How to win contests

Can you really win contests? How to improve your odds.

Some people are contest junkies while others find them a waste of time, feeling they will never win. Then there is the occasional player who takes a chance with Lady Luck. The truth is that while many contests are a long shot, some provide a reasonable chance at winning prizes or money, such as those based on skill or creativity. Even contests based solely on luck are winnable and these tips can help increase the odds.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Determine why you want to enter contests and solidify your goals in writing or with a photo of what you would do with the winnings. Often the goal is money, but in some cases it is notoriety. Regardless, it is a positive mental attitude that will keep you motivated and visualizing your goals and imagining life as a winner can make a difference.

2. 

   Examine the rules closely for the contests you plan to enter. It is worth a couple of minutes to ensure that your entry is not disqualified and it will also enable you to view the odds of winning, where applicable.

3. Make a plan for the type of contests you wish to focus on and make a schedule if you're a regular participant. Even if you only possess 5 to 15 minutes a day to spend on contests, it's the regularity that counts in improving your contest odds.

4. Look for contests that are less heavily publicized and/or that may be restricted to certain geographical regions or age groups. Additionally, aim for contest that offer multiple prizes to further increase your chances of winning.

5. Try contests based on skill or part skill to limit competition, be it cooking contests, prose, intellectual challenges, or video submissions. For contests that involve talent or creativity ensure that you edit and re-edit your work and obtain a second opinion. Put forth your best submission, one that you know is a winner.

6. Make online contests easier to enter by using a "form filler" such as RoboForm to enter repetitive data (name, e-mail, address and phone number) with a click of the mouse. The easier a contest is to enter, the more likely you will submit entries regularly and increase your winning odds.

7. Gather and use multiple sources of contest listing and entries. Some options include websites dedicated to contest listings, Google alerts, magazines, retailer newsletters and local vendors.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid submitting contest entries for $25 when you can win $1000, when it is an either/or proposition. Many contestents mistakenly believe lower-end prizes are easier to win, which is not always the case.

• When aiming to win contests online, it may be beneficial to enter at different times of the day. Enter contests both the first and last day as well as daily entries. Variety can increase odds in computer generated selections.

• Be cautious of providing your cell phone number as it may be a telemarketing ploy.

• Use a disposable email address (free web based e-mail) to enter contests online to prevent more spam from reaching your priority email accounts.