What are the keys to running a successful online contest?

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   Billie Paglioloposted 11 years ago

   What are the keys to running a successful online contest?
   
   I'm running a little contest for my ebook and have advertised with google ads.  I can't seem to get entries!  It's a sweet little video contest.  I don't know what I'm doing wrong.  There are no specified requirements except that in order to create a video, the parent really would have to have read the book to their child somehow or purchase it for $3.99. I'm interested in your experience.
   
   

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2. 68

   nakmeisterposted 11 years ago

   Have you tried competition sites? They catalogue competitions, and you can usually submit your competition to it once. I did one once and got about 100 entrants. I can't identify specific sites as the only ones I know are UK ones, but I'm sure there are similar US ones too.
   
   I'd make sure that the prize is comensurate with what you are asking entrants to do. Creating a video is quite a lot of work (as opposed to answering a couple of questions) and if people have to purchase your book to enter the competition then very few will - hardly anyone pays to enter a comeptition unless the prizes are in the thousands of dollars at least.
   
   I don't know where you are selling your ebook, but if you can do a free promotion I'd run the competition along side it. That way people can enter for free, you'll get new readers and you'll get some people entering the competition if the prize is good enough.

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      Billie Paglioloposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you soo much! You're exactly right! Hmm...now what do I do since I already posted the rules?  No one bought the book, so I think I could offer it free right now.  I'm wondering if I could add  " or write a review" as an option at this stage?

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   2. 68

      nakmeisterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Writing a review would be a lot easier, and combined with a free copy of the book will probably get some people entering. You could always ask for a photo accompanying the review, giving some extra visual material which will be useful in promotion.

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   3. 0

      Billie Paglioloposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      nakmeister: Thanks again - in  process of changing it now.  I wanted sales to cover the cost of the prizes, but buzz is more important.  I don't think I can list the site here,  but my hub "How to Publish A Children's Story has link to book's website

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3. 58

   phanioposted 11 years ago

   Who are you trying to target?  If you know who you are targeting for this competition, it might be a bit easier to 1) know where to advertise and 2) what to say to get them to participate.  If you don't know and are just trying to target everyone - that might just be your problem - too big a scope.

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   1. 0

      Billie Paglioloposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Phanio,  I'm trying to target parents of children between 5 - 10 years old.  I put that in my google ad and I'm going to blogs of homeschoolers and left-handed blogs that talk about working with left-handed children.  Thanks so much for responding

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