Some contests just ask you to retweet, and then search all of twitter for the hashtag and pick a winner from anyone who shows up. The bots pick up a lot of wins that way. http://www.hscott.net/twitter-contest-w ... a-service/pickmepickme wrote: ↑What purpose does retweeting us do for them?
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Contest Discussion(s)
- Last Updated:
- Mar 28th, 2024 2:13 pm
Tags:
- SCORE+30
- spamgirl
- Deal Addict
- Sep 24, 2006
- 4627 posts
- 6132 upvotes
- Toronto
- pickmepickme
- Deal Addict
- Nov 16, 2006
- 1559 posts
- 1672 upvotes
- Toronto
Wow, that's evil. I thought that you had to retweet the original tweet, not someone else's retweet.spamgirl wrote: ↑Some contests just ask you to retweet, and then search all of twitter for the hashtag and pick a winner from anyone who shows up. The bots pick up a lot of wins that way. http://www.hscott.net/twitter-contest-w ... a-service/
- spamgirl
- Deal Addict
- Sep 24, 2006
- 4627 posts
- 6132 upvotes
- Toronto
It depends on how the contest winner is picked. If the company (does the right thing and) clicks on Retweets on the original tweet, then they only see those that actually retweeted it. But many just look for the hashtags and/or @name in a search, and then pick a random number and the person they find at that position wins. In that case, bots prevail. All they have to do is actually LOOK at the account to know if it's a bot, though, but I think most companies can't be bothered.pickmepickme wrote: ↑Wow, that's evil. I thought that you had to retweet the original tweet, not someone else's retweet.
- pickmepickme
- Deal Addict
- Nov 16, 2006
- 1559 posts
- 1672 upvotes
- Toronto
spamgirl wrote: ↑It depends on how the contest winner is picked. If the company (does the right thing and) clicks on Retweets on the original tweet, then they only see those that actually retweeted it. But many just look for the hashtags and/or @name in a search, and then pick a random number and the person they find at that position wins. In that case, bots prevail. All they have to do is actually LOOK at the account to know if it's a bot, though, but I think most companies can't be bothered.
Thanks for the info, despite how discouraging it is.
- gina224
- Newbie
- Jan 8, 2006
- 21 posts
- 15 upvotes
- Round Hill
Anyone had problems with Lenas Twitter parties. Won a selfie stick 6 months ago have asked several times about it and keep getting the same answer....looking into it....now no reply. Not too impressed. It's the only win this year I haven't recieved
- KellyH905
- Deal Addict
- Jul 9, 2013
- 1291 posts
- 8906 upvotes
- Ontario
Thanks!!! Blocked!
- 777Kevin
- Member
- Feb 3, 2015
- 402 posts
- 5621 upvotes
- Ontario
I've won twice from her. Once last May ($150) and I recieved my prize pretty quickly, and I won $50 in coupons last week. Have you tried contacting the sponser? She most likely isn't in charge of shipping it, all she does is pass your info on to the sponser. I won a party from YMC once and they said the prize could take 6 months to arrive, but it came in 4. 6 months is quite a long time.
- manitobaville
- Newbie
- Aug 9, 2015
- 0 posts
- 8 upvotes
- Winnipeg
That's what I didn't understand. But I guess they are just throwing a bunch of crud at the wall to see what sticks? Retweet many, win some-type deal.pickmepickme wrote: ↑What purpose does retweeting us do for them?
I thought that retweets were good for us, though? (Aside from the annoying notifications). I read somewhere that Twitter has algorithms or whatever that place retweeted tweets higher in a search. So that would be good for a contester if the sponsor just searches for hashtags, making your tweet show higher - or is this wrong?
Also, if Twitter suspended me, a mere mortal, after a mere 2-3 months of contesting, for tweeting too much... why are these obvious bots still botting away???
As for entering spouses... I don't enter mine, except a couple times when the prize was a big truck. Like the Costco one. Other than that I don't, b/c there are so many contests as it is I can just barely manage my own entries! And he doesn't want any spam emails and such. As long as the rules say it's okay, I don't think it looks bad.
On an unrelated note, I have continued to enter contests, after they're done, several times now. That's the worst!
- Tracydeanne
- Deal Addict
- Oct 26, 2012
- 3524 posts
- 15859 upvotes
- Halifax
If a sponsor is searching for hashtags for a contest, it makes no difference where you pop up in a search. There is a program that automatically searches and adds all hashtags to a database and then enables you to do a random draw. They'd have no idea where your tweet or retweet came from.manitobaville wrote: ↑
On an unrelated note, I have continued to enter contests, after they're done, several times now. That's the worst!
Re: end dates, I'm not sure how you organize your contests, but I label all mine with end date. And on last day I check to make sure sponsor hasn't extended (or that I didn't label the wrong date lol).
- queentasha
- Sr. Member
- Oct 28, 2013
- 520 posts
- 452 upvotes
- Not Toronto
Speaking of the Costco contest, have they announced the winner yet? I really wanted to win that one!! I've seen rules about "multiple identities" so I worry I will disqualify myself, but he's a real person, not a fake identity!manitobaville wrote: ↑
As for entering spouses... I don't enter mine, except a couple times when the prize was a big truck. Like the Costco one. Other than that I don't, b/c there are so many contests as it is I can just barely manage my own entries! And he doesn't want any spam emails and such. As long as the rules say it's okay, I don't think it looks bad.
On an unrelated note, I have continued to enter contests, after they're done, several times now. That's the worst!
Ha, and I've entered contests after they're done too, lol.
- Tracydeanne
- Deal Addict
- Oct 26, 2012
- 3524 posts
- 15859 upvotes
- Halifax
The issue isn't whether or not someone is "real". Rules will often say one per household, one per person, not allowed to use more than one email etc.queentasha wrote: ↑Speaking of the Costco contest, have they announced the winner yet? I really wanted to win that one!! I've seen rules about "multiple identities" so I worry I will disqualify myself, but he's a real person, not a fake identity!
Ha, and I've entered contests after they're done too, lol.
In order to screen out those who don't comply or who might be entering under multiple names, sponsors can do many things...easiest being to disqualify all entries coming from same IP. Personally, I don't think it's worth the potential to lose all your entries, but to each their own.
- queentasha
- Sr. Member
- Oct 28, 2013
- 520 posts
- 452 upvotes
- Not Toronto
That makes sense, I'd hate to put in all this time and end up disqualified. I think I'll stop doing this, thanks for the feedback!Tracydeanne wrote: ↑The issue isn't whether or not someone is "real". Rules will often say one per household, one per person, not allowed to use more than one email etc.
In order to screen out those who don't comply or who might be entering under multiple names, sponsors can do many things...easiest being to disqualify all entries coming from same IP. Personally, I don't think it's worth the potential to lose all your entries, but to each their own.
- Guest4727381
- Banned
- Jan 12, 2015
- 4107 posts
- 27311 upvotes
- queentasha
- Sr. Member
- Oct 28, 2013
- 520 posts
- 452 upvotes
- Not Toronto
Aah, thanks. I didn't see that. Congrats to Gary!BK2006 wrote: ↑Costco winner was announced on twitter. Gary D from Regina,SK
https://twitter.com/costcocanada
- gofforever
- Deal Addict
- Apr 12, 2009
- 3121 posts
- 4712 upvotes
Most contests tell you if it's one per IP address or not. For instance most of the kids sites like YTV mention that entry is per person up to 4 per household. I've also asked if both my husband and I can enter and have been told yes. I do admit that the wording could be a bit more clearer. Some contests limit your entry per address, sometimes it is limited per phone number. Read the rules so that you don't mess up and if you are unsure, send the company and email for clarification.queentasha wrote: ↑That makes sense, I'd hate to put in all this time and end up disqualified. I think I'll stop doing this, thanks for the feedback!
- queentasha
- Sr. Member
- Oct 28, 2013
- 520 posts
- 452 upvotes
- Not Toronto
Great, thanks! I've only been doing this for a month and I'm still totally overwhelmed by all the rules and how to do it. Form filler? No form filler? So many things to figure out!gofforever wrote: ↑Most contests tell you if it's one per IP address or not. For instance most of the kids sites like YTV mention that entry is per person up to 4 per household. I've also asked if both my husband and I can enter and have been told yes. I do admit that the wording could be a bit more clearer. Some contests limit your entry per address, sometimes it is limited per phone number. Read the rules so that you don't mess up and if you are unsure, send the company and email for clarification.
Both my kids enter the YTV contests from the same PC but they do it themselves! They're convinced that they're going to will something lol.
- manitobaville
- Newbie
- Aug 9, 2015
- 0 posts
- 8 upvotes
- Winnipeg
Haha, not mine- no contesting for them. My family thinks I'm insane, haha. (They may well be right.) I NEED to win something cool just to spite them!queentasha wrote: ↑
Both my kids enter the YTV contests from the same PC but they do it themselves! They're convinced that they're going to will something lol.
I noticed something new on Twitter today: I was checking for a RT contest, and did a search. Found a tweet by the sponsor, and it looked liked I hadn't retweeted it. The retweet thingy was not green. Usually turns green after retweeting. So I go to the sponsor's account, but now I can see that I DID retweet it. I can see that it's green. Went back and did a general search for 'rt to win', and when scrolling the results, none of the ones I've retweeted are showing as such. I know I've retweeted, but I can't tell from a search, without going to the account's page. It wasn't like that yesterday! So it made me wonder if this is Twitter punishing me for contest retweets?!? Hope not!
- sweetlins
- Member
- May 25, 2012
- 337 posts
- 1395 upvotes
I entered a voting contest (ugh, god help me) Does anyone know where I can ask real, legitimate people - like myself - to vote? I've posted on my fb wall, messaged all my friends bugging them but am hoping there's somewhere else I can ask.
- Tracydeanne
- Deal Addict
- Oct 26, 2012
- 3524 posts
- 15859 upvotes
- Halifax
Good luck to everyone in all the contests that closed in October!
- teal
- Deal Addict
- May 12, 2009
- 2720 posts
- 199 upvotes
Good luck to you too!Tracydeanne wrote: ↑Good luck to everyone in all the contests that closed in October!