Contest Time!
I have decided to run a small contest to giveaway a few things as a reward to the great readers of this site that constantly participate and make blogging here such a great experience. I haven’t run many contests before, but I have always enjoyed giving things away, and so I figured it was time to try my hand at it once again.
Three Copies of Problogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett – An amazing book for any skill level and worth far more than the twenty-five dollar list price on the back of the book. Problogger is already in its second printing and includes some very timeless advice. I have read the book cover to cover more than a few times now. Prize includes shipping fees from me to the winner anywhere in the world.
Various Domains registered at Godaddy.com – Each domain has a different expiry date, but if you have been looking for a great property to build that next project on, no doubt one of the below will probably inspire you. As winners of domains are selected, they will get first choice on which domain, or domains where listed as a possible package, that they would like.
One Hour Blog Consulting from Me – with a list value of fifty dollars, I believe that an hour of my time, one on one in any medium you desire, could be a huge opportunity for your blog to grow in exciting new ways. Looking to monetize, but you are confused on how to make more than a coffee worth of money per day? Wanting to leverage your content better? Trying to figure out how to promote things better in the social media world? Issues with your WordPress theme? I will use my expertise, and connections to help you with your blog.
One 468×60 Banner on the front page of Xfep.com for 3 months – with a value of $360, adding your non-animated banner just above the title of each and every single post on Xfep.com as well as above the first post title on the front page will allow your brand to be noticed resulting in new traffic to your blog.
One 125×125 Banner on Xfep.com for 3 months – with a value of $120, you will be able to add your square advertisement graphic above all others on Xfep.com for three months. The exposure could mean new readers, new subscribers, and the chance to promote your own products, services, contests, or just your brand. Building brand equity is invaluable.
I wanted to make it easy to enter, but I also wanted those willing to go the extra mile able to have more chances at the above prizes, and so like many successful contests, I have built in a system where the more things you do, the more entries you get.
One Ticket Each
Two Tickets Each
Five Tickets Each
Eligible participants will be randomly given a number or numbers dependent on how many ways they enter. Once numbers have been put into a spreadsheet and double checked for accuracy, I will run a random number generator online with a randomized hash as the seed for the random number generator. I will start with the domains, and then the advertisement positions, consulting, and finally the three copies of the books. Winners will be removed from the spreadsheet so that they cannot win multiple prizes.
Contest Open: Friday, July 18th, 2008
Contest Closed: Friday, August 15th, 2008 @ 11:59 PM EDT (GMT-4) [2359 hours]
Draw: Monday, August 18th, 2008
All Prizes Awarded by: September 1st, 2008
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John Leschinski
July 17th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
What arn’t you a member of yet though?
David Peralty
July 17th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
John – I am not a member of ANYTHING listed at InviteShare.com. I haven’t been given access to a Beta service for a VERY long time…
I miss trying out new things before open release.
John Leschinski
July 18th, 2008 at 12:26 am
What email address do you want people to send invites too?
WTL
July 18th, 2008 at 6:34 am
Heh. I’ll be camping in Algonquin Park when you announce the winners. Will you come up and let me know if I perchance win?
This sounds like a great idea.
Note; the comment form is *seriously* borked on the iPod Touch
David Peralty
July 18th, 2008 at 10:48 am
John – I will update the post with relevant information. Thanks for the reminder.
WTL – I won’t come over to the Park, but if you win something, I will hold it for you until you get back.
Have fun camping! And I will look into seeing if its a Safari / comment form issue, or just an iPod Touch one…
WTL
July 18th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
It appears to be associated with the first time that you enter a comment – when you enter your name,email and URL – I was just about to make a video showing what happens and of course it seems fine now.
I suppose I could nuke the settings, but then I’d have to re-enter a bunch of passwords.
If the mood strikes, you are your wife are very welcome to come visit us for a few days in the park – I’ll email over the details later.
I’ll be curious to see if the contest results in a higher level of traffic, long term – more RSS readers, commenters and the like.
David Peralty
July 18th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
WTL – Weird that it would only be the first time you enter a comment.
As for the long term effects on this blog, it will be minimal just because I am not putting a heavy emphasis on promoting this contest nor making RSS subscription a key goal of the contest. Had I rewarded people for signing up via RSS or e-mail, then I am sure it would have seen at least a temporary improvement, but I’d rather people only subscribe if they like the site, rather than when they are basically bribed.
Personal thing…
Same thing with promoting this contest. I could get dozens of blogs to post about it (contest blogs mostly) and that would help promote it, but this contest is mostly for people that actually read this blog now.
Ahmed Bilal
July 19th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
but this contest is mostly for people that actually read this blog now
Good luck with that
Although I should say I love the theme.
Katy Castro
July 19th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Other than word count, do you have any requirements for a guest post? I’d love to offer a post (with or without the contest) but want to ensure that I keep in line with your standards.
David Peralty
July 19th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Katy – Everyone has a unique perspective. It has to fit the niche of this blog, but I wouldn’t make huge limits on how and what people post on. It would be silly of me. I won’t publish anything that my readers would thing is crazy sub-standard, but I am sure that’s the same as EVERY blog accepting any guest posts.
Most of all, I want a sense of passion and enjoyment. Everything else is up to the writer.
I’ve read your work. I am sure it will be fine.
Mahesh
July 20th, 2008 at 11:09 am
David,
I’m following your Podcasts but have came to know these days that podcast isn’t persistent due to few probs..BTW keep up with that podcasts…
Oh forgot to mention that i’m following on twitter as well and made twit about this contest as well…
https://twitter.com/maheshkale
Hmm..i’m all set to win this competition
Shane
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:10 am
David,
There should be an a.viary invite in your inbox by now. Let me know if it didn’t arrive (I’ve had a.viary invites disappear in the ether before).
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