subject: New Sweepstakes and Contests - How To Send In Your Sweepstakes Entries [print this page] New Sweepstakes and Contests - How To Send In Your Sweepstakes Entries
When you enter a sweepstake and/or contest, you typically send in a completed and usually sealed entry form (or dozens of them, preferably) and there is a random drawing held to assess winners. There are almost always fewer entrants to this type of sweepstakes, thus increasing your chances of winning. So, be on the lookout for this type of game.
There are other types of sweepstakes which, though less popular, can earn you some substantial winnings. One of these is the automatic entry sweepstakes. Here, you complete a coupon which you use at a store to receive a discount on a product. That coupon automatically becomes a sweepstakes entry when the coupon is sent in by the store to be redeemed. It's one way to get you to buy a product and still hold a sweepstakes. The primary intent is the coupon value, but the sweepstakes is valid and is an extra bonus, actually, above and beyond the value of the coupon.
There is also the early-bird game where an advertiser wants to know how a promotional kickoff is faring and gives an early deadline after the campaign kickoff to mail back a form to enter a sweepstakes. Watch the deadlines here!
Finally, the sweepstakes entry form may have a multiple choice quiz, requiring you to answer the question in addition to completing the entry form. Only those entries identifying the right answer will be eligible for the drawing. If you know the answer, enter as many times as you can. If you are unsure, you may want to pass on the contest since your entry form with an incorrect answer will not be used. You could also send entries in with several assigned to each possible answer. Then you know that at least one set of entries will be correct and they will be used for the drawing.
Even though you may find the same sweepstakes in different places, don't take a chance that the rules are similar. To be safe, read every one and check it against the information you have to be sure.
It can take up to six months to notify you of your winning entry, so don't lose hope. Usually the sweepstakes rules spell out the length of time from drawing to notification.
Send in a steady stream of entry forms over the entire length of the contest. You have better odds at winning than if you simply mailed all of your entries at one time.
