There are several different types of sweepstakes. My favorites are one time entry and instants, but that’s my personal choice. I’ll explain the pros and cons of them all!
Instant Wins
Again, this is my ALL TIME favorite. Why? Instant gratification! You learn right then if you have won or lost the instant prizes. (Sometimes, these instant wins have instant prizes, and then later will draw for a grand prize. So if you don’t win the instant – have hope. You could potentially win the grand prize!)
One Time Entry
These sweepstakes allow a one time only entry. The upside of this is that everyone is on equal playing ground. I can only enter once, as well as everyone else. The odds are stacked fairly between us all. I have won a few of these — the best one time entry I won was a trip to NYC with a free culinary class.
Daily Entries
Daily entries allow you to enter every single day for the duration of the sweepstakes. Lots of people like these because the odds are stacked in your favor if you are someone who remembers to enter every single day! So if I only remember to enter twice, but you enter all 50 times you could – well, you are a lot more likely to win than me.
Unlimited Entries
I can’t say that these are really much on my radar. You can enter infinitely. However, don’t let the odds discourage you. There was an instant sweep, that was also unlimited. The grand prize was a trip to NYC with a $1000 American Express card. It was actually from Jane magazine. I entered a whopping 3 times, each just hoping to win the instant win tube of lipstick with no luck. Sure enough, I was drawn as the grand prize winner!! Just think only 3 entries among people who likely enter multiple multiple times daily. It only takes that one lucky entry!!
Weekly and Monthly Entries
Again, these aren’t really much on my radar. They mean what they sound like. Either once a week entry or once a month. I find these hard to keep track of.
Text Entries
I’ve just started doing these, as they have just now gotten some steam. I did win an Applebees card through a text entry. I find these to be mostly local or limited to a tri-state area.
Instagram Giveaways
These are now commonplace among instagram. I do enter these but only if I follow them already, and they have something I want. These tend to be smaller type prizes (not always).
Facebook Giveaways
They are exactly as it sounds – sweepstakes on Facebook. You typically have to like the page to enter. I don’t do these often, mostly because I was starting to junk up my feed from following them. I use my FB to connect to my very large family, so it wasn’t really a tool I wanted to use.
Blog Giveaways
Blogs often have giveaways. These tend to be smaller prizes (again not always), and you usually have to comment or do something particular to enter. These often have a smaller pool of entries, and your odds can be increased for winning.
Contests (essays, photos, etc)
These can be very good to enter, as it causes a smaller pool of entries. You usually have to write an essay, send a photo, write a recipe, or other task. I won a butcher block of knives from Emeril in a recipe contest!!
Let me hear about your wins, and what type of sweepstake you won it from! Also, what is your favorite type of sweepstakes — do you have a favorite??
Leave a Reply