Brian Makse, President of Upshift Marketing Group, was my last guest answering many questions regarding how sweepstakes are created and conducted. His best tip was to dig out your digital camera or video camera and enter any “consumer generated media” contests you come across. The odds are the best as relatively few people enter.

If you missed the show, you can listen to it here.

Listen to my next show on Monday July 21st at 9:00pm ET when my guests will be Katherine & Russ Loader, Feng Shui experts and owners of Power of Place.

Listen to my following show on Monday August 4th at 9:00pm ET when my guest will be Helene Hadsell, 83-year-old sage who won every contest she entered!

You can listen live online and to ask questions you just enter the show’s chat room. You can also dial-in, (646) 200-4857, to listen to the show and ask questions. If you want to ask a question but are not able to listen live, email it to me in advance and you can hear your question(s) answered in the archived show.

For both July 21st and August 4th shows we have two CDs by Ron Moore who Sings in the Key of Elvis. Ron is one of the best Elvis cover singers I have ever heard. This is a must have prize for any Elvis fan.

For the July 21st show Savvy Sweepers has donated one of each of their sweepstakes organizers as prizes: a Sweepstakes Records and Wish Book, a Sweepstakes Wins Organizer, a Sweepstakes Newsletter Organizer and a Tax Organizer. These are a must have item for any “savvy sweeper”!

Are you interested in an inexpensive way to advertise your business? Please donate prizes (to be given away during my radio show) and I will promote your company in my e-newsletter and on my radio show. Please contact me directly.

The 2009 ANSC will be held in Manchester NH from July 1st to 5th, 2009 at the Radisson Hotel and Convention Center. See you there!

Have contestor news you would like to share? Send any news and announcements to: news@contestqueen.com.

HAPPY CONTESTING,

carolyn@contestqueen.com

Sandra and Michael of Thorndale, ON were HUGE winners!

We won $80,000! Yes, that's not a typo. We won the grand prize from the Proctor and Gamble Gillette Hitch a Ride to Outer Space Contest. We had the choice of a flight to outer space including the 3-4 days of training in Virginia to be weightless for 3-4 minutes or the cash. We took the cash!!

We scrambled to get the forms signed and sent (including a medical). A couple months later we got the cheque in the mail. WOW! We paid down our mortgage, bought a car and are having our bathroom renovated as we speak.

Thanks for all your help. I bought your book and have done pretty much everything you wrote about. I entered myself and my husband's name in the "single" contests and his name came up. I enter contests daily and your book has helped me organize things so well. I share my knowledge with anyone who wants to know. Being a stay at home mom and loving the Internet, it's the best hobby out there-totally free and totally fun, don't you think? It's like Christmas every time I win. Who knows what will be next?!

With two little ones, I can see Sharon having many “a Calgon moment” in her new bathroom. CONGRATULATIONS!!

Have a great story to share? Send me your story to share with the contesting community. winner@contestqueen.com.

Use RoboForm.

I know that may not seem like much of a tip but many people have concerns using the software. Many rules are becoming more emphatic about prohibiting the use of automatic or robotic software to complete online entry forms. Contestors worry the contest management companies may be including hidden fields in the online entry forms and RoboForm will dutifully fill the hidden field and thus tipping off the company to the use of the “forbidden” software.

Let go of your fear. If they really wanted to see if you were using RoboForm, they would check the entry logs for the amount of time you spent on the entry page. Most contest management companies are too busy and don't care. What they do is a “dupe” check to weed out any cheaters. Other than that, your entry is in.

I use RoboForm every chance I get and consistently win, so use RoboForm and save your typing fingers for Flash-based entry forms. Besides, if they really didn’t want you to use RoboForm, they could just create the whole contest in Flash. OUCH!

Have a great tip? Send me your best tips to share with the contesting community. Remember “You Can’t Lose Helping Others Win”. tipsandtricks@contestqueen.com

The Issue 13 Winning EDGE subscriber winner of a Xamrock Tear Drop Necklace is: Bessie of Mount Airy, NC! Congratulations!

Sweepstakes King! Contest Queen!
Win a set of Winner Wear baseball caps in
our next draw.

If you are receiving this e-newsletter directly from me you are already entered! Please forward this newsletter to your friends so they can sign-up and have an opportunity to win too!!

Many new subscribers are asking similar questions to ones I have already answered. To read those answers, check our 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, archives of Your Questions Answered.

Hi Carolyn
I've just became aware that on the entry form of the SC Johnson, it states "Please note that you may be required to show proof of purchase to claim your prize." What exactly does it mean? Do they want you to send them the UPC or the receipt? If you do win and you used a UPC you got online, do you have to find the product with the exact same UPC. I have plenty of SC Johnson products at home but I don't have the receipts for them and I don't bother getting the UPCs off them either if I can get them online. And they also say "...you may be required...." so will you or won't you? If it's what they want they can at least say "you will be required..."so you are prepared in case you win. Have you ever won anything from them or any other contest where they wanted proof of purchase? I wanted to email them myself but they only provide a number to call.  I thought maybe you would know. Thanks.
Maddie
London ON

Hi Maddie,
I have seen that in the rules and I have won one contest with those rules and they never asked for the proof. (I kept those empty bread bags for months!) If you do win, and they ask for proof, just say you have a cupboard full of their products, can't remember which UPC you used and you don't keep your grocery receipts. What would they like you to do? They will let you know. I wouldn't worry about it. Just focus on the fun!
GOOD LUCK,
Carolyn

Hi,
When you are entering "one time only" sweeps, how do you keep track to know which ones you have already entered?
Franklin
Prince Edward Island

Hi Franklin,
I don’t bother tracking my one time only entries. I have a good memory plus many promotions have Repeat Entry Blocks. If I do double enter, my attitude is, “Oh Well”.

Others create a bookmark/favourite in their browser and put it in a special folder they can refer too. Some people keep a calendar (you can buy little book style ones at the dollar store – one week per two pages or one day per page) and write down when each promotion ends.
GOOD LUCK!
Carolyn

Send me any sweeping or contesting questions you would like answered. questions@contestqueen.com

Please send all your comments and suggestions to feedback@contestqueen.com