Are Blog Contests A Sign Of Reader Appreciation?
26. Feb, 2008 
6 Comments - Leave your comment
You have probably noticed that blog contests increased in popularity, as more and more bloggers want to get more RSS feed subscribers and more comments on their posts. Encouraged by opinion leaders, bloggers are keen on launching their own blog contests, sometimes giving up the morning coffee in order to have the money for the prizes.
This is a very nice gesture, and a gesture of reader appreciation, you’d say. But as a reader, don’t you feel underestimated if you are required only to subscribe to a feed, or to leave a comment, or to write a few words about the contest, in order to qualify for a prize?
I’ve organized both kind of contests: the ones I’d like to participate in myself, which required an extra neuron to be put at work, as well as the typical ones, requiring no more than subscribing to my blog feed. The participation in the second type of contests exceeded by far the first category. The funny thing is that I was a bit embarrassed when I announced the simple contest, because, honestly, I think my readers can do better than that.
Somebody may say that people don’t have time for complicated contests.
OK, I agree, but if it is not for fun, why are they participating to the social blogging life? For the big prize of $20 which they may win if they subscribe to a feed?
Participation to contests is not an obligation. Blogging is not an obligation. Having fan could be.
If you want to have fun with a blog contest, please check out Emma’s Words to Know. This is also simple, but much more entertaining than the “subscribe to my feed” ones. And Emma’s got only 5 participants in her contest. Is that fair? I don’t know, but it surely is true.
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Thanks Simonne, in the past I publicised my contest at blog contest sites and forums, I even played around with AdWords for my subscriber contest. But I haven’t done any promotions for this one. I just figured I’d give my regular readers a chance to participate. But I appreciate the write up. You seem to be doing great things, and I’m proud to be one of your blogging friends. Emma
I think there is a point Simonne when a competition becomes nothing more than buying visits, so it is important that competitions not only require some thought but are also relevant.
Most important though is that the competition should benefit not just the blogger but everyone reading the blog, even if it doesn’t do that until the end.
You are welcome, Emma. I’m also we are blogging friends.
Andrew, thank you for completing my thoughts. Indeed, all readers should benefit from competitions, not only the blogger. And if the readers benefit, the blogger will benefit as well.
@Andrew,
Buying visits is something I try to avoid with all contests. Contests won’t necessarily bring in more visitors, so if one goes in with the intention of buying new readers, I think that person will be sorely disappointed.
I know with Peeve Week there is a contest factor, but if you really look into it, it’s an incentive for the contributor to produce the best content possible since the readers will be voting in the end. So in a way it’s a contest, and in another way it’s a race to the best article.
Ronald,
Peeve Week is another kind of contest. Actually the participants have to “produce” something to enter the competition. This is the kind of contest I like.