All New CommentMILK Version 1.0Get Your Contest Noticed and 6 Pownce Invites Available!
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We all know that contests can bring in good traffic and returning readers for your blog and there’s plenty of boys and girls doing it. But how do you make sure everybody knows about your contest? We’ve used a few methods to help spread the buzz and will list the top three that have proven very useful. Golden rule for a having a successful contest is that whatever it is you’re giving away, it must be something people really want. Preferably something expensive like an iPhone or PS3!
1) One of the conditions you should have in your contest is that whoever enters, must use one of the social bookmark sites likes Digg, Reddit or Stumble Upon to submit your contest post to. If your naughty, you make em do all of the above. This will obviously increase the amount of potential contestants since you’re getting the word spread further than just a single blog post.
2) You’re not the only one with contests. Browse blogs like contest blogger and the prize blog that post about new contests around the blogosphere and try to find similar contests. Doesn’t matter if they’re closed. What you do is check the comments of the contest post, click on the trackbacks and then leave a comment on the post the contestants used to enter that contest. (e.g “Hi, I see you participated in JohnChow’s Zune contest and didn’t win. Perhaps you’d be interested in joining my $500 contest?”). This really works, we managed to get about 100 people entering a previous Nintendo DS Lite giveaway.
3) Ask another blogger if they can mention your competition, even if they aren’t interested in participating. Try to find a blog that has some buzz going and where there’s a healthy flow of traffic each day. The blogger might or might not give your contest a plug but you don’t know until you ask!
There, three general tips which should get you started in promoting your blog contest successfully and efficient. To keep with the general theme of this post, we’ll do a mini contest right now! We’ve got 6 free Pownce invites to give away. Leave a comment and Stumble, Digg, Reddit this post and we’ll pick 6 random winners at the end of the day! 
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I can’t believe how timely this advice is. I just issued my first contest 2 days ago.
I write a independent blog with tips, reviews, news and advice on traveling to Hawaii. The prize pack is Hawaii themed including a battery operated dancing hula girl, macadamia nuts and more.
Anyway, I was super excited to offer the contest and I thought the prize was pretty cool, but the contest really didn’t get the buzz I was hoping for. I even offer an additional incentive for bloggers that if they blog about it and win they get an additional Amazon.com gift certificate. Thanks so much this advice.
I Stumbled this post.
Pownce is getting really big really fast, I’ve heard a lot of things about it! I have it but haven’t really used it yet, and definitely not to it’s fullest potential.
Cool tips on leveraging a contest using the social networking sites.
Sheila - how old is your blog? How many average visitors do you get per day? These factors play a lot into how much participation you will receive for your contests. First build the traffic, then you’ll have the participants for the promotions you run. Check out Richard Osborn - Blogger For Life (dot com) for more info. Also he’s the subject of one of my Hustle Highlights, so you can a review of him on my site too.
Cooliojones (I love that name, by the way!) - I will check out your suggestion. I really appreciate your input!
My blog is 3.5 months old and according to trafficEstimate.com, I get under 2000 visitors/day, but compared to my Google Analytics that number appears to be inflated. The purpose of the contest was to reward my readers and to encourage new readers.
Coolio and Sheila, sitting in a tree, K-I_S_S_I_N_G!
LOL
cooliojones aka blogging pimp!!
Stumbled and dugg, don’t know nothin’ bout no reddit.
I’ve written a post today to commemorate my 100th post and am contemplating a contest, nothing extravagant, I’ve not drummed up enough traffic to justify a huge prize…you know…
Any suggestions from the Holy Cow???
You’ve been dugg!
A Nintendo DS-Lite?
ROFLMAO! I’m so attached now….
My blog post today displays just how attached I have become…Click here to check it out….or of course on my name above…
Is it me or I can’t find a reddit button? Stumbled and digged though.
I also have 6 pownce invites, email me for them, go to my site which is in my name.
I just got 6 more invites myself, for a total of 11 available. I’m wondering if pretty soon the invites themselves will be worthless, as anyone will be able to sign up? (kinda like GMail when they started)
hey can i get an invite, i am not sure what happened to JCs invites!
I’m giving a few invites away on my blog!
Send me an e-mail and I’ll get an invite out to you ASAP. Use my contact form on my blog.
Thanks you crazy cows! You have been dugg and stumbled!
Love the tips!
I haven’t started running contests yet. 
Also, I have Pownce invites at my blog too.
Great tips - thanks. I will try these. Have you got any more tips on digg please? I only started using it recently and I would like to get more diggs. Thanks.
I’m really only interested in contests where I can win soya milk. Will you run one of those?
Do we look like soya cows?
Maybe in the right light. If I squint a little.
I thought the cows in the banner were soyamese twins.
Absolutely anything is possible in the modern world.
Ok, I have to admit the ’soyamese twins’ comment was a nice one! You get some points with that one 2x!
I plan on giving away free (vegan) ice cream in August at my blog. But am still working on getting the logistics worked out, i’m trying to get some coupons for free pints from the manufacturer, as i don’t want to mail off pints to readers. (too costly)
This should generate some buzz for me and my blog, and maybe even some new readers. I will take your tips into consideration, and i’ve been meaning to check out the Prize Blog. Will check them out today.
Missy.
Thanks for the great tips JC! I may possibly be the only one so far to have completed all FOUR requirements!
Ummm, does this mean I win all six?
haha whats the point of having all six? stumbled and dugg!
mahdi - You mean stumbled, dugg AND redditted like the rules said, right?
If I got all six I’d have a contest, duh!
Pownce me please!
My contest to win cash prizes is here: http://betshopboy.blogspot.com/2007/07/lucky-7s-contest.html
All are welcome to enter! Act fast, closing soon!
What the hell is pownce?
Hold on. Your Google Ad is showing Soy products. I knew it.
Can I push my current contest here?
http://www.hmtk.com/archives/quartile.html
Stumbling it now. That and a comment is a an entry! yay for a pownce invite.
Winners have been Pownced! moo!
Hey. I won! Thanks Cow.
Congratulations Angel! Are you going to go to Disneyland now?
For those who didn’t win, I still have invites available, just send me your e-mail addy and I’ll get one out to you ASAP. Use the contact form on my blog:
My New Hustle | Make Money Online
And while your there, feel free to participate in the poll! It closes @ the end of July.
FYI - I just found out about this new site: http://blog-contests.net/ which allows you to list your own contest for free. I read about from http://blogaboutyourblog.com/