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This Week's Question
What format do you use to set up your
giveaways -- Rafflecopter, Google,
leave a comment for an entry,
or some other style?
(submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)
My Answer
When I first started blogging, I didn't feature giveaways as part of my blog. After some time, though, I decided to do so. I figured this would help put my blog on the map!
The first couple of giveaways I did were a LOT of work for me, as I had no idea that there was an easier way. At that time, I simply asked people to comment on a chosen topic. Then, at the end of the giveaway, I would actually type out, in Word, all the contestants' names, print out the list, and then go through the laborious process of actually cutting out all the names! Lol. I would then fold each little piece of paper, and place it into a hat, which I would shake. After that, without looking, I would reach into the hat to pick out the winner! Hahahaha!! I kid you not -- this was the actual process I used in order to find my giveaway winner!
This state of affairs didn't last long, however. I knew I couldn't possibly do this every single time I ran a giveaway! It was MUCH too time-consuming! So I did some blog browsing to see how other bloggers ran their giveaways. That was how I discovered Rafflecopter, and now I use this very convenient widget to run all of my giveaways. Compared with my old-fashioned method, this is way faster, and much more convenient! Lol.
It's no trouble at all to copy and paste the widget code into my posts, and the selection process is truly random, as well as automatic. I can announce the winner right on the widget, too.
In short, I've been using Rafflecopter ever since, and never looked back! I've noticed that the blog tour companies I work with also prefer this method. It's simply the best one I have found so far! No more pulling names out of a hat! Lol.
The first couple of giveaways I did were a LOT of work for me, as I had no idea that there was an easier way. At that time, I simply asked people to comment on a chosen topic. Then, at the end of the giveaway, I would actually type out, in Word, all the contestants' names, print out the list, and then go through the laborious process of actually cutting out all the names! Lol. I would then fold each little piece of paper, and place it into a hat, which I would shake. After that, without looking, I would reach into the hat to pick out the winner! Hahahaha!! I kid you not -- this was the actual process I used in order to find my giveaway winner!
This state of affairs didn't last long, however. I knew I couldn't possibly do this every single time I ran a giveaway! It was MUCH too time-consuming! So I did some blog browsing to see how other bloggers ran their giveaways. That was how I discovered Rafflecopter, and now I use this very convenient widget to run all of my giveaways. Compared with my old-fashioned method, this is way faster, and much more convenient! Lol.
It's no trouble at all to copy and paste the widget code into my posts, and the selection process is truly random, as well as automatic. I can announce the winner right on the widget, too.
In short, I've been using Rafflecopter ever since, and never looked back! I've noticed that the blog tour companies I work with also prefer this method. It's simply the best one I have found so far! No more pulling names out of a hat! Lol.
What are your thoughts on
this topic?
Please leave a comment!
If you're participating in this meme,
I'll go comment on your
own BBH post.
If not, I will then comment on one
of your blog posts!
Thanks for visiting!!!
I've never had the guts to host a giveaway. It seems quite daunting on the whole!
ReplyDeleteAnd I completely get that you used a hat. I'd have done so too! Hahah!
DeleteHi, Risa!
DeleteIt's not that hard, really. If you find Rafflecopter a bit confusing, then try out what Elizabeth does on her blog -- use a Google form. I'm going to ask her about this myself, as I might experiment with that.
Yeah, I had to use a hat, lol. At the time, I had no idea what else to do!! Lol, lol, lol!!!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!! :)
I do not like Rafflecopter. :)
ReplyDeleteI use a google form and then use random.org to choose the winner.
Thanks for another great answer....love the details you put in your posts.
Happy Hopping!!
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Blog Hop Answer
Hi, Elizabeth!
DeleteI might try your approach soon. If it's easy to set up, that is. And I've never used random.org. Worth a try, though! Thanks for the suggestion!
You're very welcome for my answer! And thanks for the compliment! I always figure I should throw some humor into my BBH answers. And I don't like to be "short and sweet", either. I enjoy writing, so I prefer to make my answers a bit longer. Lol.
Happy Hopping to you, as well!! Thanks for dropping by and leaving such a lovely comment!! <3 :)
I like your wintry header.
DeleteShoot me an e-mail if you need help with the Google Form or Random.org.
Elizabeth
Hi, again!
DeleteOhm, thanks for the compliment on my header!! I just wish I could see snow up close and personal...
I'll be sure to send you an email if I need any help with the Google Form and/or Random.org. Thanks for offering to help!! <3 :)
I normally don't do giveaways since I don't know how to do one, but if I did, I would have probably use rafflecopter too!
ReplyDeleteHere’s my Book Blogger Hop!
Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog
Hi, Ronyell!
DeleteI find Rafflecopter VERY easy to use. Of course, I didn't think it was so easy at first, but the website walks you through the setting up process. All you have to do is to open an account with them.
Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment!! :)
I used to do giveaways quite often, but rarely these days. It's so much work regardless of the method used, I find. When I started blogging, counting comments was really the only way to go. Now if I do a giveaway I use Google Drive. I tried Rafflecopter and found it wasn't for me. I don't especially like entering giveaways where its used either, to be honest. I have to really want to prize if I do sign up.
ReplyDeleteHi, Wendy!
DeleteYou're so right -- it IS quite a bit of work! I do enjoy doing them, though. I get a big kick out of them, as a matter of fact! But I always include the "leaving a comment" option in my Rafflecopter widget, because, after all of my hard work, I feel that people should at least leave a comment. I have never asked for donations to cover my giveaway costs, and will never do so, either. Therefore, I think people should leave comments -- it's the very LEAST they can do! When visiting other blogs, I am APPALLED to see that people do not leave comments on a giveaway post, unless this is one of the entry options in the Rafflecopter widget. Heck, they don't even state, "Thank you for the giveaway!" I ALWAYS thank bloggers hosting giveaways for the chance to win the prize they're offering. I do this even if there is no comment entry option.
Anyway....I know Rafflecopter is not for everyone. Elizabeth over at silver's Reviews doesn't like it, either. She uses a Google form, and Random. org. I've never tried these before, but perhaps I will in the future. However, I do want to be able to offer a comment entry option, as darn it, I WANT to see those comments!!
Some bloggers sometimes overdo the number of entry options they include in their Rafflecopter widgets. I have tried not to do this. Most of the time, I limit my entry options to 5 or 6. I know, it should be fewer than that....maybe just 3 would be better, lol. So I can understand why you would be reluctant to enter giveaways where, as Elizabeth puts it, you have to "jump through all those hoops"! Lol.
Thanks for dropping by and leaving such a great comment!! <3 :)
I've tried various ways to run giveaways but always come back to google forms. I did the comment thing at first too, but I just counted the comments then used a random number generator to pick the winner. Never thought of a hat. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteHi, Shandy Jo!
DeleteWhen I first started blogging, I was VERY green, lol. I was not tech-savvy at all. So random number generators were not even on my radar, Since, in my previous experience, all drawings I had participated in had been done by pulling names out of a hat, that's what I did with my early giveaways. Lol.
I'm going to check out the Google form, as well as Random.org. So far, though, Rafflecopter has worked just fine for me. I do try not to give too many entry options, so as not to inconvenience people. On the other hand, I never ask for donations to cover my giveaway costs, and putting the post together does take time and work. Contestants should do SOME work themselves, too, I think, IMHO.
Hope you have a great week, too!! Thanks for dropping by and commenting!! :)