Did you jump and/or get excited when you saw the header?
That is exactly my point!
This came about because, originally, when Sandra Grauschopf of About Contests and Sweepstakes published this Facebook message. I had to rant as this is also one of my biggest contest and marketing pet peeves.
Ugh, that was mean. Got an email with the subject line “Congratulations to Our Winner!” and opened it to read, “You have won $5,000 worth of…” I got all excited for a second until I read the line above it, overlooked because it was high above the text and in a different font — and said, “Congratulations, *someone else’s name*.” I wish companies that run sweepstakes would only use “Congratulations” subject lines with win notices!
And …
Companies don’t realize this isn’t a wise marketing tactic. They think they are making a wonderful, positive, big announcement, and instead, they freaked out hundreds or thousands of people. Who are then annoyed and may possibly buy their competitor’s product the next time they need an XYZ … I agree with Sandra …
Solution …
Sweepstakes are run by people. Clearly, those people do not realize how their headline is being received. As I stated, they are excited to share the news and have no idea their marketing efforts are working against them, (vs. for them).
Let them know. They are not mind readers. Send a message. Be kind. Let them know how you felt and what they could do in the future that may garner better results. Crituque is always better received then criticism.
I believe all boats rise with the tide and when we help giveaway sponsors do better, we all benefit.
What is your biggest contest marketing pet peeve?
Hahaha you totally got me with that email. I got so excited. LOL! Yes these emails happen all too often with the false Congrats to the winner headers etc that get your heart pumping only to rip it into pieces when you read it’s someone else who won. SO annoying! lol!
Yes, I too, get these emails only to find that it is someone else who won the prize…not that I am not excited for them listing that someone actually won the prize, but it is disheartening to get all pumped up and then find out that it was misleading. What do I do when I see this kind of email…I drop them from receiving their emails….getting too old to have the blood pressure going up and taking that nosedive!! Only kidding…but, how would the marketer who wrote the emails like it if I sent them and email titled “Congratulations, new car will be found in driveway” and in the main email “…..of xyz of anytown.” Bet their blood pressure would go up a whopping bit and then what a nosedive that would be.
Now after considering that this is getting out of hand, I think I will send them a nice professional email in return telling them how they ruined my day.
I may have to open up a separate email account so that I can keep track of important family emails / work emails, etc. My emails are beginning to look like I have won just about everything I have signed up for, yes it certainly gets my attention. Still priorities, need that new email account!
Yes! You got me! That really makes me mad when they do that. Feel like dropping them.
I do not appreciate scams!
They are not really scams Janet, but misguided marketers that think announcing the contest winner in this manner is a good thing.
I do not get excited any more with the title
CONGRATULATIONS, happens too often. I do have a separate e-mail for contests only, and most of the e-mails get deleted every day. Our new phone company gave us a second line for free, so now I use that number for contests, be surprised how still our home line is and family e-mail remains.
I hate the ones that say Congratulations You have won “the chance to win…” I mean wth is that?
I too thought I had won something (from a Contest Queen contest!) when I read this as the heading of my email! I totally agree that it is cruel to start off emails in this manner and that it would make people never buy anything from any given sponsor again (or at least, I’d feel that way!, though I know that Carolyn’s header was to prove this point and will still enter HER contests, of course!).
I absolutely thought I had won. Just like the 72 thousand times I’ve seen this on a e-mail. Oh well, yes I think it stinks, BUT I hope to get excited the next time I see it for when the time should ever arrive that I’m not anticipating a gleeful outcome when opening that email then I’ve surely lost hope.
how do you know when they send you have won and use your name or they say you are a finalist but no instructions on how to claim do you just send the affidavit to the address listed
Agree, that is so frustrating, and I almost missed a win as it was grouped in with a bunch of this type of email. Read each one carefully, one could be a win. My biggest pet peeve is about rules 1) when sponsors do not provide enough detail about eligibility or on Instagram they are not specific about the number of tags allowed. 2) when sponsors do not follow their own rules.
These frustrate me the ones that make you look like a winner a the top but about middle or end find out someone else won