Contest Holders Guide To A Successful Contest

So I thought I'd make a thread to help contest holders in hosting a contest that will yield positive results This is merely a guide, suggestions rather than what should and shouldn't be done.

1. Ensure you have provided all necessary info for your job.
- i.e. Primary/secondary text, colors, size, usage, description, examples, background, deadline, etc.

2. Post your prize amount in thread title
-a fair prize amount will depend on the size of the job but will make for a popular contest.

3. Give your designers enough, but certainly not too much time.
- One to Three days for a logo will often bring in more entries than a week long deadline.

4. Provide detailed and HONEST feedback for each entry submitted.
- This will not only help that designer, but the other designers as well.

5. Do not leave, forget about, or abandon a contest.
- You will build a bad reputation and rob the designers of their efforts and time.

6. Watch for entries that have been ripped from elsewhere.
- This is showing up quite frequently and can usually be spotted easily.
- (Great image mixed with poor text is a big indicator)

7. Frequent your thread!

Thanks! If anyone has anything to add please do so

 

nice guide..

 

Thanks, should get all the designers to put a link to this in their sig

 

There should be done something about people running contest and not replying after gettign lots of designs. Dp should charge now something to put contest so only genuine people will start contest.

 

Should be Sticky.
Sick of lazy contest holders.

 

I agree with both comments, something needs to be done about CH running away..

Perhaps having to deposit half of the prize until they have establish positive iTrader?

Also needs to be stickied

 

One more thing I would like to add that I have seen that few members are sendign their entries in competition too and at the same time sometimes they start their own competition too. What does it mean? They want to steal ideas and want to sell at another forum? We should be careful about it too.

 

Designers starting their own contests?

 

Yes I have seen that justcoolsam is one of them, I have seen that person was posting in Logo contest and then He have started logo contest too and at last he said he didnt like any of the logos although lots of amazing submissions were there by the designers. He was selling those logos to offline companies or at other forums

 

This Thread must be Stick so every one can read it

 

Good write up and this should definitely be sticked/stickied!

By the way, what you guys have to say about private entries? I'm just curious to know your POV's pertaining to that.

Cheers to all!

 

I think private entries are unfair to all contest participants anyone contest holder will claim that he have selected winner from the PMs. So there is a great chance of getting cheated.

 

Some good points there..
I dunno why some of you think private entries are unfair to other contestants.. I mean why should you see other contest entries before making yours? Its totally unfair for the original designer if his designs are followed by a number of similar ones..

IMO, private entries are absolutely OK provided the winning entry is shown publicly if it is chosen as the winner..

 

Contest means to compete , and how can one compete without seeing opponent. If contest owner want to work in private then he could mention in the thread. And anyone can see the design if soemone is copying.

 

I also thought the same. But it should be refundable. If the contest announcer selects a person as winner, then the money he invested here for starting the contest should be returned back to him

 

Good points gfx pro.

 

Check THIS CONTEST.. You will know what I mean..

I have and will always submit my entry via PM unless the CH stated otherwise on the thread.. And just to let you know, DP mods have allowed submitting entry via PM, but you shouldn't write on the thread 'submitted via PM' etc..

 

But then if someone submit ripped work via PM, how the hell are we going to catch him? not always all Contest holders have knowledge of stock sites and etc so they cant catch him themselve

Thanks
- Brain

 

Thats what I said, he/she has to post the entry publicly once the contest is over..

 

uhmm, that sounds reasonable, but then atleast this rule should be added above

Thanks
- Brain