[...] Veerle’s design competition has produced over 600 amazing posters, worth taking a look at when you’re searching for some design inspiration. Everyone likes prizes, so get creative and come up with contests that are fun for your readers and beneficial to you, make sure to follow Simonne’s advice on having interesting vs. boring contests. [...]

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.

@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.

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.

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.

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