Contest posters: title format should be contest name (end date, exclusions if any)

[chococrazy]

I have a suggestion that I posed to the Suggestions forum. But wanted to post it here as well to try to get contest posters to use this title format.

If we include the frequency of entering, as well as the end date, it will really help us find the daily contests.

Thanks to TheGame for suggesting this format, which I like:

[DAILY] Campbell's Veggies Instant Win Contest (ends Mar. 31)

The original thread is here (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=254842)


Examples of other frequencies that we would use would be [WEEKLY], [MONTHLY], [10 ENTRIES], [ONE TIME], etc.

Comments appreciated.

Oct 31/06: title edited to reflect we do not need the frequencies in the title anymore, since we now have the ability to categorize the contests by frequency. Thanks Derek for this change!

[Agent_J]

this should be stickied http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif

[Baia.]

like the idea

[freethebees]

+1

ESPECIALLY the # of times entries are allowed. That's the #1 thing I look for.

[spike-spiegel]

I agree and I think this should be a rule in the Contests forum.

I again want to suggest that there should be a sticky for winners to post they won and a link to the thread instead of bumping really old threads.

[Agent_J]

ESPECIALLY the # of times entries are allowed. That's the #1 thing I look for.
I think the expiry date is more important ;)

[freethebees]

^

Nah, if the page looks sour to me, I don't enter ;)

[chococrazy]

Hopefully people will slowly start using this format. So far I only see two.. one posted by me, one where I PM'd the OP :)

[chococrazy]

OK a few more using the format!

[burnt_toast]

great idea

[TYinYVR]

I will keep my post the same. I always post the name of the contest and everything else inside. It;s a cleaning look then all the (). Don't like it.

I do agree no titles like "Win a Trip to-------" or "Win a NEW CAR" and just the link inside. That is crazy :!: :!:

My posts are with the name and the main rules. People are just lazy and don't read the rules. I always read the rules on the main Sweeps site and other people should do that 2 on any contest they enter.

[HowEver]

This thread should have "Not a Contest link" in its title.

[burnt_toast]

Sticky :!: :!:

[Athios]

May I also suggest people putting the official name of the contest, including the sponser name, instead of the generic "win a trip" type.
Also, if there's space, a short description of the prize would help, especially for websites that offer many contests...

[belfour]

good idea.. should be sticky :arrowu:

[chococrazy]

bump

[Recoil]

Something I've always thought, but never said. :^:

[Ryan]

Makes sense to me. Stickied.

[freethebees]

Why are 75% of the new contest threads not following these rules. Bah. Someone make me a mod of the contests forum so that I can alter the titles of the current ones and keep them up-to-date! It would be a great help to everyone entering the contests!

:)

[chococrazy]

I know. Just search "[Daily]" for the daily ones.. every Monday enter the [Weekly] ones.. and we're set :)

[spike-spiegel]

Why are 75% of the new contest threads not following these rules. Bah. Someone make me a mod of the contests forum so that I can alter the titles of the current ones and keep them up-to-date! It would be a great help to everyone entering the contests!

:)


Like I said, maybe this should be made a rule instead of a suggestion. The forum will much cleaner. :)

[chococrazy]

Alright.. one other suggestion.. once a contest is finished, the original poster edits the title to read [DEAD].

[dcy]

great idea....i'm all for it!


Alright.. one other suggestion.. once a contest is finished, the original poster edits the title to read [DEAD].

[mahjongmaniac]

just noticed this thread....

good :idea:

but i still like to keep my (* [start] - [end] *) style :D

[Spidey]

Great idea

[AnnaBanana]

BUMP.........

People are getting lazy....!

[Enclume]

This thread is a sticky, don't think it needs bumping anymore :P

[aZn_Popcorn]

Great idea :)

[Fyro]

I have a suggestion that I posed to the Suggestions forum. But wanted to post it here as well to try to get contest posters to use this title format.

If we include the frequency of entering, as well as the end date, it will really help us find the daily contests.

Thanks to TheGame for suggesting this format, which I like:

[DAILY] Campbell's Veggies Instant Win Contest (ends Mar. 31)

The original thread is here (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=254842)


Examples of other frequencies that we would use would be [WEEKLY], [MONTHLY], [10 ENTRIES], [ONE TIME], etc.

Comments appreciated.

Just a thought... I for one, like to play certain kinds of contests more than I like others, for example, I like the instant win contests and I like the contests where you play some kind of game and try to get a high score or somthign similar. How about adding a [Instant] as well? that would help me, and I'm sure it would help many others, Just a thought.

[Dark_Danny]

people should rly post when they posted their topic cause most of the old topics start taking the front page and It makes it harder too look for new stuff

[Derek]

people should rly post when they posted their topic cause most of the old topics start taking the front page and It makes it harder too look for new stuff

You can sort by Thread Start Time now:

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=34&daysprune=30&order=desc&sort=dateline

[Devvv]

Not sure if anyone's going to read this but...

Is it possible that we can make a sticky thread about member's wins?

I've been to many contest forums and everyone of them have a thread reserved for posting wins.

By having this thread we can share wins and encourage people who haven't won anything yet that it is possible to win...

[chococrazy]

You can post your comment in the RFD Comments and Suggestions forum. An admin will probably look at it there.

I find that the winners just post in the respective threads. Better than having a single thread for all wins, I think!

[AmberMoon]

Not sure if anyone's going to read this but...

Is it possible that we can make a sticky thread about member's wins?

I've been to many contest forums and everyone of them have a thread reserved for posting wins.

By having this thread we can share wins and encourage people who haven't won anything yet that it is possible to win...

We now have this option, I requested and it was granted and so far its humming along nicely in that thread its in the contest section stickied

[Spidey]

good idea

[lindmar]

good idea


It seems to me there are two threads..

One not a sticky and one a sticky both displaying a mix mash of the same info...

[TYinYVR]

Newbees Read This Thread

[TYinYVR]

ANOTHER THING

Spidey, and other people with

10000 THANK YOU ENTER POSTS

JUST let the REPOSTS DIE. Don't bump them up. And just thank the OP.

If the thread is a repost don't post thank you.

LIKE THIS MORNING Spidey bumps up a thread that has repost in the title.

[chinchillables]

I agree... it will help people to notice whether or not it's too late to enter one from the jump so they don't waste time bothering with it otherwise.

[kcotoulas]

ANOTHER THING

Spidey, and other people with

10000 THANK YOU ENTER POSTS

JUST let the REPOSTS DIE. Don't bump them up. And just thank the OP.

If the thread is a repost don't post thank you.

LIKE THIS MORNING Spidey bumps up a thread that has repost in the title.

Spidey strikes again this morning

[TYinYVR]

You should also post the website or the brand in the title.

If it's a COKE contest POST Coke "Win a IPhone or whatever" Contest.

Most people would search COKE It just makes it a lot easier to show up when people SEARCH for a contest.

And the search on RFD is not Google!!! Or anything close to Google. Search one word are a time. It gives you the best results. Search the website or the main Prize.

[dmont08]

You should also post the website or the brand in the title.

If it's a COKE contest POST Coke "Win a IPhone or whatever" Contest.

Most people would search COKE It just makes it a lot easier to show up when people SEARCH for a contest.

And the search on RFD is not Google!!! Or anything close to Google. Search one word are a time. It gives you the best results. Search the website or the main Prize.

And actually, just to comment on the "not google" comment, for a more comprehensive search for the site, go to Google and type "site:redflagdeals.com Enter whatever keywords you are looking for.

I usually find it difficult to find specific threads by using the sites search engine, and also the 30 second delay between searches gets annoying at times.

A little off topic I know, but its just another helpful way to search the site efficently.

[TYinYVR]

Can people post the Title contest and the website in the title of the thread!!

Makes it easier to search for a contest and it will cut down on the reposts!!

[AmberMoon]

Can people post the Title contest and the website in the title of the thread!!

Makes it easier to search for a contest and it will cut down on the reposts!!

Contest name should be sufficient, otherwise you could end up with a very very long title and no room for the other information needed to glance at the title and decide whether or not to click on the link.

Might have to search several criteria's ( url, title ect ) or have a repost and have others catch it and tell you as you do. RFD is not equipped to have a flawless contest section so reposts will always happen.

[iszazial1]

Thanks

[thewerd]

Thanks!

[vilmark]

Im fairly new a posting contests, but honestly this thread makes it easy, every newbie should read this.

[TYinYVR]

Post the website name or the company sponsoring the contest in the title makes it a lot easier to find the contest. NOT "JUST" the title of the contest.

[heckifiknow]

I have to say that I sooo appreciate it when the title also states it is a Facebook, Twitter or Blog contest. Drives me crazy to open the contest post just to discover it is one of these types of contests.

[eunoia]

I will keep my post the same. I always post the name of the contest and everything else inside. It;s a cleaning look then all the (). Don't like it.

I do agree no titles like "Win a Trip to-------" or "Win a NEW CAR" and just the link inside. That is crazy :!: :!:

My posts are with the name and the main rules. People are just lazy and don't read the rules. I always read the rules on the main Sweeps site and other people should do that 2 on any contest they enter.

I disagree with your using "QC OK", since others are now starting to adopt it. If the form is "exclusions if any" there would only need to be NO QC in the title when appropriate.

Thread titles can be altered by clicking "Edit Post" then "Go Advanced".

[jamesfitzgibbon]

PLEASE post Facebook in the title so I don't waste my time.

Also, soooooooo many incorrectly started threads - no dates, no names of prizes or sponsors, etc. :(

[TYinYVR]

Please put the website/company name in the titles or the thread

SEARCH for the WEBSITE/companys AND Nothing Comes up

[WandaJean]

sorry for errors made, I have not been contesting much these days...hope you can forgive me:)

[jamesfitzgibbon]

no one's following the posting rules - and because I'm an old fart this is annoying me >:(

:(

[vilmark]

no one's following the posting rules - and because I'm an old fart this is annoying me >:(

:(


you and me both buddy. (does that mean im old too)

[apachekeith]

you and me both buddy. (does that mean im old too)

Apparently I'm old too.
Too many of these blog contests & such. It's getting annoying.

[pickmepickme]

Apparently I'm old too.
Too many of these blog contests & such. It's getting annoying.


I'm really old and very annoyed.

I tried to "block" posts by one person who puts up a lot of contests that I'm not interested in, but I still get her contests on the page. Apparently, the block only erases the "contents" of her posts, but not the post itself.

It would be really nice if the block could be reprogrammed to block any post "started" by the people you don't want to see.

:confused:

[alpen]

Is it me or is the search function really bad lately? When I first started in December I used to find posted contests easily...now even key words don't come up.

[Monkeybone]

Is it me or is the search function really bad lately? When I first started in December I used to find posted contests easily...now even key words don't come up.

I've noticed this lately as well. Several contests I've posted recently I used key words that were in the title of the OP's title and the search function did not bring them up. I'm noting a lot more "merged" files lately.

[jamesfitzgibbon]

I've noticed this lately as well. Several contests I've posted recently I used key words that were in the title of the OP's title and the search function did not bring them up. I'm noting a lot more "merged" files lately.

myself as well.

I actually reposted (!!! - sorry, Mark) because my search did not yield the results I expected. As such, I am not posting contests for a bit.

[vilmark]

theres been a lot of issues with people not finding contests when they search. I find it easiest to do two or 3 searches with just single words eg. Jeld-wen windows contest. i would search Jeld and then windows and then Jeld-wen. but ive attached a pic to show which search feature to use to make it easier if you use this one it will only seach contests as opposed to all of rfd.

http://i.imgur.com/FergI.jpg

[WHO]

PLEASE post Facebook in the title so I don't waste my time.

Also, soooooooo many incorrectly started threads - no dates, no names of prizes or sponsors, etc. :(

We should really find a "standard" for posting "social media" contests.
Some people have stared using FB for facebook which I appreciate a lot, TWIT could be fine too, or just SM for "social media".
Whichever we adopt, I agree we need this in the posting rules.

But, I also agree a LOT of people haven't been following the posting rules lately.

Don't need to be that old to be bothered by it, either ;)

[jamesfitzgibbon]

We should really find a "standard" for posting "social media" contests.
Some people have stared using FB for facebook which I appreciate a lot, TWIT could be fine too, or just SM for "social media".
Whichever we adopt, I agree we need this in the posting rules.

But, I also agree a LOT of people haven't been following the posting rules lately.

Don't need to be that old to be bothered by it, either ;)

;)

[ishfish]

PLEASE post Facebook in the title so I don't waste my time.

Also, soooooooo many incorrectly started threads - no dates, no names of prizes or sponsors, etc. :(

I agree that Facebook or Twitter should be in the title. Besides look at james' avatar - I would not want to mess with that guy.

[alpen]

Twit? I propose TW.

I would also propose NOT using SM. Like many others I'm sure, I use FB but not TW and would like that distinction in the title. The whole point is avoid target specific contests. Here's what I see as useful in a title:

FB
TW
region specific exclusion or inclusions (although im guilty of not always searching for quebec specifically)
Vote

[bolthead]

Don't forget to add No QC in the subject line (as per this thread title)! Thanks.

[VitoAuditore]

Right so we keep the end date, excluding and number of participation in the title!

Thanks!

[alpen]

Can I ask what is the general consensus regarding posting contests that have no online entry form....like an in store event contest or mail in entry only contest?

[vilmark]

Can I ask what is the general consensus regarding posting contests that have no online entry form....like an in store event contest or mail in entry only contest?

mail in im okay with but, the in store ones kinda seem pointless unless its a chainwide one. Just my opinion.

[gbamber]

If the RFD powers-that-be are reading this, can you please add a category to the Once, Daily, Monthly list: Ongoing

This would cover contests that don't expire.

[jamesfitzgibbon]

Facebook, FB, ARGH - PUT IT IN YOUR TITLES!!!

[bolthead]

Adding a NO QC option would be nice too!

[bolthead]

Oh, and the end date/contact method.

[ronin1701]

MAKE YOU Titles SIMPLE EASY to Read.

You don't need to put AGE of MAJORITY or the TIME it ends in the title To much info.

OMG

The way I see it:

1. Putting in Age of Maj (or AoM for short) is no different that putting in 18+ (or 19+ or 25+) or whatever in the thread title. It's simply a way for people to filter out a contest without having to read through an entire post to get to the guts of it.

2. The vast majority of contests end at midnight - if it doesn't end at midnight, I think people should know, ESPECIALLY if the contest is extremely time sensitive, (for example the Oprah Winfrey Suze Orman contest (http://forums.redflagdeals.com/oprah-winfrey-network-win-50-000-cash-ends-14-02-2012-10pmet-no-qc-aom-skill-1131365/)) which has a very specific window where the contest entries must be submitted.

So, what's the contest community's thoughts on this?

If the consensus is TMI, then I'll refrain from doing so, but I'm awfully surprised that certain people have difficulties reading it .... I'd rather add "too much" to the thread title than leaving stuff out that's actually useful.

[vilmark]

I have no issue with your titles ronin, I actually find them refreshing compared to the ones that have nothing in them. I don't personally put age in the title unless its something different then normal eg age 6-17 only or whatever. and Im the first to say im lazy of actually puting in cut off times too but I figure its way better then the

eg. WIN AN IPAD.

wtf is that, so keep up the info.

thank you

[ronin1701]

I don't personally put age in the title unless its something different then normal eg age 6-17 only or whatever.

That's a good point. I suppose if I take age 18+ as the default position, I'll leave it out unless the rules state something other than that default.

Although given that AoM is 18 in some provinces and 19 in others, I'll continue to include that if necessary.

Thanks for the input!

[apachekeith]

I agree 100% with Vilmark. I don't see any problem with your title lines.The more info the better.

[ronin1701]

It would be nice if posters started adding "RC" or something similar in the thread title when posting a new contest.

Or at the very least mention it somewhere in the body of the post.

I'm avoiding those contests entirely.