I have seen several bloggers move to decreased entries for giveaways lately. Basically, they require the first entry and that is it. While I love the thought of streamlined giveaways, I also don’t want to take away extra entries from people. I am kind of unsure what is best.
I would hope that everyone that already subscribes or follows would continue. I would hope that people would continue to help me promote giveaways on Twitter too (but I highly doubt that would happen).
I am curious on your thoughts here, my lovely blog followers. What do you want? Should I make some giveaways have less entries? I think for bigger giveaway prizes or if a sponsor requests another entry, I would continue to offer some other options (like Twitter and stumbling for example) but I could streamline to one main entry for other giveaways.
So, spill it! What do you think?
Gerrie S says
I am one that does the extra entries and I like it that way. I wouldn’t really think about advertising a giveaway on facebook or twitter if it was not an entry.
I say keep it the way you have it….you don’t have to be like others!! 🙂
jenn Giannetto says
i prefer extra entries when i don’t have to do a captcha every time, and i prefer less when i do.
Dawn says
I’m having a giveaway right now, and I always offer extra entries, I like to have the exposure when people blog or tweet or FB entries. I only allow one tweet per day, because I agree, I don’t need the blog cluttered with a ton of ‘daily tweet’ comments.
And it’s true, as a smaller blog vs. 5MFM I don’t have thousands of followers to limit the entries. I’ve noticed blogs with thousands of followers don’t necessarily have those thousands engaged in a giveaway, so I figure with hundreds of followers, I have even fewer.
I’m the same, I like the extra options on giveaways because I feel my odds are better, but I still enter 1 entry giveaways if they are for big prizes.
Larry H. says
I always enter one entry contests because I have the same chance of winning as everybody else.. in fact my odds are better because less people promote them on Twitter and Facebook – which is why I would keep the extra entries. No unlimited entry methods though – those are just annoying.
Judith says
I belong to OLS and have 2 trains of thought, one for the blog owner and one for blog enterers (is that a word).
Sweeper want the guick and easy. Their major complaint is the time it takes to enter blogs. (So they don’t enter blogs) So if you want lots of people entering go to one entry.
As a person that is a loyal blogger, I like that the universe of enterers (that word again) to be smaller. I work hard at entering giveaways. I like the odds of winning. Selfishly I want it to remain as is.
Owen's Mom says
I like having multiple ways to enter. The funny thing is, most blogs only require the mandatory entry and the rest are optional. If people don’t want to do all the added stuff, they don’t have to. I think it is much nicer for the sponsors and for exposure to have added entries. They do sponsor the giveaway and deserve to receive some added sponsor love. 🙂
melissa vaught says
I personally like the extra entries options. It makes me feel like if I try harder, the more of a chance I have to win. I don’t like the unlimited tweets though, because I don’t have all day to spend tweeting and people who do will always get more in than me. I don’t really care for the one entry contests much because I feel like its less chance to win, but on the other hand, I’ve won a couple of them and they were both the biggest prizes I’ve ever won. That makes it hard to say which is better, lol!
Stefany says
Thanks for the input Melissa. I agree on the unlimited tweets. I highly doubt I will ever offer that option because I don’t have time to sit and enter all day either… and I know there are many people that can’t!
Beth C says
I like the extra entries for following and subscribing but stay away from blogs that have long lists. I don’t enter the ones that allow twittering daily or unlimited.
Stefany says
Beth, I don’t think I have a long list per se. I don’t like the unlimited tweeting but I do offer daily tweeting. Of course, not everyone chooses to do that. 🙂
Alisha says
I really like having the option of extra entries! =)
Stefany says
Thanks for letting me know Alisha!
Michelle says
I really enjoyed reading the comments on your post. It gives me more to think about. This really did create a large response on my blog! It seems like a lot of people like the idea of one entry giveaways on my blog, with a few exceptions. It is interesting that many are expressing the opposite here!
This makes me wonder if I should offer 2 extra entries and just switch them around…hmmm….something to think about!
hollowsins says
I love the extra entries.The point of winning something is that you try.I usually skip giveaways with only 1 entry.I dont care for the unlimited tweeting but the followers,subscribers and such deserve extra entries for being loyal I think I offer them on my blog and always will.
Stefany says
Thanks for sharing. 🙂 I don’t like unlimited tweeting either and have never offered that. I don’t like looking at my stream and seeing a gazillion tweets for the same thing and I don’t want my blog to be part of that.
I agree with you on the loyalty factor and that is why I have offered separate entries for those when I offer giveaways.
katklaw777 says
This is a subject dear to my heart…
I want more time off the computer and with my family!!!
The less entries the better. More time for us both.
Think about it…
I hate extra entries. I do not tweet. I use facebook for family and friends ONLY. 5MinutesforMom only gives ONE entry and they are doing well. Check them out.
I have to say it seems like “extra entries” has gotten out of control. Help correct that.
Take a anonymous survey and people will speak up more.
I think some people are afraid of being honest cause they think bloggers won’t let them win.
Please think about it long and hard…don’t we all want more time for ourselves? Thanks for listening.
Stefany says
Anyone is welcome to email me off the blog if they want to give their input besides here. I did receive your email. I think the one difference between me (and many blogs) and 5M4M is that they have a HUGE following. Smaller blogs that want to get some promotion for their giveaways sometimes rely on Twitter or FB (although I don’t ask people to follow me on FB).
Thanks for your input. Whatever the majority wants will be what I end up doing and I appreciate your taking the time to tell me your feelings on this. I hope you continue to enter, even if it is just the mandatory entry. You are welcome to do as many or as few as you like. 🙂
Michelle jadaa says
I think the main one for me is if im following via google friend for example i dont really need the info duplicated by rss and email so i think one main entry for following is good but i dont mind extra entries for tweeting or facebook although i only do those once dailies as theres only so many hours in the day lol.
Stefany says
Michelle,
I think the GFC and subscribing are so different that it has been helpful for me to have both. Some people do not like to use GFC to keep up to date on blog giveaways. Like myself… I only use GFC for following blogs that I like and visit from time to time. If I want to get the updates about giveaways daily, I prefer to subscribe. Make sense?
Thanks for your input!
Rachel C says
I think a few extra entries is great, but all the extras can get overwhelming. If I know that I’m doing 2-3 entries, but some people are tweeting every hour, I’m going to avoid those blogs and stick to the ones where I think I actually have a chance to win.
Stefany says
I agree Rachel. That is why I stick to the once a day tweets for my giveaways. I think that is pretty fair.
Tabathia B says
I like the option of being able to tweet once a day only but sometimes it can be overwhelming for moms who have kids and can’t take advantage, but sometimes I have the time to go back and take advantage. So you should keep the extra entries esp. for following and subscribing so that it increases each person chances
Stefany says
Thanks for your input Tabathia!
One Southern Girl says
I agree with Shanna… I like having the extra entries and while I will sometimes enter giveaways with just the mandatory, I usually avoid them.
Stefany says
Thanks for your input!
Shanna Bailes says
I personally like all the extra entries. I have actually passed on giveaways that only offer one entry. When you get to have multiple entries, you feel like there is a better chance that the winning number will fall somewhere within your numbered comments. Hope that makes sense 😉
Stefany says
Thanks Shanna!
Zakary says
I think that it is nice to receive extra entries, but I do not like it when I am on Twitter and see the same 43 retweets from people trying to win lip balm. 🙂
I think less is better.
Stefany says
Me neither Zakary! I only do the once daily tweets because the unlimited tweets are annoying.
Thanks for the input.
Debby Pucci says
It really doesn’t matter to me. I don’t always do all of them since it’s time consuming. Whatever works best for you.
Stefany says
Thanks Debby. 🙂
OutnumberedMama says
I have struggled with this too for all the same reasons. But I have opted for keeping the multiple entries. This way if someone really wants something they can try a little harder. Sort of like not requiring that they put all their eggs in one basket or comment so to speak.
Stefany says
That is my thoughts too. I like the extra entries when I enter them on other blogs. As a blogger, I like that others help me promote the giveaways because I am not so great about entering in linky lists… I can use the help.
I thought I would see what my readers want. I see so many mixed responses on other blogs and don’t want to do something that my readers don’t want. I am a people-pleaser. What can I say? LOL
karen M says
I would keep it the way you have it now.
Stefany says
Thanks for your input Karen!