As a blogger and as a comper (if you couldn’t tell by my occasional prize wins posts), I have been shocked and appalled by the brutality members of each community have subjected each other to recently over the subject of blog giveaways. I recently wrote a how to guide on entering blog giveaways via Rafflecopter and mentioned within the post that if stated at the outset before the competition begins, the blogger has every right to not allow comping accounts to who have just subscribed to win – however they should thus make it a random draw from their existing readers. After all, they cannot guarantee that these people haven’t just appeared for the giveaway and will thus then disappear again when the giveaway ends only to turn up again someway down the line when the blogger hosts another one. I too have people who follow then unfollow each time I do a giveaway and I do not like it, however I was keen to find out other opinions on this subject.
To make this as fair as possible, I decided to contact other bloggers who also enter competitions as a hobby themselves. This way, I can get an unbiased opinion on this subject. I myself let compers enter my giveaways but that is my personal preference, mainly because I know that a lot of them are loyal readers and will stick around once the giveaway is over. I also know that quite a few bloggers enter comps on a regular basis and I don’t feel it is fair to alienate a loyal reader from entering my giveaway just because they don’t want to spam their blog Twitter with lots of giveaway entries. However, I also totally respect other bloggers choices to not let compers enter as there are a few amongst the comping community that do let the side down and enter anything and everything with no thought of others.
Sammie from oneblueonepink said:
I was a comper before I started blogging. From my point of view I have no problem with compers entering my giveaways. Because even before I started blogging if I entered a competition on a blog, I more often than not carried on reading the blog afterwards. Liking their pages on Facebook helped remind me when new posts were up so I could have a read.
We have some interesting viewpoints right there, don’t we? I think the main point is that whilst the compers who just enter every competition they see with complete disregard for others keep doing what they’re doing, compers who actually have an interest in said blog are going to suffer. I also think bloggers will suffer too because of this as they potentially could alienate their most loyal reader due to their guidelines. What I feel needs to happen is a little give and take – if you’re a comper, don’t just join a site because they are hosting a giveaway- perhaps find a blog that writes about your interest and interact with them first! If a blogger can see you are interacting and a loyal reader, then they may not just bunch you in as another freebie hunter. I also think that bloggers perhaps need to keep a closer eye on those commenting on their blogs – one of those loyal commenters may just be a comper!
This is a just an opinion piece that I really felt the need to write after some horrible spats on Twitter – it hasn’t happened just once either. It really saddened me (and other blogger/compers) as I really felt like I didn’t know where I belonged, in the blogging world or in the comping world as both are my hobbies and I have friends in both communities. Whilst not everybody is always going to get on, I think personal attacks are uncalled for and really don’t do anyone any favours.
What are your thoughts on this subject? Are you a blogger who doesn’t let compers enter your giveaways? Are you a comper who loyally reads blogs and feels alienated? Or are you both and not quite sure what to think? I’d like to know!
I think it's okay for compers to enter. I'm a person who enters comps or giveaways and more often than not, I carry on reading and it's a new blog found to read when they post!
It is frustrating when you get a lot of unfollowed people after, because there's no loyalty. I think spamming a blogger to win is not allowed, but I love comps. And I don't think there's a problem with it at all 🙂
Cat – whatcatsays.blogspot.co.uk X
Great points!x
I do reviews and giveaways, I also enter LOTS of competitions. I've never left a blog after entering competitions. . People who enter comps are just as likely to buy a product you review or giveaway. I think its up to the blogger if they want to run a giveaway or not, but I would never specify certain people could not enter. The comping community can give you lots of publicity and bring you lots of followers, don't forget they will have other compers on their fb and twitter page. Use them to get exposure, now thats a clever use of blogging IMHO 🙂
It's nice that you pay for competition prizes, but personally I have never purchased a prize to giveaway for my blog I have contacted companies and they give me prizes for competitions. It would be interesting to know if that would affect bloggers opinions about compers entering if they have the prizes for free
I shall ask around and see what people think 🙂
I love to enter competitions and almost never win 😀 If I´m asked to follow the blog then I think twice is it really a blog I like about. If it is then I will follow and not unfollow 🙂 I have found MANY great blogs trough comps! 🙂 I have actually been thinking bout starting my own blog but I´m too shy to do that .. 😀
Don't be shy – start a blog! xx
I agree with Sian x
I think I only provided one prize for a giveaway, when I first started, the rest have been contributed by companies. I would never exclude anyone from entering competitions, because the company should get as much exposure as possible for their product. Also, though, even if I had paid for the prize myself, I would do that to gain publicity for the blog and attract new readers, so I would then see it as partly my responsibility to make the blog interesting enough for them to stick around! They might intend to only join in with the blog to win, but if it's got content that gets their attention, they will stay anyway. A bit like getting a free sample of a new product, you might not know you like it, but you try the sample (possibly because it's free, lol!) then you find yourself hooked! 🙂
Thanks Lucy, some great points! xxx
I entered comps on blogs before I started a blog but I do however only enter on blogs I feel I will continue to read.
http://www.joannavictoria.co.uk/
Thanks Joanna x
I occasionally enter competitions away from Blogging (unsuccessfully usually) and on Blogs that I like to read. If it isn't a blog I want to read I won't enter the competition as I feel it would be a bit unfair xx
Lots of Love Beautyqueenuk!
Thanks Rachel x
Hey Bex, i think this is a very interesting topic that i haven't seen anyone really talking about. And ppl who only enter giveaways on hundreds of blogs and only appear on mine when there is another one happening really do bother me…
Of course i wont tell them not to enter…but there is still that little voice inside my head saying: oh that's so not fair!
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Thanks Luchessa x
Interesting…I don't think I've ever seen this come up in the book blogging community. What does it matter to me if someone is entering to win a book and not because they love my blog? I am happy that whoever they are have received a free book that they will hopefully love. I do giveaways for a few reasons, promoting my blog isn't the main one. I think if someone wins they are more likely to carry on following too.
Great input, Ellie! x
Thanks for the link 🙂 I had so much more to say than everyone else haha! xx
No problem x
I started reading blogs just because i liked the reviews , then when i knew they (bloggers) also held competitions for makeup and stuff it got me so addicted . I don't have a lot of money to buy the stuff i want. There were patches in which i used to start reading again and then i would go back to just subscribing for the giveaways . I felt guilty because it didn't feel right to me because people are putting so much effort in their blogs, however i never unsubscribed from them . Now i am back to reading blogs and also try to comment and give my ideas on posts as much as possible
Great to hear 🙂 x
Great post!
I actually find new blogs through giveaways/competitions as I always see them on my Twitter feed and when I enter, I continue reading!
(:
Fab, love the opinions here x
This is the first time I've read this post Bex. If bloggers are providing their own prizes and entry figures aren't important (as they might be with a sponsored giveaway) they should consider making it a creative/effort competition tailored to the blog readers – ask them to Vine, Instagram, Pinterest, review, blog – if the readers are genuinely interested in winning that prize, they won't mind putting n a little (fun) effort. That will exclude most compers, who won't want to waste time entering for a small prize – the compers that CAN be bothered are the ones that are likely to continue reading and enjoying the blog.
Thanks for your input, Di!
Hi Bex, I enjoyed this posting – I 'discovered' your & Sarah's sites through a competition that I didn't win but am still here. I'm unemployed & entering comps helps fill the hours & I have won a couple of things which is an added bonus. I've also found some amazing sites run by some terrific (usually) women that have led me to learn more about myself – for instance a comp that I didn't win got me interested in alternative therapies & now I regularly meditate, take yoga classes etc. And I agree with Di above, comps that take a bit of effort ARE more fun & the prize is pretty much incidental. Anyway, keep up the good work!