By the end of January, many of us have already abandoned our New Year’s resolutions—whether it’s sticking to a new eating plan, getting to the gym, or building a new habit. But here’s the thing: a resolution isn’t about perfection in January, it’s about progress all year long.

If you resolved to improve your sweepstakes hobby, you still have eleven months to follow through on it. Perhaps you’ve promised yourself to get more organized, test out new entry methods, or commit to entering daily. Think of it like your fitness resolution—success comes with consistency over time.

The Shift to Social Media Contests

A decade ago, I wrote in The Winning EDGE about how social media contests have become an essential part of the hobby. For long-time contestors used to mailing in entries, moving online felt like a huge hurdle. “Facebooking” and “tweeting” aren’t for everyone—but ignoring them may mean missing out, because more and more promotions are happening exclusively on social platforms.

Reader Feedback: A Newsletter Debate

Not everyone embraced the changes. I received this hilariously blunt email from a reader, Ran, about my newsletter, The Winning EDGE. Here’s the exchange we had:

Ran wrote:

these emails and information really suck.
it used to be better a way back…
Now it is just fluff and blows ass farts!

My reply:

So 1) unsubscribe and 2) the majority of information that used to be in the newsletters can now be found on my blog, Facebook wall, Twitter feed, etc. … This revamped newsletter was never intended to be like the old one. It’s designed to give a few highlights and point people to all the other information sources along with the occasional sweepstakes.

Ran responded:

Well, I thank you for your prompt reply. May I just add though there are a lot of us out there that signed up to things etc. expecting to be able to enter, or get information and etc. through e-mail? We DO NOT Facebook, Twitter, Blog…. or whatever, nor do we want to! Why do all these people/companies/corporations think so?

My final reply:

Good point, I’ll address it in the next issue. Be aware that they do not care about you. They have a marketing objective and a sales objective and if you are not on social media, you miss out, plain and simple.

The Reality of Business & Marketing

I understand that Ran wanted my newsletter to be the way it used to be, but it couldn’t be.

It used to cost me $300–$450 a month to produce (and it still costs over $200 per month for the email server), and it would take a full business day to create all the content (it still takes several hours). That’s not feasible when running a business. (I used to keep my entire newsletter archive online so you could take a look back, but after a legal dispute over an image’s incidental inclusion, I only have the last two years available for you to pursue.)

And the same reality applies to corporations. Choosing not to participate on Facebook, Twitter, or mobile may be your preference, but from a company’s perspective, their priority is reaching the widest audience in the most effective way. Social and mobile sweepstakes provide far greater reach and engagement than traditional mail-in entries ever could.

Chief Marketer highlights this in articles like 5 Steps to a Successful Online Sweepstakes, which outlines how Facebook and Pinterest can exponentially increase engagement compared to online forms or mailed entries.

Adapt or Risk Losing the Hobby

That’s why I had to change my newsletter format—and it’s why companies are shifting their sweepstakes strategies. Both come down to the same bottom line: efficiency and return on investment.

If you choose not to participate, you’re narrowing your opportunities and may eventually find your hobby shrinking. But if you adapt, you’ll discover a whole new world of chances to win.

Your Call to Action

So, if you’re still not on social media, try participating in a social platform contest this week. Pick one—Facebook, Instagram, or even TikTok—and give it a go.

Don’t let your hobby fade away because the landscape is changing. Every new platform you explore keeps your contesting skills sharp and gives you more chances to win. After all, what have you got to lose?