After receiving a raft of emails regarding entering and winning on Twitter, I thought I should give you a brief  overview.

There are two types of contests and sweepstakes to be found on Twitter:

1) direct links to online contests and sweepstakes posted by websites that already list promotions such as: About.com, Sweepsgoat and Sweepstakes Magazine.

2) or contests run directly on Twitter itself hosted by companies such as: Week in Rewind, Tweet-a-Prize or Twit 2 Win.

If the tweet is just announcing a sweepstakes, there will be a direct link to the promotion itself in the tweet.  You only need to click on the link to be taken to the sweepstakes site.  Enter away!

If the tweet is announcing a contest directly on twitter you need to follow the instructions in the tweet.  You may need to click on the link, be taken to the blog or website of the contest host/sponsor and read the entry instructions.  You may need to follow the host/sponsor.  You may have to retweet (RT) a specific phrase to gain an entry.  Or you may have to participate in trivia or quizzes replying to the host/sponsor (e.g. @ContestQueen) so they can receive your entry.

Remember, like all new entry methods there is a learning curve, so you must be patient. The wins will come.

Learning to “tweet”?  Check out these free resources:

eHow: How To Tweet

cNet: A Newbie’s Guide To Twitter

Lost Art Of Blogging: A Guide To Twitter

My favourite free Twitter tool: Tweet Deck

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!