Hosting a contest from your blog can be an excellent way to increase its popularity. People love being a winner and you can bring in the traffic just by creating an online contest and giving prices whether it’s in cash or in kind. Here’s how to host a contest and help make your blog popular instantly:
Offer something related to your blog.
Don’t host a contest about fiction writing if your blog is about gadgets. Unless… you find a way to link the two. Your goal should be to promote your blog or the subject of your blog through the contest.
Link up with a sponsor.
If you can get a sponsor for your blog, you can host a contest that will offer your sponsor’s products as prizes. You get the traffic you want and get to promote your sponsoring company at the same time.
Host a contest to increase creativity.
People like a good challenge and to be commended for being the best at it. Host a contest from your blog that will allow people to use their creative skills. A good example is the time prior to the initial release of the iPhone. Many blogs hosted contests that encouraged people to design what they thought would be the final look of the iPhone and then award the one that came the closest to the final design.
Cash or kind?
That really depends on your budget. Offering cash as a prize for your contest is a good way to build traffic and increase your blog’s popularity. However, you can offer other things. Small tokens such as custom-made pens, t-shirts or really fun stuff like widgets and games will be much appreciated. You can also offer your services like , blog theme design, advertisement spot on your blog and blog review if your blog has a lot of traffic. And if you have some gadget or accessory lying around that you won’t need, why not use that as your contest prize?
Have you tried hosting an online contest? Care to Share your ideas?
6:17 pm on January 18th, 2008
I had a content last December, and I’m afraid it didn’t go well as hoped lol. I guess there aren’t that many people in the Philippines who are into travel writing (though there has been a LOT of travel blogs popping out everywhere). Or maybe they just aren’t interested in the travel journal.
But I’m not letting that stop me.. I plan on having a couple of contenst and giveaways this April. I just need to finetune my contest rules and mechanics, I guess.
12:12 am on January 19th, 2008
I have yet to host a contest but I know that even though I rarely enter a contest I always stop what I am doing to look at them and see what they are all about. The opportunity just really peaks my interest.
3:14 am on January 19th, 2008
That’s exactly what I’m offering right now. I’m giving away $500 cash.
11:07 am on January 19th, 2008
I want to hold a contest too for my 2nd anniversary but I can’t think of ideas yet. If ever, I will sponsor my own contest.
11:49 am on January 19th, 2008
@ Nina – it happened to me as well… but everything went fine on my second contest
@ Jed – Good Luck
@ Noemi – I guess you no longer need popularity.. Its just a way of returning the favor… ill wait for your contest…
1:09 pm on January 20th, 2008
[...] Freelancer shares that you can actually make your blog popular by hosting a blog contest. This is true. My Pinoy Blog of the Month contest last October gave my traffic a huge [...]
6:22 am on January 21st, 2008
I agree Contest are a great way to market just about anything. People love the idea of getting something for nothing and a contest is a great way to attract people to whatever it is you are trying to promote.
3:43 pm on January 22nd, 2008
So when will you have your first blog contest here Melo? Hehe :D
9:10 pm on January 22nd, 2008
@ Jaypee:
I already had two last year.. im planning to host one next month…
3:08 pm on January 23rd, 2008
Oh okay. Too bad I missed those contests. I’m also planning a contest on my blog but then, I don’t think my readers would be interested to join it. Hehe :P
12:57 pm on January 24th, 2008
I’ve seen a lot of bloggers doing this. This really helps. Well, I’m thinking of doing this too. I have something in mind now and i hope i’ll have enough cash to buy the prizes to give away. =)