WANTED - Quilters that never win in a Giveaway

This post is one that will be updated periodically, as it is intended to share insights for non-bloggers and bloggers that enter to win giveaways & contests, but lack the ability to win as they can't be contacted.  There are also a little tutorial, with screen shots and steps, to help you those that need to fix their settings and/or learn how to leave a comment.

If you want to win giveaways on any blog, here are some tips:

If the giveaway is posted on a Wordpress or Typepad blog they will typically have a form for you to enter, which also captures your contact info.  For giveaways that you enter on blogger blogs (e.g. SewCalGal) there are a variety of options to leave a comment/entry, the best way to enter is to have a Google Account and be sure your settings show what blogs you follow (e.g. you follow "publicly") and that you can be contacted through an email reply to your comment/entry.

To create a Google Account, simply go to www.google.com and follow the steps to create an account.  This is recommended for anyone, including those with Wordpress & Typepad accounts, if you want to become a "public follower" for ANY Google/Blogger blog (e.g. *.blogspot.com).  You can still follow blogs without such an address, but you will not be a public follower without it, as Google's tools will not recognize you as a follower.

To verify your Google Account has appropriate settings, click the following link:

http://www.blogger.com/edit-profile.g to edit your profile and make sure your profile has the following boxes checked.

While this list is NOT complete, it does share insights on various people that have entered to win a giveaway at SewCalGal and did not qualify, as there was not a way to contact them via email.  At the bottom of this post you'll find insights on how you can make sure you can be contacted when you enter a giveaway and/or contest on SewCalGal, or other blogs. 

Here is my WANTED list of quilters that have entered to win a giveaway on SewCalGal, but their settings disqualified them, as I couldn't contact them. To clarify, this isn't a problem just for SewCalGal, but for most blog giveaways.  And, these individuals could easily resolve their problem by fixing their settings or embedding their email address when they leave a comment to enter a giveaway. 

Quilters that have visited SewCalGal that need to update their settings:

   

Abbigail    settings are fixed Abby Van Buskirk  Adam Yoeckel       Addie      aggie    -amy     Anael       Anda W      anitaestes      Angela   Angie     Anna     Anna Banana       Anna Maria Quagliero     Anne       Anne in the uk           Anya     Arlene      ArtyFarty        Ashlea Tenner     Aymará          Autie	babiesdoc  Barb      Barbara  Barkel22  Becca       bernie      Bertiesmommie     Bethany      Beth C         betty      Betty Kaufman    Becki Beth H.  Billye         Bill Locke Designs bluerosegoddessarts   bmayer      BobbiD  Bonnie Tucker       Bonnie58	c      candy      Cantinho da Aracy        Can't Stop Stitchin      Carmen (Country Mouse)      CandySueM  Carole Kurth Carolyn Sullivan        cathy at 'thehappygreenfrog.wordpress.com  cassi      Catherine        Catherine Harnisch        Cathy     Cathy (CathyC in Alberta)        Caz         Cecilia      charlotte         CharlotteB        Charlotte T.        Chabrowa Panienka      Cher in Victoria      Cheryl  Chris Chambers       Christy B.   Chip E. Nell   Cindy P  Cinzia     Claire in Ct.        Claire Jain      Claudia      CLaudine       cleomisty Coffeequilts      cohenna  Connie (in California) Connie ConnieB/CA     CopyrCowgirl       cpup40      Crafting Today    crowefan0517    Crystal   cwade1211
D Smart Danna BC  DavKan       Deanna  deb Debbi    Debbie    deborah  Deborah Deborah George Debra G   Dee's    Denisehyeong dfoxb     Diana Maldonado      Diane    Diane   Dianne       Diane  Deidra Dinah      DinahT        Dinkey7997      Dixie Handmade   Dona   Donah     Donna  Donna Baker    DonnaP   Donna Taylor         DonnaRae        Dorothy Matheson       dorthac      Dot Doreen      Dragonfly Pond       DuAnne	EatRightIdaho  Edzellinni aka Linda Edkins Wyatt  Eileen   Elaine T        Ellen      Elli         emmy    erika      Erin       Estie    Ελλάδα	Felipe Caicedo  FinoFiend     Flaviabis      Fran      Fran Wessel       Frederique        French  funstitching75
Gale        GA Quilter       Gerald      Georgina      Georgia Gonzales          Gini Ewers         Gini      Gloria     Grace C.       grammie24cuties      gypsygg	happymrs  Heather helen-mary      helenip hilary  hoemwork     HollowSquirrel Hope	Inge  Irelle
JaneB          settings fixed  Jackie     Jackie T    Jacklynn janie  jaj     Jan   Jane      Janet P          Jane Smith       Janis     Janice  Janice Degraw aka thehappyquilter Janita thegirlfriendgap        Januari Rhodes        Jane@Buzzmills      janieg jazzy       Jeanne     Jeanne Gwin  Jeanne Holmes           jemfl     Jennifer   Jennie    Jenny Larking   Jennifer D       Jerimi Jerry & Pat        Jezebel J.J. Jill Jo    Joan     Joan and Kevin        Joanna       Joannag       Jocelyn    JoanDeArc      Joannag         Joanna (Unknown) jody59  Joyful Stitcher       josy26     Josie Passell     Joyce    Joyce   Joyful Stitcher Joyfully Stitching in MN jrwork Judie     Judith    Judy and Bob Judy B Julie      Just Plain Pam       Julie H in Mo      Julie jh22	Karen   Karen Linton  Karen M     Kathryn Knox       Kathy     Kathy in GA      Kathy M Boice        Kathy Schatt       katie    Kaylene P Kay Muraoka  Kearstie Grenier     Kellieann  kfr14819  Kim Kimmyj... Kirsten  kitblu Kittylet  kjujik klh Knittingdancer on Ravelry   Kearstie Grenier K8     Kwilty Pleasures	Laceflower      Lady K    ladyof2       LIANE   llamitanan         Lauralee74         Laurie      Lee Ann   lerusisik      Leslie C Leslie Rose K  Liberty     Lili       Lilycreative        lil'monkeysmama    Linda  lindamid   Lisas Mom   lizbet Linda de Beaudrap    lizzieslog Lynne    lcscottage   lesizmo   Lori Bain lori     Lora Martin      Lotti  Lynne       Lynn In TX    Lyn    lynndianne Luv2Create
Mallorie Anderson  Mamabill    Marcsi és Ági   Marilyn S       Margaret      Marla Nelson  Martha   marsha evans   Mary Reed     Maureen      Mary Ann Mare      settings corrected    Maria Kievit      settings corrected  Marilyn in San Antonio, TX     Marla Nelson         maryc       Mary      Mary Ellen  Margaret Marjorie  Maya  mckittycat   Meg in Albuquerque  Melissa Melissa Minke Melody Shingler  mewilbanks Michael  MicheleM   Michelle  Michelle in Holly       Michelle Harrison Mika     Mike Pearson     Milly Axling       Mize Adventures MJKasz   m murphy  momhooten    momssewingroom        monica      Montseta       moosecarol      Mona in San Diego motherbuzzard      Mrs. Welshon  Ms MoomMist    muffster     mwhite	nakedk9  Nan Nancy  Nancy Schlegel   Nancy H.       Nancy in IN Nell  nena     Nichey Nurseli	old hippy chick otterdaughter
P.Piche    Pamela    Pam Gavin   Pat Pat Hersl   Pat S.     Patti PatQuilts Patti     settings fixed    PattyBYoung   settings fixed patricia  Paula  Paula H    pburketb Peggy    Peter         Petra  Phyl   phyllis      pixilatedtoo      Polly       Prairie ST Quilts	Quilter's Knot      quilterbell     QuilterLynn   Quilting Babcia    QuiltingCyclist   quilt 'n piece  Quilter quilter1   Queenie Believe Queen of Scraps qwilltr     quiltsNtangles	Rachel    Ramona settings fixed rifai john  readwater  Regina RhondaB, in Western Australia (wordpress account that understands need to embed email address)  Rita2011  ritainalaska Rita roadie   RobbieJoy  Robbie   Robyn of Robyns Nest     robinsews Rosalind Barrett  Rose    Rosemary Roxanne   Roz    rutigt RSHudson RustyAvenger
sao in Midlothian, VA (still not fixed) Sally Johnson      Sally in WA    Samarra         Sandy      Sandra Visser      Sangeetha      sandrab     sandgroper14 savvyquilter     Sewgirl       settings fixed sewgratefulquilts sh Sharmond   Sharon Sharon S, central Oregon   Shellie   shelly    Shelly Tiefenthaler  Shelley (https://openid.aol.com/opaque/0f22f590-82f2-11e0-af9a-000bcdcb471e)  shenyon Sherrill sherry       settings fixed Sheryl McLeroy    Shirley Silvia  SJSM     Skiver  Sooli  settings fixed Sorka      SpartanBabe  Sqkrchik Stella Nemeth Stephanie      Stephanie Pettengell Stevii  settings fixed Stitchee squiggle    Sue  Susan S Sue in Belton TX     settings fixed sue in NZ       suecfrank susie Suzanne Neuhaus  Sunny     susan     susan isaacson        Susan S     Susan Vaughn   Susanne      Susie Suzanne    settings fixed     SuzMont swakins     swissmad	Taffin  Танюшка   Tanichiwa Teje        Teresa    Teri      Terry        territhegirl   txquilter     Texana The Jewel's Quilter  The Quilted Dog     settings fixed The Quiltwhinny     Thriftyideastoday       thimble  tipe55        Tracy    treadlemusic    Trish     troglau	u keep sewing  Ullan tilkut      Uli Day Unknown
Valerie   Velody Dark velveteena  Veronica	yarngoddess         Yvonne	Wabbit   wanda       Wendy       Wheeler Family
99designs VS DesignCrowd	Zuzan	N/A

  

Also, if you are a blogger leaving a comment on another platform, be aware that your account information may let you leave a comment, but does not automatically allow you to be contacted.  To clarify, if you are a blogger with a WordPress or Typepad account, or you have an Open ID, your settings do not transfer to a Google/Blogger blog and when you leave a comment you should embed your email address in your comment/entry for a giveaway.

NOTE:  These instructions were written along time ago and Google may have changed things with G+.  I'll investigate and try to update these shortly.  Or, if someone else has a recommendation please email me.
If you use a Google/Blogger account to leave comments, you can verify your settings and fix them, if needed, by:
If you have a blogger account, to check your settings:
a) go to https://www.google.com/accounts/ManageAccount
b) click on Blogger Settings
c) be sure the box for "Show my email address" is checked.
d) click Save Profile

While I can't guarantee anything, I believe if you have your settings updated to where you can be contacted, you can really increase your chances of winning in giveaways.  And, I'd really like to see you win big time!

Still not sure what you need to do ?  Below is additional information that I previously had posted on my giveaway page to share "Tips on how to win at giveaways":

{below} example of a no reply blogger that left a comment, where they could also be entered to win a prize via one of my giveaways.

Sad that Brenda didn't have her settings to allow me to reply to her, if she wins a prize!  While I appreciate her leaving a comment (and voting for her favorite nominees in the Golden Quilter Awards) the fact that she can't be contacted typically will disqualify someone from winning a contest or giveaway hosted by any blogger.

If in doubt, remember to leave an email address or insight on how you can be contacted when you post a comment on a blog to enter a giveaway or contest.

2.  Read the rules unique to the blogger.  Not every contest or giveaway has the same rules.  Follow the rules as posted.  For example, don't just post a comment about blah, blah, blah if the rules show that you are to post insights about lah, lah, lah.  Some bloggers use random number generators to select winners, yet other bloggers select people that leave creative comments and appropriate respond to questions that the blogger asked participants to answer, in order to qualify for entering.

3. Enter. LOL! Very obvious, if you don't enter you can't win!

4. Many blogs will require that you have some form of a google account to leave a comment. You can go to http://www.google.com/ and create an account for free. I actually prefer to use a google email account when posting on the internet, while retaining my house email (e.g. roadrunner) for regular email. I view this helps with spam control, or at least it has helped in my case.

5.  Remember that the blogger hosting the giveaway or contest is busy and can receive hundreds of emails daily, as well as comments on their posts.  Don't expect to always receive a response to comments you post or emails you send. 

6.  Frequently bloggers that hold a giveaway, not only have interesting blogs, but may also have other contests.  Thus, you may want to consider following these blogs.  I like Google/Reader.  Very easy tool, far better than tracking via Favorites.  Simply go to www.google.com/reader   You'll see a button where you can ADD a subscription. You simply need to paste the url to the blog that you want to follow into the add a subsciption box.  And, when you visit Google/Reader it will show you a list of blogs that you want to follow that have been updated (have posted since the last time you've read their blog).

7.  Some bloggers will contact you win you win their contest or giveaway, where others will not. Thus, following these bloggers via Google/Reader can be helpful.  You might actually find out, when you read their blog, that you won one of their giveaways!  Another reason to follow a blog.

8.  To actually enter, most blogger giveaways or contests will require you to post comments to be able to enter.  Be sure to follow their instructions. At the bottom of their post, where they provide insight on their giveaway, there should be a button or hyperlink text that says something like POST A COMMENT. 

Click on this to open open a comments box.

Type your comments {what is appropropriate for the giveaway you are entering} inside of the comment box.

Many blogs have a security setting to prohibit spammers leaving comments.  If you are prompted for a word verification type in the word displayed into the word verification box.

Typically, the comment box will also require you to choose an identify.  This is where you can enter your username and password from your google account (your password is not shared with the bloggger, only used to allow the Google software to validate your account). 

There are also other security ID options for google and other blogging software applications.  But if you select ANONYMOUS on any of these accounts, remember the blogger has no way of contacting you unless you leave your email and/or other contact info.

Upon typing in all of this required information you will press a button than says something like PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT.  Frequently, the mouse may pop you back to the top of the screen leaving you thinking your comment was published.  But use the scroll bar to scroll back down to verify.  Sometimes I've had to press this button, or a similar type of button, 3-4 times before my comments actually were posted to the blog. 

Some bloggers will have settings to instantly allow you to see your comments posted on their site, whereas some will not display until the blogger has approved it.  In either of these cases you will most likely see a message that reflects that your comments has been accepted. 

To those new to leaving comments on blogs, these steps sound time consuming and can appear confusing.  But truly, once you get the hang of it they are quite easy.  And, definitely offer rewards of winning a wonderful prize from a generous blogger (and maybe their sponsors). 

Another aspect to watch is if your login is with WordPress and you are posting comments on a blog hosted by BLOGGER (or reverse).  Not all blogs allow both email and Worpress Open ID, thus you may end up leaving comments with a no-reply setting under these conditions.  Thus, for safety sake, when entering a contest under these conditions consider leaving a way you can be contacted (e.g. email address or website) in your comment.

Don't forget

•  being a Public Follower is also a great way to increase your chances of winning a giveaway, as many blogs host giveaways for their followers.  Click here for more info on Public Followers.
• my list of giveaways is updated 2-3 times a week to help you find giveaways.  If you don't enter a giveaway, you can't win.  And, with proper profile settings, you have better odds of winning a giveaway on a blog than a Lotto!