> ~ Insights by SewCalGal ~

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

More tips to help you win giveaways & contests

Like most bloggers, I hate it when I host a giveaway/contest and someone enters, but I don't have a way to contact them to let them know they won.   Sadly, too many people that take time to leave a comment (entry) have their settings in what are commonly called as a no-reply blogger.  This could be a result of:
  • bloggers with a typepad, wordpress, or OpenID that leave a comment/entry on a Google/Blogger blog post, as the email settings do not transfer across platforms
  • those with blogger/google accounts that have settings at the "default level" that do not allow an email reply to their comment.
If in doubt, you can always embed your email address in your comment.  But, you can also verify your settings are such that will allow a blogger that you've left a comment with, to reply to your comment (e.g. let you know you won a giveaway).

On SewCalGal, I try to maintain a list of people that enter to win giveaways I host, but as they can't be contacted, they can't win.  If you've never won a giveaway at SewCalGal and are not certan your settings allow you to be contacted, should you win, you may want to check a post (click here) to see if your name is on this list and follow steps that I have create for how you can resolve such an issue.

I have removed the ability for "anonymous" users to leave a comment on SewCalGal.  Thus, I do recommend if you want to leave a comment, want to enter to win a giveaway, and have only been able to enter via the anonymous option, you should take time to create a free Google Account.  

Having a Google Account, with non-default/proper settings, is probably one of the best steps you can take to enter and win giveaways & contests in blogland.  Of course, another great one is to enter as many giveaways/contests as you can.  As such, I want to make sure you are aware that the page on SewCalGal labeled "giveaways"  is updated a couple of times a week, to share insights with you on current giveaways & contests. 

Another big tip at winning giveaways & contests is to follow the rules.  The respective blog may ask you to leave one comment only, or one comment per entry, whereby they list various ways you can enter.  If the blog shows that you need to be a follower, make sure you follow them via Google Friend Connect, RSS/Email feeds, or whatever follower options they show on their blog. 

IF you have any tips on how to track down those that enter these giveaways/contests and are no-reply bloggers, please let me know.  I keep thinking maybe we need a special day where all bloggers help to track down WANTED/NO-REPLY BLOGGERS, to help them understand what they need to do.   But, as I've posted about this many times, sadly, I'm inclined to think this will be my last time to post on this subject! 

I'm now off to spend time tracking down someone that hasn't claimed a prize on a giveaway and I will most likely draw another winner tomorrow.  And, it is for an amazing prize too!  Yeap, as a blogger, this will be my last time to blog on this topic as it is too time consuming for me and I'm sure too boring for many.  Still, my heart goes out to those that spend time entering to win giveaways/contests and won't be able to win as their contact settings are not correct. 


24 comments:

Sooli said...

Hi, I've just checked your list and I see my name is on it. I think I have fixed the problem recently so should be fine now. You learn as you go along with this whole blogging thing I find! If there is a problem my email is preeceblog@gmail.com

Bente-I like to QuiltBlog said...

Thanks Darlene,
I really hope, that lot´s of people will read this.
Liebe Grüße
Bente

Mhairi said...

If you can't find your winner, I would be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice and take the prize for you. :D
Thanks for the reminder about the no-reply stuff.

Teresa in Music City said...

Geez what a shame! I hope the winner sees your post & gets in touch with you! I always hate it when I want to reply to a comment and can't. I try to reply to all comments, and I think "I hope they don't think I'm just ignoring them!" Thanks for helping with the problem - not boring at all!!!

Nonnie Quilting Dreams said...

Oh I do try not to be noreply but I do not know how to fix the problem because I am not that tech savvy and once I have a setting do not know how to change it.

nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

Nonnie

Nonnie Quilting Dreams said...

Oh I do try not to be noreply but I do not know how to fix the problem because I am not that tech savvy and once I have a setting do not know how to change it.

nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

Nonnie

Sharon B said...

I checked again, I always worry the Blogger will "lose" my settings.

I am picky about the giveaways that I enter. I want to be sure if I WIN - that it is something I LOVE and would make good use of!

Thanks for all your great blogs on this subject - some people never learn :)

IHaveANotion ~ Kelly Jackson said...

As tired as we get repeating ourselves, there are folks who are new to blogging and don't know about no-reply bloggers. Soooo, you've done a wonderful thing posting about it again :)

I don't even bother to track down winners any more. I just announce that they won and tell them to contact me. I did my part and I let them do theirs. I find it is much easier that way. If I have prizes left in the box, I give them to the guilds that request prizes at the beginning of the next year.

Smiles,
Kelly

Jocelyn said...

Recently I posted a giveaway on my blog, drew the name of the winner and sent them an email before announcing it. I never heard back. I drew another name, did the same thing, and again, no one responded to my email. SOOOO the third time was a charm, as I was able to contact the winner and she responded RIGHT AWAY!! Yay!! I don't have a huge blog, so I do try to let them know, although I have had to stop responding to the comments on giveaways. Takes too much time. Thanks for the info. It's always a good reminder.

Rosa Robichaud said...

I entered a blog contest recently and the blogger said something to the effect, "If you're a no-reply, your post will get deleted."

Just sayin'....

*grin*

Me? I ALWAYS add my email addy after my name.... just in case. *s*

Rosa
robich@rogers.com

sherry said...

ok i see my name is on the list. i hope i have fixed the problem.. is there any way some one can check that for me? like try to reply to a post...

sherry said...

hey when i check the follow-up email box does that embed my email addy or not.....

janequiltsslowly said...

Hi SewCalGal:
I appreciated when you commented about No Reply blogger profiles and fixed mine awhile back, but I'm still on you list. If you click on my profile the email button is there so you can email me. Thanks again for caring about your followers!

The Quilted Dog said...

Thanks so much for the heads up, hopefully I fixed the problem!

Pippa Parsons said...

I think I might be the errant winner, my settings are ok though and I didn't get an email on my phone but was off over the weekend because I was travelling to the UK for my grandmothers funeral, just seen the prize notification on your post today...please don't let me be too late :(

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the information about non-reply bloggers. It's very kind of you to take the time to explain this problem.

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

I'm like you Darlene, I feel so bad when I get no-reply blogger comments and try to help if I can. I had one woman leave a comment about how she had never won a prize and enters all kinds of giveaways and wondered why I seemed to win often. It took about a week of tracking her down and helping but now she is no longer a no-reply.

Anonymous said...

I just found my name on your list! I thought I had fixed my problem but didn't realize that Blogger and Wordpress don't play well together...

Hope I didn't miss out on any winnings because of this. Thank you for reposting this advisory. :)
~ Lynda
farmlet@att.net

Clare said...

Hi,

Pippa Parsons is desperate to hear from you. I assume you have read your emails and the comments on this post?

Anonymous said...

Well, I'm on the list so evidently my
Google Account has "no reply" or something set wrong. Problem is that I don't see a way to change anything, even following you links. Sorry to have been a bother to you and will try not to let it happen again.
bambimayer@gvtc.com

Snoodles said...

It breaks my heart to see how many enter my giveaways, but when I try to reply to their comment, the "return address" is no-reply....many times I have tried to track them down, and sometimes I succeed. I've had some of them write back and let me know that they were successful in changing the settings. Many times, though, I can't track them down, and I have to draw another name for the winner!

Janet said...

I would like to know more about the "follower" issue. I have had giveaways where I have said people have to be followers. And had people leave comments saying they are following, but I can't find any evidence that they are - ie they don't show as a follower on my followers list and my blog doesn't show on their list of blogs they are following. Is there some easy way to sort this out?

Maria Kievit said...

I also found my name on the list. But as one blogger put it, I just started blogging, and didn't know about having to add the email address. I have won some giveaways in the past couple of months, and notifications of all kinds of emails and replies to comments that I left on blogs, so I'm thinking I have fixed the problem on my name. Thanks for bringing it to our attention again!

Anonymous said...

As a WordPress blogger, it frustrates me when I see giveaways that tell me I have to have a Google account (or post my email in every comment, which is not going to happen - I get enough spam, thanks!) to win anything. That may not be their intention, but it's often the end result. I appreciate that some people using a Google account are set as no reply, and appreciate being told how to correct that. But how about a post for Google (Blogger/Blogspot) bloggers explaining that if the have a commenter who is no reply, they should try clicking over to that person's blog and either look for an About Me or Contact Me page, or just leave a comment on that blog.