Comments on: to giveaway, or not to giveaway? http://www.grechenblogs.com/2009/07/to-giveaway-or-not-to-giveaway/ living, blogging, & surviving online Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:40:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Liberty London Girl http://www.grechenblogs.com/2009/07/to-giveaway-or-not-to-giveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-221 Liberty London Girl Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:38:27 +0000 http://www.grechenblogs.com/?p=72#comment-221 Just found yr blog through the link you did to me today (thank you!), and thought I'd chime in on giveaways. I've been offered a lot recently as my blog is growing exponentially. I'd noticed that The Pioneer Woman in her early days did a LOT of giveaways which she actually funded herself and they really helped to build reader loyalty, a sense of community & return visits. So that was my first incentive. 2nd it's pay back for readers and 3 it builds traffic. and frankly if I do four giveaways a mnth and get quadruple traffic for each then that makes a difference to that months traffic, even if it falls away afterwards. But re cost it doesn;t seem to make a difference, I think it;s the the product that matters. I gave away 3 x $80 bottles of luzury bath oil recently and had 110 entries over a week. Last week I gave away 5 x pairs of $30 glvoes & had 110 entries over a Fri afternoon & weekend (trad my lowest traffic days). So who knows? That giveaway also brought in a load of make readers who aren't so common on my blog and mamy have stayed. I only promote through Twitter - but I do have 4300 followers... oh and finally - i'm a one woman band and I aim for 3 x posts today so giveaways, frankly, are very easy no hassle quick posts. (And I'm pretty sure that's why The Pioneer Woman runs so many of them) Just found yr blog through the link you did to me today (thank you!), and thought I'd chime in on giveaways. I've been offered a lot recently as my blog is growing exponentially. I'd noticed that The Pioneer Woman in her early days did a LOT of giveaways which she actually funded herself and they really helped to build reader loyalty, a sense of community & return visits. So that was my first incentive. 2nd it's pay back for readers and 3 it builds traffic. and frankly if I do four giveaways a mnth and get quadruple traffic for each then that makes a difference to that months traffic, even if it falls away afterwards. But re cost it doesn;t seem to make a difference, I think it;s the the product that matters. I gave away 3 x $80 bottles of luzury bath oil recently and had 110 entries over a week. Last week I gave away 5 x pairs of $30 glvoes & had 110 entries over a Fri afternoon & weekend (trad my lowest traffic days). So who knows? That giveaway also brought in a load of make readers who aren't so common on my blog and mamy have stayed. I only promote through Twitter – but I do have 4300 followers… oh and finally – i'm a one woman band and I aim for 3 x posts today so giveaways, frankly, are very easy no hassle quick posts. (And I'm pretty sure that's why The Pioneer Woman runs so many of them)

]]> By: teinby http://www.grechenblogs.com/2009/07/to-giveaway-or-not-to-giveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-76 teinby Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:47:01 +0000 http://www.grechenblogs.com/?p=72#comment-76 thank you! I really liked this post! thank you! I really liked this post!

]]> By: machoman http://www.grechenblogs.com/2009/07/to-giveaway-or-not-to-giveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-75 machoman Sun, 09 Aug 2009 08:40:34 +0000 http://www.grechenblogs.com/?p=72#comment-75 thank you! I really liked this post! thank you! I really liked this post!

]]> By: grechen http://www.grechenblogs.com/2009/07/to-giveaway-or-not-to-giveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-63 grechen Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:10:44 +0000 http://www.grechenblogs.com/?p=72#comment-63 @ann marie - the last point you made is very good - it was one i was trying to make in my post. and it's why i've stopped posting my giveaways on those big giveaway sites. the majority of traffic that comes through those is transitory, but you also never know who you're going to attract that way....and yes, it's very important to work with the blogger to make sure you're on the right page with regard to promotion and goals for the contest. and that their audience are your customers. @ann marie – the last point you made is very good – it was one i was trying to make in my post. and it's why i've stopped posting my giveaways on those big giveaway sites. the majority of traffic that comes through those is transitory, but you also never know who you're going to attract that way….and yes, it's very important to work with the blogger to make sure you're on the right page with regard to promotion and goals for the contest. and that their audience are your customers.

]]> By: grechen http://www.grechenblogs.com/2009/07/to-giveaway-or-not-to-giveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-62 grechen Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:52:39 +0000 http://www.grechenblogs.com/?p=72#comment-62 those are some really great ideas, thanks for sharing them. and although you tend to think that "big" giveaways are best, i agree that only interested people will sign up for $20...excellent point!! those are some really great ideas, thanks for sharing them. and although you tend to think that "big" giveaways are best, i agree that only interested people will sign up for $20…excellent point!!

]]> By: Ann Marie Hodrick http://www.grechenblogs.com/2009/07/to-giveaway-or-not-to-giveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Ann Marie Hodrick Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:34:18 +0000 http://www.grechenblogs.com/?p=72#comment-52 As a jewelry designer, I have given away items to bloggers in hopes of getting more exposure. Even though I thought I had selected the right blogs to give items to, I did not see much increase in website traffic and no increase in sales. I've stopped donating items for giveaways as a result. I would consider it again if a blogger has steps in place to make sure that the giveaway would provide me exposure to the right people and not just the folks who make it a career to enter giveaway contests. As a jewelry designer, I have given away items to bloggers in hopes of getting more exposure. Even though I thought I had selected the right blogs to give items to, I did not see much increase in website traffic and no increase in sales. I've stopped donating items for giveaways as a result.

I would consider it again if a blogger has steps in place to make sure that the giveaway would provide me exposure to the right people and not just the folks who make it a career to enter giveaway contests.

]]> By: Bob http://www.grechenblogs.com/2009/07/to-giveaway-or-not-to-giveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Bob Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:02:00 +0000 http://www.grechenblogs.com/?p=72#comment-51 I hate admit it but I have been on both sides of the fence by doing giveaways and being what I refer to as a giveaway whore. I think giveaways are fun but there are a lot of people who do as little as possible, move on and never come back. The hardest thing I found was to make them stick. Here's the list I use to make more traffic stick. 1. Make my giveaways really fit my niche If I'm promoting a blog about home networking then I would do a router or something that is very targeted 2. Never make the gift to expensive Everyone wants to win a $300 gift but if it's only $20 only people that are interested in your niche are more likely to sign up 3. Make them commit Here's where there's some debate but I find that I get more repeat visitors if they have to sign up for a newsletter or something since I can contact them later. Also an advantage is someone just trying to get entered into contests won't want to get emails so there less likely to enter because they see it as spam. 4. Nofollow tags if I require a comment This is a must since a lot of people will leave a comment for the backlink and don't even care if they win or not. I have found that by following these simple rules I have cut entries by about 50%. The upside is that I seem to have a lot higher retention rate and if they don't come back I still have one more chance to sell them since they signed up for a newsletter. I like the idea of getting a zillion people to your blog really quick but once they get there you need to focus that traffic for your niche. The next idea I'm working on is that once I focus to my niche then I have a lot of left over traffic that is worthless to me. The key is how to monetize that traffic to either trade it for more visitors or make cash for it. Anyhow that's just whats been rattling around in my head. I hate admit it but I have been on both sides of the fence by doing giveaways and being what I refer to as a giveaway whore. I think giveaways are fun but there are a lot of people who do as little as possible, move on and never come back. The hardest thing I found was to make them stick.
Here's the list I use to make more traffic stick.
1. Make my giveaways really fit my niche
If I'm promoting a blog about home networking then I would do a router or something that is very targeted

2. Never make the gift to expensive
Everyone wants to win a $300 gift but if it's only $20 only people that are interested in your niche are more likely to sign up

3. Make them commit
Here's where there's some debate but I find that I get more repeat visitors if they have to sign up for a newsletter or something since I can contact them later. Also an advantage is someone just trying to get entered into contests won't want to get emails so there less likely to enter because they see it as spam.

4. Nofollow tags if I require a comment
This is a must since a lot of people will leave a comment for the backlink and don't even care if they win or not.

I have found that by following these simple rules I have cut entries by about 50%. The upside is that I seem to have a lot higher retention rate and if they don't come back I still have one more chance to sell them since they signed up for a newsletter. I like the idea of getting a zillion people to your blog really quick but once they get there you need to focus that traffic for your niche. The next idea I'm working on is that once I focus to my niche then I have a lot of left over traffic that is worthless to me. The key is how to monetize that traffic to either trade it for more visitors or make cash for it. Anyhow that's just whats been rattling around in my head.

]]> By: jennine http://www.grechenblogs.com/2009/07/to-giveaway-or-not-to-giveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-50 jennine Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:25:07 +0000 http://www.grechenblogs.com/?p=72#comment-50 i like doing giveaways because they are fun for my readers, but yeah, the traffic doesn't stay, and aside from a few of them, they don't really bring much traffic at all. and to tell the truth, i'm getting a little giveaway fatique... i like doing giveaways because they are fun for my readers, but yeah, the traffic doesn't stay, and aside from a few of them, they don't really bring much traffic at all. and to tell the truth, i'm getting a little giveaway fatique…

]]> By: Ashe Mischief http://www.grechenblogs.com/2009/07/to-giveaway-or-not-to-giveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Ashe Mischief Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:56:17 +0000 http://www.grechenblogs.com/?p=72#comment-49 I do have giveaways, and it's something I love to do when the timing is right-- typically as a marker for a special occasion (such as my 2 yr anniversary of blogging, the launch of my etsy shop, etc.). From a blogger standpoint, I like to do giveaways because it's nice to give something back-- both to support a brand I love and to . It's nice to use it to reach out to new people, to get a boost in hits, but it's ultimately not the reason I choose to do it. I think when a product is exciting, as a contestant, I'm exhilarated to enter a giveaway. The anticipation is fun. On the other hand, since I make hairpieces & have an etsy shop, I'm not opposed to doing a giveaway. It's a great way to introduce my products to others who may like them, to show support of bloggers I love-- since I am so small, it's a matter of finding a good match, naturally. I do have giveaways, and it's something I love to do when the timing is right– typically as a marker for a special occasion (such as my 2 yr anniversary of blogging, the launch of my etsy shop, etc.). From a blogger standpoint, I like to do giveaways because it's nice to give something back– both to support a brand I love and to . It's nice to use it to reach out to new people, to get a boost in hits, but it's ultimately not the reason I choose to do it. I think when a product is exciting, as a contestant, I'm exhilarated to enter a giveaway. The anticipation is fun.

On the other hand, since I make hairpieces & have an etsy shop, I'm not opposed to doing a giveaway. It's a great way to introduce my products to others who may like them, to show support of bloggers I love– since I am so small, it's a matter of finding a good match, naturally.

]]> By: grechen http://www.grechenblogs.com/2009/07/to-giveaway-or-not-to-giveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-48 grechen Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:09:28 +0000 http://www.grechenblogs.com/?p=72#comment-48 i totally agree - i just think there's a lot of expectation lately that giveaways should result in significant traffic increases and attract more loyal visitors - now, it's more important imo to get beyond the expectations and start doing giveaways again just for the fun of doing them... i totally agree – i just think there's a lot of expectation lately that giveaways should result in significant traffic increases and attract more loyal visitors – now, it's more important imo to get beyond the expectations and start doing giveaways again just for the fun of doing them…

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