Contests And Winning Secrets

Entering contests is fun and exciting. If entering is exciting, Winning is, well, the most exciting thrill around. We have some helpful tips and tricks to get you started. Some cautions too. There are some sites that have multiple entry forms (not all contests accept these) listed here as well. Entering contests is sometimes compared to gambling. For recreation it is ok. Planning on the income for your future is a bad idea. You know what they say, "Building castles in the sky is a great pastime, as long as you don't plan on moving in."

FIRST, a mention about SPAM (unwanted email). Entering contests through the web is quick and easy. But you are putting your email address with companies that ARE (more often than not) going to share (sell) that info with their "partners". Never, I mean NEVER, use your primary family email. Use one the following to set up a separate, "contest only" address that can be dumped when (not if) the spam load gets too big or too gross. Just move on to another address. You may want to check the old one for a while so you don't miss something important. But, plan on burning a new one once or twice a year.

Three of the most popular $ FREE $ email providers!
YAHOO*   HOTMAIL   My Own Email

Email services to help control SPAM, works with or adds to your current service.
My favorite is: Mailshell: With a little setup on your part Mailshell really PREVENTS spam. I also like Runbox Mail Manager. They offer a way to hold (store) up to 100MB of mail and to send and receive files up to 10MB in size. (most mail services limit file sizes to under 1MB) They also have above average spam control.   * 3/24/2002 YAHOO adds a premium service as well.

Second: Find, read, re-read, understand and FOLLOW (exactly) all the contest rules and regulations. This is the step that trips-up most people, deadlines that have past, as well as missing information or items. Does it say "Please Print" - Use BLOCK Letters or use "plain" paper?

Learn the Winning Secrets from the Winners. Great books on many aspects of contests, sweepstakes and lottos. Learn from studing past winners and their projects.

Third, for a "mail-in" contest use the largest size card or envelope allowed and a very bright (not dark or pastel) color. Use the largest most colorful (correct postage) stamp available. Never violate any entry rules.

Fourth: For an in store (in person) drum or box-drop contest, enter often and enter as late as possible. The contests you are most likely to win are, usually, the "Must-be-Present" to win contests. They normally have a smaller number of entries. More often than not, some of the prizes are drawn for more than once. Remember, you MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN. Depending on paper type & weight, fold with a little spring in the shape.

Fifth: Don't scream and holler. This tip is just as important. Make sure all entries are: 1. Legible. 2. Information is correct; no transposed numbers, not the last address' ZIP code. 3. Phone number isn't one that is about to change. 4. Complete. 5. Not mailed above the sunvisor or forgotten.

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