Competitions Discussion Thread Part 2

furndire

dengolby wrote: »

A little while ago I posted a competition hosted by Healthy Soul. This was an email comp asking for the answer to a question which I supplied.

Today I received this email.

"We are pleased you have promoted the Healthy Soul competition on moneysavingexpert.com. However, would you mind removing the suggested answer (if you can do this). The idea of the competition is to get people to go to the website but by giving the answer they have no need."

"Recommending the competition is great, but taking a chunk of our website is infringing copyright so would you mind when doing it again just giving the website address and saying what the prizes are."

I have edited my post as requested but I don't know whether to feel chastened or not.

What do you guys think?

Its much more polite than a previous site owner was. Its just unfortunate it was you posted ~ could easily have been someone else, as that is what we do everytime we post a comp.
I can understand where they are coming from, as it is expensive for a small company to set up a website. They would be far better if they had an entry form on the site, instead of sending an email. At least then you have to register on the site to enter ~ after all, that is what they want out of the comps.
I must admit, I do think it is polite to go on to sites to enter, even just to click on the email addresses ~ as it is giving something back to their site (but of what value, I don't know).

catz747

divadee wrote: »

just to let you regulars know i am off on my summer hols tomorrow morning. I have had a clear up of the board, but obviously i wont be around to move the closed comps etc... over until monday 27th august.


Be good and have fun whilst im away

Have a great time :wave:

chocoholic123

The comps that link to http://www.greatcompetitions.co.uk are they dodgy - coz hey look it. There are loads of them about now, but i've only noticed them recently. Eg http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=529091 Most are posted by abbo109

Like this one: http://www.greatcompetitions.co.uk/admin/comp_login.asp?pg=mcn&id=24
Looks like a MCN comp, but doesn't actually appear on the REAL MCN web pages.

Loquax_Company_Representative

it is giving something back to their site (but of what value, I don't know)

The value is that you're taking the time to visit the promoter's website and checking what kind of site they are, what they do etc. Often, especially with email comps, it's easy to just fire off your details and not know who you've actually sent them too.

Whilst posting comps (or listing them as we do) advertises a site to some degree, they do need real visitors and (in a lot of cases) customers. You could argue you're joining their mailing list for example, but often the siteowners don't run one or the comper is using a specific email for comps to avoid marketing emails!

So taking the time to visit the promoters, and searching their site for answers if the comps ask for it, is imo the least a comper should be doing.

With regards to the Healthy Soul stuff, it's a polite request and fair enough imo. We've had sites threaten to sue us for just linking to their competitions - not sure whether they would/could, but it's not worth the effort worrying about it or arguing when it's much easier just to hit the delete button.

Jason

Loquax_Company_Representative

comps that link to http://www.greatcompetitions.co.uk are they dodgy

No, that's just the site that the publishers of MCN post all their comps now

chocoholic123

loquax wrote: »

No, that's just the site that the publishers of MCN post all their comps now

Thanks for letting me know, i was just being weary.

Cheeky_Chicken

furndire wrote: »

Its much more polite than a previous site owner was. Its just unfortunate it was you posted ~ could easily have been someone else, as that is what we do everytime we post a comp.
I can understand where they are coming from, as it is expensive for a small company to set up a website. They would be far better if they had an entry form on the site, instead of sending an email. At least then you have to register on the site to enter ~ after all, that is what they want out of the comps.
I must admit, I do think it is polite to go on to sites to enter, even just to click on the email addresses ~ as it is giving something back to their site (but of what value, I don't know).

I agree. I always visit the site for email comps, and have a nosey around, even if the person who's posted the comp puts all the email details in their post (unless they don't include a link to the site of course)

I think the problem in this case was that people were entering the comp from the post on here and never visiting the site at all. I agree with furndire - 'twould be better to have a form on the site rather than email entry, that way they know they'll get increased traffic.

claner

If Loq**x don't like you or if you don't post on their forum they just block you from their site.

monsieur_epargnant

OMG. My Big Brother subtitle is now in this week's top 10!!

I won't tell you which one it is as that would break the new forum rules regarding this kind of 'vote for my entry' comp. But please have a look and vote anyway as it's a bit of fun and I could really win a new mobile. Be excited with me even!?!

http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/bigbrother/subtitlesuperstar/index.php

victoriaplum1

I just wondered how do the companies who run the comps pick the winners, years ago it used to be a postcard out of the hat thing but nowadays is it all done by random selection on a computer database? Does anyone know? Reason I ask is that I have seen some fabulous eye catching postcards but dont wanna waste my money if most companies dont select via the 'old fashioned' way anymore.