Entering sweepstakes can help you win huge prizes—a new home makeover, a trip to a beautiful island, or a new car—and there are things you can do to help your chances. Here are 10 tips to help you win big.
- Create a new email address.
No one wants to end up with a bunch of spam in their inbox. Nothing is worse than searching for your important emails through a bunch of sweepstakes advertisements. Setting up a new email address keeps your inbox clean and helps you avoid scams. - Enter reputable sweepstakes.
While entering every sweepstakes you come across seems like a great idea, you should only focus your attention on ones by reputable sponsors. Companies such as M&M’s or broadcasting stations such as HGTV often have sweepstakes you can enter that have big prizes, and you don’t have to worry about them being scams. - Don’t expect to win quickly.
Most sweepstakes are open for an extended period of time to allow many entries. While you may feel like giving up, have patience. If you did win the first prize, it could take months for them to inform you. Keep entering and hope for the best. - Enter sweepstakes you want to win.
Entering every sweepstakes you run into can be tempting, but do you need that tractor if you live in an apartment? If you focus on finding and entering sweepstakes with prizes you actually want to win, then you increase your chances of getting something great! - Read the rules before you enter.
Before you enter sweepstakes, be sure to read the rules. Failing to read them before entering can end up being a waste of time, especially when you find out you may not be eligible for the grand prize. Knowing the rules is sure to pay off in the long run. - Don’t get disqualified.
If there are terms in the rules that you don’t understand, send an email to the sponsor of the sweepstakes. Some giveaways require you to be in a particular state or be of a certain age. One of the biggest disqualifiers in some sweepstakes is using a Roboform, which is an application that automatically enters your information. It can save time, but it can disqualify you in some giveaways. - Never count on winning.
If you enter a sweepstakes where you can win a trip to Belize, don’t take off time from work before knowing who won. The chances of you winning the grand prize are not high enough for you to count on getting the trip. This tip goes double for entering sweepstakes with money prizes. Winning would be great, but never plan on it. - Make it easy for sponsors to reach you.
If you win, you want the sponsor to have the ability to reach you. In most cases, if you are unreachable, the grand prize will be passed on to another person. Don’t let all your hard work go to waste because you don’t check your email or answer your phone. - Enter local sweepstakes.
The best way to win is by entering local sweepstakes. These giveaways usually have fewer entries, which increases your chance of winning. You can find local sweepstakes at grocery stores, malls, or even in the newspaper. Just keep an eye out. - Don’t neglect TV giveaways.
Even though local sweepstakes have fewer entries, never discount TV giveaways. The biggest prizes are often given away on television, and most people think the giveaways are so advertised, there’s no way they’d win. Check out talk shows such as Ellen, Steve Harvey, and The Doctors, which all have occasional prizes. Enter and hope for the best!
