Comments on: Before You Run That Blog Contest

By: Charndra at Part Time Diaper Free!

Charndra at Part Time Diaper Free! — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:27:10 +0000

Thanks, really interesting. I was thinking and obviously researching doing a blog contest – I’m glad I did, so I can make sure I do it the right way.

Charndra

By: Link Love: Mixed Bag : Mom Giveaways

Link Love: Mixed Bag : Mom Giveaways — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:31:13 +0000

[...] of Sparkplugging, Kelly McCausey wrote this great post there this week. Have you ever considered why you are running a contest? If you want to run a more effective contest check out Kelly’s [...]

By: Jendi

Jendi — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:07:17 +0000

Great points. I so agree! A couple years ago blog giveaways were a big deal. Not anymore. They are [as you said] all over the place. You can spend hours just entering blog giveaways. I pass up a lot of them. Jendis last blog post..Interview With Angela Moore: Twittermoms Community Manager

By: Melitsa

Melitsa — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:06:46 +0000

Contest are a lot of work and people are fickle. I love entering contests of blogs I already read. Their content is relevent to me. I don't usually enter random contests. I'm sure I'll be doing contests again in the future. Good pointers to use next time. Thanks. Melitsas last blog post..Wordless Wednesday- exploring

By: Liv @ One Year of Beauty

Liv @ One Year of Beauty — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:40:06 +0000

Perfect timing! I have been considering starting a weekly contest on my main web site and you bring up some great points. I agree that it's so important to have giveaways be an obvious fit with your content. Thanks for the tips! Liv @ One Year of Beautys last blog post..June 2, 2009

By: Mariann Jabay

Mariann Jabay — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:32:01 +0000

you are so right with this. others just give contest just to make their blogs famous which is not right. relevance is very important.(www.kika.ca)

By: Ms. Sanity

Ms. Sanity — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:53:03 +0000

You’ve got excellent points here, thanks! I won’t be running contests any time soon on my blog, I don’t think. And I’m impressed too with the info given by your commenters, even. I’ll be back!

By: Angela Green

Angela Green — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:18:38 +0000

I'm laughing because I'm doing a giveaway over at WAHM Talk Radio now! You've given me things to think about before next time...if there is one. Angela Greens last blog post..Win a free SEO review package valued at $150!

By: Alli

Alli — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:05:38 +0000

I think this is an excellent post. I hang around with bloggers who hold give aways often and are often reduced to begging for entries and I wonder why they have them. I have had two or three giveaways and usually it was just because I wanted to give something away, I never saw it as a tool to grow my audience. But I see the value in it and since I am planning a give away soon, this post is of value to me, thanks! I love what you say about the mailing list, something I never considered before (probably because my blog is personal in nature, not really a niche where I think a mail list is more appropriate). Allis last blog post..Getting crafty: baking and sewing

By: Nick Bostic

Nick Bostic — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:57:05 +0000

Those are some great points, I especially like the idea of having people sign up for an email newsletter instead of just blog comments or RSS subscriptions. Email addresses from people who read your site are definitely worth quite a bit more Nick Bostics last blog post..5 Quick Email Marketing Pointers

By: Felicia - I Complete Me

Felicia - I Complete Me — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:31:11 +0000

This is a great post. I have been deciding that I want to be able to do review and/or giveaways. I did a give away once a received a surge of traffic, but that's it. From my lessons learned over at MM, targeted traffic is really what I want. Also, if the product is not of good use to my readers than what is the point. I don't want to taint my blog by doing a bunch of random giveaways that does not help my readers. Felicia - I Complete Mes last blog post..Wordless Wednesday

By: Sheila Gregoire

Sheila Gregoire — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:40:38 +0000

I totally agree--you have to have a reason to have a blog contest. For me it's often been to get the word out about a new product, and I've found them helpful for getting on my mailing list! What I often ask if that they enter the contest at a form I set up where I ask for their email address! Then I ask them to post about it on Twitter or their blog. I even write the post; they just copy it. So to enter, they put down their email address and the URL of their post (or their Twitter name so I can check). It's amazing how the contest can then go viral! Sheila Gregoires last blog post..Wifey Wednesday: Letting Men Be Men

By: Leigh Anne

Leigh Anne — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:11:03 +0000

Kelly, Thanks for the thoughtful post on giveaways. You presented some great points to consider before starting a Giveaway as well as whether to continue them if already doing them. Leigh Annes last blog post..Blogging Fun!

By: Mary@Everyday Baby Steps

Mary@Everyday Baby Steps — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:02:52 +0000

Such great points you make, Kelly! Contests really are a lot of work and time investment. I appreciate that you advise having some strategy and logistics involved in the decision to do them. Fab advice! Mary@Everyday Baby Stepss last blog post..Blinc Heated Lash Curler