Okay. I love to give away good books, and I don't want to stop doing it by way of running blog contests. But I can't help but notice that even though plenty of people read my contest posts, none (or at most, pitifully few) of them go on to enter the actual contests. I ask myself why this is so. Who wouldn't want to win a free book? And the only answer I can come up with is that people who read my contest posts consider the tasks I set as a condition of winning (leaving me a comment on a specific subject related to the book) to be too onerous. So am I right? Is that it? And if so, how am I supposed to choose winners instead? Alphabetical order? Guess what number I'm thinking of? My own secret algorithm? Honestly, I'm seeking help here, because contests without contestants are like libraries without books, i.e., pointless and sad. So if you know a better way to run a giveaway contest than the way I've been doing it, please! Speak up! Let me know you're out there! I may not be exactly young any more, but I'm still trainable!
Thanks. You're awesome.
People are funny when it comes to commenting on blogs. Not sure why this is. I've noticed that I sometimes get more comments when I share a link on my Facebook page. Just a thought. Or, you could keep the signed copy for yourself : )
ReplyDeleteReally, Jody? Unfortunately, I don't have a writerly Facebook page. Way back when, I only joined FB so I could see what my kids were up to, and of course, they've now been over FB for years. So my contacts on that site are people from my office whom I hardly know, my kids' old babysitter, etc. But starting a new social media site feels too daunting. I can barely keep up with this blog and with Twitter as it is! Yeah, I know I'm whining. Sorry! I just really want a deserving reader to win your book!!
Delete***sigh*** I blame the fact that we all cram so much "stuff" into our lives. I receive your blog entries via email, and must log into your actual blog in order to comment (and complete the authentication process). I wonder how many people stop short of that "extra" step? Oh, and there is also a glitch I encounter that prohibits me from further typing if I scroll up to see what I've written previously....maddening. One must exit out and completely start over. (iPhone). Anyway, your recent post made me think of my Dad, and the times I've felt him near me since he passed. But I read your posts because I enjoy your writing - not for the YA Books. Adolescence is so much work...hat's off! to those of you who write the books that will help another generation survive it!!
ReplyDeleteOh, Jeannie, you are so sweet. I had no idea it was so hard to leave a comment here. Thank you for trudging through all those hurdles to offer help. And as for your feeling your Dad near you recently, I just want to say how well and warmly I remember him, and that I know he absolutely adored you and was so proud of you. Who's to say he's not looking over your shoulder once in a while and smiling?
DeleteMaybe choose a winner at random from anyone who comments on the giveaway announcement post? I haven't been entering because I already won a book and don't want to be greedy.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Yvonne. You're probably right. I guess I had some half-baked idea all along that a winner would appreciate the book more for having done something to earn it, but I realize that not everyone is a freaking Calvinist like me. I'll wait and see what comments arrive between now and Saturday, and then I'll decide what to do. Maybe I'll get a lot of comments tomorrow, when everyone in the U.S. South and East will be snowbound and crazed by cabin fever!
ReplyDeleteSusan, I've been very remiss about following my many blogs lately, let alone commenting since I've been sick and trying to catch up on stuff OFF the internet :) BUT...I saw this one.
ReplyDeleteI think the biggest problem with blogs, contests and all of social media is the time it takes---period. It's largely because there are SO many blogs and many are good ones, and they all take time to read, and then it takes time to comment, especially when it needs to be authenticated. I get the whole authentication thing, too, 'cause it saves the blogger headaches and time, but I keep questioning how I will handle mine once I finally officially launch and get it moving. It's one of the things I struggle with. I do know someone recently actually said it's the authentication stuff (especially the ones with letters/words---the numbers are usually easier to decipher) that keeps them from commenting on most/all blogs. It really CAN be a deterrent.
I agree that it's more interesting to have something that's related to the contest, but the hard fact really IS time. It takes more time when you have to "think" : / Simple is probably best (and I, like Yvonne, have already won a book through your blog and don't want to be greedy :) )
Hey Donna! I'm sorry to hear you've been sick. I've been seeing your name pop up on kidlitchat on Twitter, and thinking: Go Donna Marie! Thank you for your input. Do I really have an authentication thingy on my blog? I thought that was something you have to knowingly set up, and I sure haven't done that - didn't even know it was there, in fact! Well, I intend to keep plugging away and trying to give away books, whatever the results. Get well soon!
DeleteHello Susan!
ReplyDeleteI've won a book from your giveaway that is why I did not enter your recent giveaway. But I shared it on my tumblr blog. :)
One way to increase the number of entrants in giveaways is to use rafflecopter. I have seen lots of giveaways being run this way, its very annoying(to me) but the pool of entrants is always big. And the winner gets selected randomly by the widget. Maybe you should check it out. Another thing is that your giveaways run for a very short time period(7-10 days max) If you increase the ending date, say make it 20 to 30 days, a lot of people will come to know about it and hence the participation will increase.
Anyway, I'm glad I found your blog(through a friend) and won a book. Thank you!!
Thank you very much for the great advice, Fatma! I will have to check out Rafflecopter. I have to admit that the thought of learning to do any new tech-type thing terrifies me, but that's probably all the more reason why I should do it. And in future I'll keep my contests going for longer, too. Thank you again, and please don't consider yourself disqualified from my future contests! I love hearing from you.
DeleteHere's a link to a blog where they're doing a giveaway via rafflecopter, it will give you some idea: http://storeybookreviews.com/2014/02/review-giveaway-not-in-time-by-shawna-seed-shawnaseed/
DeleteAlso, my name is Mahnoor. :)
Have a good day!!!
Thank you so much for your help, Mahnoor. And I'm really sorry I confused you with someone else and called you by the wrong name.
Delete