Comments on: The Paradox of Blog Contests: A Case Study http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/ The Miscellaneous Ramblings of a Dot Com Mogul Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:13:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Michael http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-79630 Michael Sun, 17 Jun 2007 22:54:26 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-79630 contests are sometimes hard to get going, this will help me next time I want to start one. contests are sometimes hard to get going, this will help me next time I want to start one.

]]> By: Michael Kwan http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-77557 Michael Kwan Fri, 08 Jun 2007 08:12:45 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-77557 I hope so. I hope so.

]]> By: green http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-77476 green Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:41:20 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-77476 Sometimes contests are a big disappointment for me Sometimes contests are a big disappointment for me

]]> By: Win A USB TV Tuner - I Can Record Manjalara… http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-77132 Win A USB TV Tuner - I Can Record Manjalara… Thu, 07 Jun 2007 01:01:48 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-77132 [...] knew him through John Chow dot Com. He is a guest blogger there. He wrote whenever John is out of town and even ReviewMe jobs. I am not sure how much John paid him to write there, but I think he did a [...] [...] knew him through John Chow dot Com. He is a guest blogger there. He wrote whenever John is out of town and even ReviewMe jobs. I am not sure how much John paid him to write there, but I think he did a [...]

]]> By: Noticias y artículos interesantes del 2007-06-06 | hombrelobo, una mente dispersa http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-77112 Noticias y artículos interesantes del 2007-06-06 | hombrelobo, una mente dispersa Wed, 06 Jun 2007 23:28:53 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-77112 [...] 10 - The Paradox of Blog Contests: A Case Study « John Chow dot Com [...] [...] 10 - The Paradox of Blog Contests: A Case Study « John Chow dot Com [...]

]]> By: Zac Johnson http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-76985 Zac Johnson Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:51:07 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-76985 I run promotional contests all the time on my blog. Cash prizes to top commenters and reviewers. I'm sure you will get a ton more contest entries after this post Michael. I run promotional contests all the time on my blog. Cash prizes to top commenters and reviewers. I’m sure you will get a ton more contest entries after this post Michael.

]]> By: Don@AffiliateWatcher http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-76980 Don@AffiliateWatcher Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:44:46 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-76980 I run contest on my other sites. As was mentioned above, the prize needs to be related to what your site is about. I've found this to be most effective over a period of time. :arrow: Don I run contest on my other sites. As was mentioned above, the prize needs to be related to what your site is about. I’ve found this to be most effective over a period of time.

:arrow: Don

]]> By: Don@AffiliateWatcher http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-76977 Don@AffiliateWatcher Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:41:40 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-76977 Isn't that what being a guess blogger is about? Blogging about what YOU do, not what the blog owner wants? I don't see no harm here personally. :arrow: Don Isn’t that what being a guess blogger is about? Blogging about what YOU do, not what the blog owner wants?

I don’t see no harm here personally.

:arrow: Don

]]> By: Mike Panic http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-76970 Mike Panic Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:19:58 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-76970 Back in March, a month after my blog was launched, I ran a contest to <a href="http://www.randomn3ss.com/2007/03/12/win-a-1gb-usb-flash-drive/" rel="nofollow">win a 1GB USB flash drive</a>, which was sponsored by another blog I own. The requirement for the contest was simple - sing up for the email newsletter (via feedburner's email subscription service). Not only did I make it easy to enter the contest, I knew I'd get more readers, as I stated that I would randomly pick a winner after 100 people signed up. In the first 2 days more then 65 people signed up, the last 10 or so took two full weeks. None the less, I was able to finally give it away and get 100+ new people getting my email newsletter via RSS feed, thus increasing my total RSS reader subscriptions. Since then, I've had less then 5 people unsubscribe from the email list. I will be running another contest shortly, same basic guidelines. Back in March, a month after my blog was launched, I ran a contest to win a 1GB USB flash drive, which was sponsored by another blog I own. The requirement for the contest was simple - sing up for the email newsletter (via feedburner’s email subscription service). Not only did I make it easy to enter the contest, I knew I’d get more readers, as I stated that I would randomly pick a winner after 100 people signed up. In the first 2 days more then 65 people signed up, the last 10 or so took two full weeks. None the less, I was able to finally give it away and get 100+ new people getting my email newsletter via RSS feed, thus increasing my total RSS reader subscriptions.

Since then, I’ve had less then 5 people unsubscribe from the email list. I will be running another contest shortly, same basic guidelines.

]]> By: Steve's Tech Blog http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-76938 Steve's Tech Blog Wed, 06 Jun 2007 10:13:54 +0000 http://www.johnchow.com/the-paradox-of-blog-contests-a-case-study/#comment-76938 A physical prize restrict more the number of entries than money(PayPal) unless you target only a certain geo market. For example, does the iTune certificate work in Canada or valid just in the U.S. Me, I targeted blog only for my current contest but giving money made it less restrictive. One standard solution for every contest won't work. Experimentation will be the key. "My main problem has been the entrants not following the basic rule" I know because on my first contest, the winner did not followed the rule and got $100 instead of $150(bonus of $50). I wanted to fair to the others that did followed it. I even email him but he did not read his email. Still, he was glad. :D A physical prize restrict more the number of entries than money(PayPal) unless you target only a certain geo market.

For example, does the iTune certificate work in Canada or valid just in the U.S.

Me, I targeted blog only for my current contest but giving money made it less restrictive.

One standard solution for every contest won’t work. Experimentation will be the key.

“My main problem has been the entrants not following the basic rule”

I know because on my first contest, the winner did not followed the rule and got $100 instead of $150(bonus of $50). I wanted to fair to the others that did followed it. I even email him but he did not read his email. Still, he was glad. :D

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