This year I turn the big 4-0 (I am cringing and hiding at the thought)! Since there is nothing I can do about it, I have decided to make my big birthday into an event here on the hill. I want to organize my first giveaway to coincide with the big event. Basically a scenario where I have to have the birthday but I would like others to benefit from my crazy day! :-D
But I need your help with several things- please! It doesn't matter if you have never had a give away on your blog but if you have then I have even more questions for you.
First, I have to fund the entire giveaway on my own. While I would love to give away say an Ipad, well I cannot afford to buy one at the moment. I have a few ideas for the giveaway and I am wondering if everyone could tell me what they think (which ideas do you like and why and which ideas do you not like as well and why). Here they are:
1. A pamper yourself giveaway: handmade soaps, bubble bath or bath bombs, maybe a bath pillow, thick lotions, etc.
2. A Reading and relaxing giveaway: A gift card to a book store, some chocolates, nice bookmarks, etc.
3. A gardening basket: some gardening hand tools, some seeds for flowers, maybe a gardening book, gloves, hand soap and lotion for gardening.
4. Movie Night: a gift card for a movie rental or maybe an actual movie, popcorn, some theater box candy, etc
5. Something else-- what other suggestions do you have? What great giveaways have you entered for or given away?
If you have had a giveaway on your blog before, where are the best places to advertise it? From where did you get the most traffic? What program did you use for the giveaway- please simple to use is high priority here! Any other piece of advice that you wished someone else had shared with you about giveaways?
I hope that we can all learn from this so please share your advice!
Thank you for visiting me here on the hill and come back soon.
But I need your help with several things- please! It doesn't matter if you have never had a give away on your blog but if you have then I have even more questions for you.
First, I have to fund the entire giveaway on my own. While I would love to give away say an Ipad, well I cannot afford to buy one at the moment. I have a few ideas for the giveaway and I am wondering if everyone could tell me what they think (which ideas do you like and why and which ideas do you not like as well and why). Here they are:
1. A pamper yourself giveaway: handmade soaps, bubble bath or bath bombs, maybe a bath pillow, thick lotions, etc.
2. A Reading and relaxing giveaway: A gift card to a book store, some chocolates, nice bookmarks, etc.
3. A gardening basket: some gardening hand tools, some seeds for flowers, maybe a gardening book, gloves, hand soap and lotion for gardening.
4. Movie Night: a gift card for a movie rental or maybe an actual movie, popcorn, some theater box candy, etc
5. Something else-- what other suggestions do you have? What great giveaways have you entered for or given away?
If you have had a giveaway on your blog before, where are the best places to advertise it? From where did you get the most traffic? What program did you use for the giveaway- please simple to use is high priority here! Any other piece of advice that you wished someone else had shared with you about giveaways?
I hope that we can all learn from this so please share your advice!
Thank you for visiting me here on the hill and come back soon.
Everyone loves giveaways! I don't even think they care what it is or if they even need it. It's all about winning, right? I haven't had a giveaway (yet) but I've entered many. Twitter works great for that, plus allowing extra entries for posting on Twitter and Facebook seem to be really popular.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Thanks for the encouragement! I just keep thinking that I need to get my behind in gear here soon before I have to hit panic mode to get it done. I will definitely use twitter and facebook too-- so many things to think of.
ReplyDeletei love a giveaway but i especially love smelly things or money lol!!! My most successful giveaway i think was umm... I can't even remember to be honest probably one of my earlier ones would have been amazing!
ReplyDeleteI think the reading/relaxation giveaway sounds nice. That's my pick!
ReplyDeletePersonally, my preferences would be #2 or #4. Everybody loves entertainment, but they don't always have the extra money to treat themselves to it.
ReplyDeleteI think that any sort of gift card would be a great idea. Many people have allergies to different scents and foods, but I have not yet heard of anyone who is allergic to money! And good for you for embracing 40! I stayed in bed at 30 and 35 and wouldn't speak to anyone. I will probably do the same at 40!
ReplyDeleteFor me I hate to ship things so I am all for gift cards or something that can be ordered online and shipped directly to them. I am new to blogging I am have several of the same kind of questions, so thanks for asking them!
ReplyDeleteI am so grateful for everyone's input. Yesterday I sat here trying to think of everything and the shipping part came into my head. I don't mind shipping things but the cost can be outrageous! We ship things to my sister and niece in North Carolina and am always shocked at what a small box costs to get there.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was to give away something I would enjoy-- that is where I came up with the ideas as they are all stuff I love to do. Relaxation was kind of the key word in all of it. But then I worried about what if someone didn't like what I like?
Your thoughts and ideas have been awesome- thank you all!
Gift cards are always a hot item. Going with a merchant like Amazon allows a winner a lot of flexibility.
ReplyDeleteI've never done a give away as I wasn't sure how. I'd say a gift card would be great. Mind you I wouldn't mind any. Best of luck
ReplyDeleteI've done a lot of giveaways, and I can tell you that a smaller prize often gets just as much attention as a huge one like an iPad. Since you're self-funding, gift cards are much cheaper to ship. While a gift basket would rock, think about how much it will cost you to mail it on top of the money you spend to make it. Also, if you have a theme in mind, try pitching on Profnet or Reporter Connection. Even if you only get one sponsor, that's one less item that you have to buy.
ReplyDeleteAs for the ideas you have listed, I would love any one of those! I especially love the pampering package and the reading one. Good luck!
I agree completely- go with a gift card because that will be the cheapest to ship.
DeleteGood luck!
-Viva recently posted Homemade Pizza Dough
Happy Happy Birthday!! and i like the ideas you gave.... :D
ReplyDeleteI love all your ideas. The giveaway doesn't need to be big.
ReplyDeleteWe've hosted a few giveaways on our blog. We found a giveaway directory (http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/) and posted it there as well as our regular link up parties. We've given away custom crafts and crafting supplies (we're a craft blog). Good luck with your giveaway and happy early birthday!
Happy 40th! I am saving money right now for my big 50 birthday coming in 2013. I would definitely recommend using Rafflecopter.com, this will make your giveaway **simple** and easy to manage. I have done several giveaways manually (before Rafflecopter came on the scene) and they were so time consuming. I think you should consider giving away a gift card to Amazon, that is always a big hit. And you should giveaway $40 in lieu of your birthday. Hey, that's a good idea. I should do that at my own blog. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome idea! I love giveaways and enter tons LOL but have never hosted one yet!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! I'm always a fan of anything gardening or reading related :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea I think gift cards because then, the person can use it for what they want. The last time I had a giveaway, I did kitchen tools because, my blog is a food blog. Happy Birthday and enjoy your day.
ReplyDeleteAh 40... I remember. Good idea, the giveaway! Below I copied and pasted my post when I turned 50...2 years ago. Here it is:
ReplyDeleteIn forty minutes I will turn 50. I have been anticipating this moment since January 1, 2009. I thought it would somehow make it less traumatic if I were mentally prepared. I may have been wrong.
It's not that it's hard in a wringing my hands or gnashing my teeth sort of way. Nor am I crying or dreading the moment the clock strikes midnight...I simply don't know where the time went.
It seems as if something memorable should happen as the hands pass over the 12 on the clock...fireworks; a beam of light shining down from the sky, or a hallowed rendition of the Hallelujah chorus, however, my guess is that as I watch the hands slowly, but steadily move to 12:01, I will neither hear nor see anything differently taking place except for a few "Happy Birthdays" and "I love yous" from the ones I love.
As I sit here waiting, watching and saying goodbye to the 40s, I ponder the many things I remember from my childhood, things that seem as if they took place last year instead of decades ago. I guess that's how it was meant to be...the steadiness of time passing, not significantly so, but significantly nonetheless.
I remember having a conversation with my grandmother when she was in her 70s. She told me she still felt like she was 18 years old...on the inside. How can one grow older in such a visible manner and remain the same on the 'inside'? It's spiritual in nature and that it why it is what it is, a simple, gently passing of time.
Happy Bday. I would love any of those ideas. Another would be something with chocolate, lots of chocolate. lol
ReplyDeleteI hope you get a chance to visit my post for this blog event - I talk about getting things for free to give away. I really think you should try and approach someone to see if they'll sponsor your giveaway.
ReplyDeleteAs to where to link it up, prizey.com and this list of linkys have been great for me: http://savingslifestyle.com/2009/02/list-for-giveaway-hostlinky-sites/
I have never tried a giveaway but would like to try too! I would say a gift card would be a great thing to do.
ReplyDeleteHappy early birthday! I think the idea of a giveaway event sounds great! I think you should do a theme you enjoy...since it is your birthday being celebrated. Have you thought about trying to get sponsors for the event? That's how I get most of the products I giveaway on my blog.
ReplyDeleteFor traffic, I submit my giveaways to Online-Sweepstakes.com, GiveawayPromote.com, and several "linkys". I use the list of giveaway linkys provided by a fellow blogger: http://musingsfromasahm.com/linky-list/
I think a gift card would be great. But I think everybody loves giveaways so really it could be anything. I've never done a giveaway before.
ReplyDeleteI post my giveaways on my blog and also on my facebook page.
ReplyDelete:)
Lisa
Gift cards are always welcome. I don't do giveaways, so I really have no advice.
ReplyDeleteI am going to be the big 4-0 this year too. :(
I have yet to do a giveaway. I think a gift card idea sounds cool. There are so many different cool shops online, I'm sure you could find somewhere unique.
ReplyDeleteBtw, how thoughtful of you to think of giving to someone else for your Birthday. :)
I like #2 and #4, more for your sake as the giver. WE all love giveaways but trust me, if you are mailing it out... light weight and smaller items are the way to go!
ReplyDeleteI like all of your giveaway ideas. I they all seem like really good ideas. Hope you have a great birthday and giveaway.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful birthday. I've never done a giveaway but I'd love to get #1 or #2!
ReplyDeleteI am working on my first event as well. I am self sponsoring it too. I am in Direct Sales and I can offer you a GC if you like from one of my companies it just depends on which package you pick as to what I can offer you.
ReplyDeleteI personally like the reading and relaxing giveaway. They are all fantastic ideas though!
ReplyDeletechocolate. or movies! what a nice gesture!!
ReplyDeletehappy birthday!!!!!
www.mamalovesherbargains.com
I cannot thank all of you enough for all the awesome advice and help. I plan on sitting down the middle of March and getting all my plans into place. My birthday is in April so I have a bit of time (although these months are flying by at an alarming rate). This seems overwhelming but then so did blogging when I first started.
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait to see how this first giveaway goes-- Make sure you stop back in April so you can register to win!!
I would LOVE the book store gift card or an Amazon gift card. Good luck and Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteAll the giveaway ideas are great! I am doing a giveaway right now and I am using rafflecopter. So far I have had the most traffic for it from online sweepstakes.
ReplyDeleteI love all your giveaway ideas. I've found that I get the most entries when I include a gift certificate - even if it's just $5 to amazon. I use rafflecopter for almost all my giveaways now (and will probably be exclusively using them in the future) they are so easy to use and all you need to do is press a button and it randomly selects your winner rather than having to go to random.org and do it. I also had a link of a bunch of giveaway Linkys and every day I'd advertise on the sites that had a linky posted that day of the week. It might be a bit outdated, but it did help me get more traffic http://savingslifestyle.com/2009/02/list-for-giveaway-hostlinky-sites/
ReplyDeleteThe pamper yourself giveaway is my favorite! I suck at promoting giveaways on my site, so I am not much help there. Good luck!
ReplyDeletePrintable Decor
Saved By Love Creations
My giveaways have all been books that I already had, so my only expense was the $2.50 for shipping. I'd recommend a gift card.
ReplyDeleteI've used several methods for giveaways. Comments (wouldn't recommend that because it doesn't look like you have numbered comments - you don't want to count to find comment #72), PunchTab (I thought this slowed the page down too much, also it relies on Facebook and not everyone has a fb account), Google Forms (this *can* be simple, but depending on whether you have entries for following, tweeting, etc, you'll have to count just as you do with comments). Now I'm using Rafflecopter and I love it. Easy to use. Easy to install. Easy to pick a winner.
Happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteI suggest money. You can send it via paypal. With money giveaway you don't have to worry about shipping thus you can invite different participants around the world.
I like anything on giveaways, but my favorite you have listed is number 3. It kinda goes with the coming of spring, new growth and your growth into the 40's. lol I can joke, I was just there a couple years ago. Forty used to seem so old .....
ReplyDeleteI use Rafflecopter for my giveaway and it makes the entire process so much easier. I used to do comments but it was so difficult to pick a winner and notify them. Rafflecopter makes that so much easier.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that giveaways are somewhat tricky. They might boost traffic momentarily but I have found that the traffic doesn't stick. That is why I called off giveaways on my blog until my traffic grew. Now, the response is so much better, promotion is easier, and the stress is less. Have fun!
The giveaways that do well on my blog are usually Amazon GC or Paypal options that are open World Wide. No mandatory entries always do the best, so I try to do that as often as possible. You could ask your blog readers to contribute for entry options too. Like $1 per social media link as an entry. Raise enough, and you could buy something big to giveaway or just give away the cash.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea a giveaway. I like your #3 & #4. I love movies and I love to garden. Spring is almost here and that would be a great prize. How can I sign up for this lovely prize? Have a beautiful day!!
ReplyDeleteI vote for Amazon gift certificates! Also I can recommend rafflecopter, too. Great program. Makes giveaways so easy, I actually look forward to having a giveaway now.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you have already gotten lots of great advice! I don't do giveaways often on my blog, but when I do, I use Random Number Generator to choose the winner. Just be sure to require that all who enter leave an email address, or you could have a winner and no way to contact them. Not that I'd know anything about that. :)
ReplyDeletesuzy
Pamper yourself giveaway sounds fun. If you google giveaway linkys, there are probably 1000's of blogs you can advertise your giveaway on!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I want the bath giveaway, but that has to do with the number of sore muscles I currently have!
ReplyDeleteAs for another idea, maybe a gift certificate to your favorite online store than may not be in the norm? Like an etsy store or one for garden seeds. I love finding out about favorite places from bloggers and getting a chance to try it out.
What a fun idea! Like someone said earlier, giftcards are easy to ship, and people can get what they like with them. Or you could let people choose what they want, and get it after the fact.
ReplyDeleteI have some great places to list giveaways here http://frugallygreenmom.com/current-giveaways
An i love rafflecopter for doing my giveaways!
As a sweepstakes blogger, I can tell you my readers love Rafflecopter. I'm a pretty good place to advertise too! http://www.sweepstakesmama.com
ReplyDeleteI don't think it matters what you giveaway! But gift cards are easy and cheap to send if you have to cover the cost. Rafflecopter is a great tool to use since it's really easy for the entrants (and you too). Why not pitch some companies that you love and see if they will provide an item...you'd be surprised what you can get. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteWendy
Around My Family Table
I think the gift cards would be the most popular (and easiest to ship). I haven't done a giveaway before. Best of luck to you with yours!
ReplyDeleteAnd happy birthday! :)
Those all sound great! :) I would sign up for any of them.
ReplyDeleteI recently won a giveaway and the blogger asked if I wanted a hard copy gift card mailed to me, or just an e-card. I felt bad asking her to physically make a trip to buy a gift-card! So an e-card it was, which was easy to receive AND use. I just read an older article on Problogger about giveaways that was interesting. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI've hosted a few giveaways - some more popular than others. I would recommend offering something that can be emailed so you don't get stung with postage charges - it also means you can have the giveaway open worldwide. And dont have too many rules and conditions! Make it easy for people to enter! Have fun with it!
ReplyDeleteHi there! I turn 40 this year as well :) I love to read, so that'd perk me up to enter a giveaway but I liked all your ideas!
ReplyDeleteI remember turning 40. I hope yours is a great memory.
ReplyDeleteStart pitching sponsors. You'll be surprised at the response. Take the "no's" not as rejection, but as an opportunity to write down something in your life that you remember or goal set for the next decade. You are great and it will show!
I haven't posted a giveaway, but it seems like those who have contributed some good advice. One website that I do go to has giveaways fairly often, or posts for other to link to. www.moneysavingmom.com You might take a look to see if it is a sight that would draw a similar crowd to what you are looking for.
ReplyDeleteI've done quite a few giveaways on my blog, but they're always books because I have a blog with book reviews.
ReplyDeleteI don't like to give away a giftcard because it's almost like giving away money (not quite). I don't mind receiving a gift card but I much more love winning an actual prize.
I like to give away things that *I* like so I usually offer a choice of books (e.g., my 4 favorite books from the last year), let the winner choose one of these, and then order it for the them from an online store. You could do the same with other items (and so you can control what the cost is going to be - including postage).
I find it more personable that way, but of course, it's all up to you.
A last point: be clear on whether your giveaway is for your country only or international. I only know bookdepository.com who send with free postage to many countries; you'd have to check postage if you wanted to include other readers than just your country.
Good luck! Judith of Leeswammes' Blog
I cannot believe all the awesome advice I have been getting-- I am very glad that I decided to make this my post for the 100 comments event! I am really excited to start going through everyone's advice and doing a bit more research. I am still going through the other blogs to comment on so I haven't been able to focus as much attention as I would like to on this. It is in next weeks plans!
ReplyDeleteI think all these comments and advice will also help anyone else who is hoping to start offering give aways on their blog as well.
So a HUGE THANK YOU! To everyone for their fantastic ideas, thoughts, advice--
Movie night sounds so fun! I would love to win something like that and use it for a date night with my husband!
ReplyDeleteI like the pamper yourself and movie night ideas. OnlineSweepstakes has a section for blog sweeps/giveaways. Happy Birthday! Easy2Save
ReplyDeleteAs for what program to use for the giveaway - Rafflecopter! It is so easy to create your giveaway, easy for people to enter, and easy for you to pick a winner. It is all I use for my giveaways.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely use Rafflecopter and make one of the requirements that people tweet about the giveaway, that really helps spread the word! Personally, I think it would be better for you to do giftcards because once you package up those baskets, you'll have to ship them and that will get costly, esp. if you open it up to Canada and the rest of the world. Good luck and happy birthday.
ReplyDeleteI've never had a giveaway myself, and don't know anything about setting one up, but any of those gifts sound absolutely wonderful to me! Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteWhat about a $10 starbucks card, you don't want to put your own money into it too much. Sign up for rafflecopter... a great place to start getting products to review is Tomoson.com don't apply for a ton at once because you may get approved for them all and then be overwhelmed having to write them all =) good luck
ReplyDeleteAs a lover of books and chocolate, I think your "Reading and Relaxing" prize sounds great! You could include your favorite book.
ReplyDeleteI think any of the prizes you listed would be awesome! prizey.net is a great place to advertise, as well as other blogs! Lots of blogs have a link up, most run weekly.
ReplyDeleteI love giveaways and blog about giveaways as well. In order to not fund it yourself you could always get a group together that pays a smalll amount towards the purchase of the prize, and that way everyone can advertise it to their fan bases on top of your own :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure others have already mentioned this, but the easiest and best way to run the giveaway is with Rafflecopter. (www.rafflecopter.com) This entry form is what I use for EVERY giveaway I host on my site, and I host a lot of them. It makes running a giveaway really easy, easy to collect entries, easy to select the winner.
ReplyDeleteYou Definitely want to promote it on Facebook and twitter. If you have blogging communities ask for help sharing the giveaway with other.
As one of the entry options in rafflecopter you can allow the readers an extra entry for sharing the giveaway on Facebook or twitter, etc. That helps get the giveaway promoted too.
If you visit my blog, on the right tab down a bit I have a few links of where I promote my giveaways that helps bring in quite a bit of traffic too! www.jadelouisedesigns.com
Good luck with the giveaway! And Happy Birthday!!
I agree with the comment 'people love free things' it doesn't matter what it is.
ReplyDeleteI like the pampering and reading. Think about how much it will cost to ship, shipping is expensive. Many sites have giveaway "Linky"s where you can post your giveaway. When choosing a winner, I have the entrants comment on the post and then go to random.org and have it generate the winning number for me.
ReplyDeleteLove all the ideas you have! If you had the means to, you could do multiple prize packs. So like one winner gets the book basket, one the garden basket, one the movie basket. Multiple winners always draws in more entries!
ReplyDeleteI also suggest using Rafflecopter for your entries!!
Happy birthday!
I haven't hosted a giveaway on my blog yet but I want to later this month so I will be needing that advice too! I personally love gift cards and crafting/gardening supplies sound cool too! Congrats on turning 40 soon!
ReplyDeleteIf you have had a giveaway on your blog before, where are the best places to advertise it? Twitter-using popular hash tags, Facebook, Blog hops, listing on giveaway sites.
ReplyDeleteFrom where did you get the most traffic? Blog hops.
What program did you use for the giveaway- please simple to use is high priority here! Rafflecopter
Any other piece of advice that you wished someone else had shared with you about giveaways? Make them easy for ytour self and for the entrant.
I love gift cards (Walmart or Amazon) or cash. Since I can't have the food listed and I'm particular about what book I read and movie I watch and personal care spa stuff I use.