Originally, I thought I’d start with the beginning of blogging. But then I realized that if I started with a blog giveaway how to, then I could also be a part of a super fabulous giveaway. So read on to learn and to win one of three amazing prizes.
Hosting a giveaway on your blog is an amazing thing. It allows you to give back to the people to who support you on a day-to-day basis. It’s a chance to work with and establish lasting relationships with brands, companies, and other bloggers. And, if you do it right, it’s a great way to attract new readers to your site who could become your future engaged followers.
Plus, who doesn’t love a good giveaway?
But giveaways can get complicated, and they’re not the easiest of clearest of events to set up on your site. So how do you actually host a giveaway? Here are some good tips and things to keep in mind before you get started.
- Think carefully about the prize. It’s important to give away something that you like, so you can write about it well, and also something your readers will find valuable. If you’re a food blog, giving away a set of mustache-shaped cookie cutters makes sense, but giving away a gift certificate to Bass Pro Shop might not be such a good fit. So think carefully about what you want to give away before you commit.
- Decide how you’ll get your prize. You could pitch a brand or company about providing a prize for your giveaway. You can purchase it yourself. Or you can work with a group of other bloggers to buy the prizes together. Each way has it’s advantages, but in my giveaway below, I’ve teamed up with an awesome group of bloggers. We all contributed to purchase the items to giveaway, and we will all promote. Plus, it’s fun to get to know other bloggers so well in a professional way.
- Write an awesome giveaway post. It’s easy to think the prize will carry the post, but if you write a blog post with quality content that people want to read and tweet and share and pin, then your readers will help with your promotion. Don’t short change your blog giveaway by not giving 100 percent.
- Don’t forget a pinnable image. Remember, make promotion easy for you and your readers.
- Make it simple to enter. Have you seen those online contests where you have to comment, share, tweet, follow, and do a backflip. And by the time you’re finished, you don’t know if you’ve actually done everything right? Always make it clear exactly what will be given away and exactly what needs to be done to win. If you make sure it’s easier to enter, then you make it more likely that people will enter. Programs like Rafflecopter make this easy peasy.
- Promote, promote, promote. Throughout your contest, be sure you promote it on a variety of social media outlets. People will enter the most at the beginning and end, but be sure you promote throughout the giveaway. Of course, don’t be a get spam-y in your promotion. You might try posting at different times each day to ensure your giveaway talk reaches a different audience each day.
- Pick your winner randomly, and announce it. Shout it from the rooftops even. You’re giving away something extra cool. Those who entered will want to know if they won, and if someone didn’t win, they’ll check back for your next giveaway.
- Follow up with your winner. Make sure they received their prize in a timely manner, especially if it was shipped by an outside company. It might be helpful to think of your winner as a customer, and keeping them happy means they’ll be back and that they’ll tell their friends.
So, what will you be giving away next? Can I enter?
And now for something really really exciting and to see my advice in action! This is my biggest giveaway yet, and I really hope that you win.
Do you know that I love you? Really. I love love love you. Thank you for all your love and support through out the year, and to show my appreciation, I am giving away three fabulous prizes to three winners!
A 5-quart Artisan Series KitchenAid stand mixer (in your choice of color). A Keurig K65 Special Edition Brewing System. and a Kindle Paperwhite Touch Screen E-Reader.
Here’s you’re chance!
The “Comforts of Home” giveaway begins Monday Dec 2 and ends at 12:00 AM on Monday, December 9, 2013.
Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Void where prohibited.
All entries are optional with the exception of leaving a blog comment. We will never sell, distribute, or spam your email.
Three winners will be chosen by Rafflecopter (powered by Random.org). The first person chosen will choose between a KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, Keurig K65 Brewing System, or Kindle Paperwhite. The second person chosen will chose between the two remaining prizes. The third person chosen will receive the remaining prize.
This is a non-sponsored post. Prizes were purchased by a group of participating bloggers. KitchenAid, Keurig, and Kindle are not affiliated with this giveaway.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to the owner of this Facebook page and not to Facebook.
This promotion is powered by Rafflecopter. Metric Feat LLC (“Rafflecopter”) does not sponsor, administer, or endorse this promotion. Participants must read and agree to Rafflecopter’s Privacy Policy before entering and participating in this promotion.
Great tips! I’ve had some major giveaway fails in the past… and choosing the right prize definitely makes the difference.
Hatton recently posted..5 Reasons to Switch from Books to a Kindle {Comforts of Home Giveaway}
Yes Hatton! For the blogger and the potential winners!
I would love keurig have one at work and use it daily. If I had a personal one to use I at I would be so happy. And my boss would notice a cut in the use of coffee at work 🙂
I <3 my Keurig, Betty Jo. It's like my favorite thing ever. Maybe your boss should enter too, you know, just in case. 😉
Robin E. Jones says
Love everything you write about. You are so incredibly talented and such an awesome Mom, and your kiddos are pretty incredible too! Robin
Tears, Robin! Thank you so much and I’m so glad you are a part of our lives. (((hugs)))
Gina says
Anna,
This is brilliant, thank you for the great post and excellent tips, as usual!
I would love the see the e-reader under my tree. I wonder if …
My fingers are crossed for you, Gina. <3 I think you could put an e-reader to really good use!
Antoinette Spoon says
kindle e-reader
Good luck!
Alicia Pavolko says
I would love to get back to blogging again. Thanks for the tips. I would love the mixer so that I could give it to my sister. She keeps ogling my big beauty when she visits.
How kind you are, Alicia! And I hope you find some good info this month to get you blogging again.
Thank you! Noted!
Sinem Pelin recently posted..Secret to Happiness: Little Things 20 / Mutluluğun Sırrı: Küçük Şeyler 20
I covet that Kindle
Jacki recently posted..21 Day Sugar Detox - Why I’m Trying Again
I don’t blame you. I kind of do too, Jacki!
I would go for the mixer, because mine is on it’s last leg!
I don’t know what I’d do without my mixer, Val! It’s such a life saver.
Great idea for a post! One thing I do love doing for giveaways is using a website to draw a person’s name while recording it live on video. This way, it allows people to see that the winner was picked fairly…. and the video draws traffic to the channel too! Anyway, I would love to have the KitchenAid Stand Mixer. While mixing by hand is great exercise, I would definitely be able to crank out much more treats it I had this. 🙂
What an awesome idea, Frida! I’m all for any opportunity to make a giveaway feel more fair. You need a mixer, Frida! I love using mind to shred chicken or pork for things like soup or barbeque. Plus, if you add an extra juicer, then you can juice easily too. Awesome!
Love these giveaway tips! Great prizes!
Jann from Newton Custom Interiors recently posted..Hiking
Thanks Jann!
Oh man, I think I’d pick the paper white kindle! Very cool giveaway, and great advice for fellow bloggers!
Amber recently posted..Weekly Dinner Menu {12/2 – 12/7}
Thank you Amber. It’s hard to pick one of such awesome prizes, huh?
Nikki says
I would love to see an e-reader under my tree! Awesome post Anna!
Thanks Nikki! As much as you read, you need an e-reader. Good luck!
Marilyn says
I am torn between the Kindle and the Keurig but if ‘forced’ to decide I think I would go for the coffee maker. Thanks Anna and fellow bloggers for this giveaway and for introducing me to some awesome new blogs!
You are so welcome, Marylin! I love my Keurig, so I really hope you are *forced* to make that choice!
Angela Elliot says
I don’t see where to enter? Help Anna, help!!
I e-mailed you, Angela! Let me know if it helps!
I am wanting a Keruig under my tree this year
I’m due on Jan 3 with my 3rd baby, so I’d like to see *her* under the tree!
Beth recently posted..December Daily | Day 3
These are great tips, thanks for sharing! I would love the Keurig!
Tanya @ Mom’s Small Victories recently posted..Karma Gone Bad by Jenny Feldon Book Review
Elizabeth says
Just entered! Fascinated as always!
Definitely the mixer! I’ve never had one 🙁
Michelle H recently posted..Not Waiting for New Year’s-Jumping on the Scale #sponsored
Thanks for this! I am planning my first giveaway very soon and this was super helpful!
Nicole Marica recently posted..End of the Week Roundup
I’d take any of the three, but the Kitchenaid would be so much fun!
Virginia recently posted..White Bean, Fennel and Barley Stew
Great tips! I have yet to do a giveaway but when I do I will definitely reference this post!
As for the giveaway, I’d love to see a Keurig under my tree!
Teresa @ Crafty Wife recently posted..Social Media Sunday #17
Marilyn says
The Keurig, please!
Mixer for sure. I found your blog via pinterest and I am really loving it. Especially the letter writing. You have inspired me to write some letters. I think I’ll do it in Feb and then leave them in random places for strangers like they link you had.