There's blind reliance on luck, and then there's strategic planning. When it comes to sweepstakes, there is a way to improve your odds of winning, and all you need to do is inject a bit of science into this game of luck. Here's how.
Instructions
Winning by Design: Increase Your Chances of Winning the Sweepstakes
1. Enter as many contests as you can. It doesn't matter who sponsors it or what prizes are up for grabs. Whether it's cash you stand to win or 50 pounds of jelly beans, it's a freebie and one you could use in some way. If you want to win prizes each time and all the time, enter sweepstakes sponsored by drink companies. These offer a lot of prizes for grabs---if not by the hundreds, then by the thousands. Your winnings could be barbecue sauce, a Samsung 30-inch SlimFit television, an ESPN studio tour package, a wallpaper or a ring tone. Again, who cares if it's a ring tone you win? It's free.
2. Fill out forms clearly and neatly. Do not write in your typical chicken scrawl. Contest organizers are not capable of telepathy. If they cannot read your contact information, how can they get in touch with you?
3. Get a Roboform or any free form filler. This makes it easier for you to go on a sweepstakes-joining spree online. This is where your email addresses will come in handy. When asked for an email address, give out the one you created especially for your sweepstakes effort. Remember, the more you give out your email address, the more attractive you become to unscrupulous advertisers and spammers. Without a new email account, you could find your current email Inbox flooded with offers of riches from Nigeria.
4. Be on the watch for sweepstakes with entry restrictions. The fewer the people eligible to enter, the higher your chances of winning. Some of these restrictions include age, gender or residence.
5. Set your sights on the most difficult sweepstakes to enter. The more difficult it is to join, the less competition you will be faced with. Sometimes, a sweepstakes requires entrants to jump through hoops just to be eligible for the contest. You will be asked to provide codes, answer questions, or fill out a long survey. Believe it or not, this is a cause for celebration, not grousing. With fewer entrants to compete with, you are almost a shoo-in for the winnings.
