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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could you please mention this activity in the coming newsletter. It would be geatly appreciated. This fundraiser will bennefit many great groups here at WDC. Thanks. ~ Wordgoddess back from the dead 
No problem! I've listed it above, and here it is again! Please visit: "Invalid Item"
Personally, I use contests to get exposure to my poetry. (and then I use contest winners to choose pieces to read for my limited reviewing time). Because of that, I prefer open contests rather than prompts, since my best poetry has always come out of long pondering on issues from my own quirky experience. It's hard to find prompts that relate to my life! I figure I'm not the only one! ~ Lobelia is truly blessed 
Thanks for the feedback! I think your comment can really help others! 
Excellent NL, Spidey. We have just begun a Christian's Blog Ring here at WDC. Your article helped us get it started right! Thanks so much! ~ Budroe
Wow, that's great! I'm glad I could help you start a Blog Ring, and good luck with it!
Thank you so much spidey for highlighting my group "The Talent Pond" in this week's Activities NL. We try really hard to run fun activities, so it's a compliment to be featured. I've never been a huge blogging fan but I enjoyed your explanation of what blog rings are and I can see why people enjoy them. Take care and thanks again. ~ Tornado Dodger 
You're very welcome, and thanks much for the feedback!
Thanks for sharing the blogging tips and information. I've often thought about setting up a blog, but felt a little nervous and hesitant. I might give it a shot soon... ~ vickierj
You're welcome! If you're nervous about sharing your thoughts publicly, you can also set up restrictions on your blog. You can set the access to allow only WDC members, or sometimes joining a group of others and sharing only with them can help ease the apprehension of opening up to everyone. Good luck if you decide to start a blog!
Hey Spidey, I'm considering starting a group and one of the activities may be a BlogRing. Do you think there should be a limit to the amount of people in a blog ring? ~ saraiv
I think it depends on how involved you'll expect everyone to be. If you require everyone to read and comment on each other's blogs, and if you plan on reading them all, it could involve a lot of your time. Honestly, I think the more the merrier when it comes to blog rings. More people will mean more exposure to all the blogs involved. Though that also makes the bloggers feel more public and exposed. It's something to really think about!
Great NL, thank you. Those are some great tips for anyone with blogs. I have often thought of starting one, but not sure I'd have time to update it very often. I know it doesn't have to be daily, but I wouldn't want weeks to go by either. I will have to ponder it some more.
I also want to thank you for including my group in your NL as well. It is very highly appreciated. You rock! ~ Mike~Dolphins Fan 4 Life
You're welcome, and that's something important to think about, too, when it comes to blogging. Writing sporadically just might drive away readers who come to expect regular updates. Some readers, though, will understand that life sometimes prevents us from writing daily. Thanks for the feedback!
Questions to think about:
What do you think contributes the most to make a contest successful?
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