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Big Contest Idea $1000+

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by webcosmo, Jun 4, 2008.

  1. #1
    I am thinking of a big contest in coming days on my forum. Lets say the prize gonna be worth approximately $1000 (one thousand us dollars) or more. Since its a big chunk of money , I wanna maximize the output for the money.

    My goal is two things: number one is increase the members, and number two posts.

    How you suggest I should run the contest. And mainly, where you think I should market the contest? From my experience I found marketing the contest is a big factor for any contest to succeed.

    Thanks for your suggestions.
     
    webcosmo, Jun 4, 2008 IP
  2. MidnightFusion

    MidnightFusion Peon

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    #2
    Have you held other contests there in the past? That's a fairly large prize investment, depending on who's providing the prizes and the success of your other contests.

    One recommendation for marketing the contest is to reward members for advertising the contest elsewhere. Of course, you wouldn't want them to spam other fourms -- but if they've got a blog, maybe offer them "contest entries" for promoting the contest on their sites.
     
    MidnightFusion, Jun 4, 2008 IP
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  3. SGBoise

    SGBoise Peon

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    #3
    Something I'm thinking of doing is doing a drawing for a prize. Basically who ever buys my script will be entered into a drawing and who ever is the winner will get a prize.

    My price range is going to be around $350. Even that I think it's too much. If you really wanted to do $1,000 I would do 4 or 5 events over a year or so.
     
    SGBoise, Jun 4, 2008 IP
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  4. iit_m2002

    iit_m2002 Active Member

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    #4
    Yes Marketing a contest is really important and I think these days $1000 worth of prizes is also too small with many bloggers holding contests for like 3000$ and more.....
     
    iit_m2002, Jun 5, 2008 IP
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  5. dturnbull

    dturnbull Guest

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    #5
    $1000 is really not much for a contest. I say just keep the money and spend it when you need to spend it. Just work on unique content & features for now. A contest is not a quick fix.
     
    dturnbull, Jun 5, 2008 IP
  6. romico

    romico Peon

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    #6
    Don't use that one big chunk at one shot, split them into 3 or 4 events.
     
    romico, Jun 5, 2008 IP
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  7. webcosmo

    webcosmo Notable Member

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    #7
    I am currently running one contest which will end soon. Spending $150 for that contest got me few thousand posts, several hundred members.

    Spending $1000 is little risky I know; but I got inspired by the results from the first one. I wanted to get some advice how I could maximize the benefits. Do you think marketing on other popular webmaster blogs gonna do any good?
     
    webcosmo, Jun 5, 2008 IP
  8. Slincon

    Slincon Well-Known Member

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    #8
    build your forum first, then hold the competition. Few people will trust your competition if there is virtually nothing there. Get a few posts, take $500 of that budget and get people from DP to post quality posts. Make your community look active then use the $500 to buy an IPod or IPhone and the rest of the money can go into shipping it to them, with the rest being used as cash rewards for runner ups. Once you have at least 50+ forum members, and at least 500 posts (not topics but posts) then hold the competition.

    The contest will serve as a catalyst for people to join your forum.
     
    Slincon, Jun 5, 2008 IP
  9. Daoteo

    Daoteo Peon

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    #9
    I agree that it would be better to lets say have 3 - 300$ contests.
     
    Daoteo, Jun 5, 2008 IP
  10. Perry Rose

    Perry Rose Peon

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    #10
    So you got your $150 back, webcosmo, and your members are still posting at the same rate as before?
     
    Perry Rose, Jun 5, 2008 IP
  11. Musical frog

    Musical frog Banned

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    #11
    I had a contest where members of the forum reffered members. Every member=1 time their name is put in a drawing. It worked "Okay"
     
    Musical frog, Jun 5, 2008 IP
  12. webcosmo

    webcosmo Notable Member

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    #12
    Well I must say the post rate gonna go down a lot once the contest ends. But I am hoping it would be much more then when I start the contest. It is sort of a gamble; worked for many and many failed.
     
    webcosmo, Jun 5, 2008 IP
  13. webcosmo

    webcosmo Notable Member

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    #13
    We are thinking of it like this:
    1st prize: $500
    2nd prize: $200
    3rd-5th prize: $100
     
    webcosmo, Jun 5, 2008 IP
  14. charter

    charter Guest

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    #14
    Not sure what the goal is but certainly math is a factor. About how many post etc does it take before you generate $1,000 earnings on your site.

    It might be that for $1000 you could hire several posters to make new posts.
     
    charter, Jun 5, 2008 IP
  15. scriptaty

    scriptaty Banned

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    #15
    IPOD, IPhone etc or a free one year premier RS account will be more effective then cash.OR, you can say that ipod etc are cash exchangeable so that they can take anything they want.
     
    scriptaty, Jun 5, 2008 IP
  16. Perry Rose

    Perry Rose Peon

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    #16
    Ok, I don't get it. So you are going to repeat something that didn't work, that you didn't get your money back???

    You said it has worked for many? Who?

    No offense, I'm just curious.
     
    Perry Rose, Jun 5, 2008 IP
  17. mktguru

    mktguru Guest

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    #17
    another idea is offer paid vacations/cruises inlieu of cash
     
    mktguru, Jun 5, 2008 IP
  18. webcosmo

    webcosmo Notable Member

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    #18
    It worked for me actually. I have a smaller contest running on the forum currently; worth about $150. That one generated 3000+posts, about 200 new members.

    Based on the experience I thought its worth making a big one.
    You may have experience otherwise. If you like to share I would be very interested to know about it:)
     
    webcosmo, Jun 6, 2008 IP
  19. Perry Rose

    Perry Rose Peon

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    #19
    Nah, I don't do contests. I want to make even more money, not give it away with nothing in return.
     
    Perry Rose, Jun 6, 2008 IP
  20. webcosmo

    webcosmo Notable Member

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    #20
    LOL Thats smarter for sure. I am trying to earn by giving away. Whatever works you know:)
     
    webcosmo, Jun 6, 2008 IP