Hosting contests can not only give you SEO for a key term with link back competitions, but they can also generate buzz for your website. However if you want to run a contest, you better make sure it is success!
Have a Deadline
Make sure to have a deadline for your contest. The number one reason I will not participate in a contest, is if there isn’t a deadline. “Contest closes sometime” doesn’t work for me. I also may not participate if the contest deadline is months away. Why should I enter now… there’s months until it closes…
Make People Want to Enter
You don’t want your readers to wait, forget, and not enter your contest. Give them a reason to enter NOW. Limited time only, contest will end in 3 days! I’ll never run this again, it’s the best prize! You get the idea. If you are running the contest to generate buzz or SEO, you want it NOW not in 3 months. At least I do.
Offer a Prize
Any prize will do. If it’s free I’m there! You can never go wrong with cash. If you want to be different, being unique may also work. Have something you never used that would be great to giveaway? I have several items that are going to be “prizes” soon, still in the box. Not just the day planner, but there is also a digital picture key chain, and a nice thermos set that I will give away soon. (they were all free)
Make it Easy
If you want a big response, don’t make your contest complicated, make it fun. Leaving a comment on the contest post is the easiest contest there is. Asking for a 200 word review and 3 linkbacks to your website, is not as appealing. Why would I review your website/blog for FREE with the CHANCE to win 20$, when we charge 35$ for a review direct?
Pick What You Want to Promote
Make sure the contest has benefits for you. Whether you are trying to rank for a certain keyword in google, or get your RSS Feed Readership up, base your contest on that. You can even get that all in one. “Linkback to our website saying “Increase Website Traffic” and subscribe to our RSS feed to get extra entries!”
Publicize your Contest!
This is the most essential for a good contest. If no one knows about it, there won’t be many entries. Just for this reason there are many contest blogs that blog only about contests (too many to list here).
Forums are also a great way to promote your contest. Don’t underestimate the power of posties at PayPerPost. Not only did I use forums to promote our day planner contest, I also posted about the contest on other blogs I contribute to.
The perfect blog contest is pretty easy, you just have to determine what you want. Make sure to have a deadline. Offer a prize, any prize! Publicize, promote, promote, promote. And last but not least, be sure of what you want. Don’t start the contest and figure it out as you go. Set the rules, prize, and deadline from the beginning.
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