Hiya! Let’s grab a cuppa and have a little chat about prize draws. Whether you’re entering them for fun or running one for your business, they’re a fantastic way to win (or give away) something fabulous. But, like anything, there are some common mistakes people make that can spoil the fun or affect your chances. So, let’s talk about the six big mistakes to avoid in prize draws – and make sure you’re on the right track.
Table of Contents
1. Not reading the terms and conditions properly
Right, let’s start with a classic mistake – not reading the terms and conditions (T&Cs). I know, they can be long and boring, but they’re there for a reason. Whether you’re entering or hosting a prize draw, those T&Cs hold all the essential details you need to know, like entry deadlines, eligibility, and how the winner will be chosen.
For example:
- Many prize draws are only open to people in certain regions. If you’re based in the UK, but the competition is only for residents of the USA, you’ve already lost before you’ve even started.
- You might also find some sneaky rules about prize substitutions, like if the prize is out of stock, they can replace it with something else (which might not always be what you’d hoped for).
Top tip: Make it a habit to always glance over the T&Cs. Some competitions will have a free entry route you didn’t even know about, or restrictions on how many times you can enter. It might feel tedious, but it’s worth it to avoid being disqualified.
2. Ignoring deadlines
This one’s a bit of a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people miss out on fantastic prizes because they don’t pay attention to deadlines. I know how it goes – you see an amazing prize, plan to enter, then life gets in the way, and before you know it, the closing date has passed. It’s frustrating!
How to avoid it:
- Set reminders: Use your phone’s calendar or a free app like Google Keep to set reminders for competition deadlines. It’s such a simple thing but makes a huge difference.
- Enter straight away: If you’ve got the time, enter as soon as you see the prize draw. The earlier you get in, the less likely you are to forget later on.
- Consider postal delays: If you’re using the free postal route, don’t leave it till the last minute! Royal Mail’s timescales for first and second class post are estimates, they are just aims. Don’t expect your second class mail to show up consistently within 2 days! Also, if you’re posting to a PO BOX, the promoter will probably have a redirect attached to this. Redirects add more time for delivery. So in short, enter early!
If you’re hosting a prize draw, be really clear about when the competition ends. You’ll want to make sure entrants know exactly when the cut-off is, so they don’t feel hard done by if they miss out.
3. Not checking your spam folder
We’ve all been there – waiting to hear back from something important and later discovering the email has gone straight to the spam folder. With prize draws, it’s even more annoying, especially if you’ve missed a win because you didn’t spot the email in time!
Many prize draw winners get notified by email, and if you don’t respond in a certain timeframe, you could forfeit your prize.
Solution: Make it a habit to check your spam or junk folder regularly. Some competitions use email addresses that might be flagged as spam by mistake. You could even add the competition site’s email address to your safe list. This is especially important if you’re entering through platforms like Rafflecopter, Gleam, or popular competition forums like Loquax or The Prize Finder.
Bonus tip: Don’t rush to unsubscribe from newsletters. Sometimes staying subscribed is part of the conditions for winning. Winners are often announced in newsletters, and some bonus competitions are exclusive to subscribers. If prize draw emails are clogging up your inbox, create a separate email address just for competitions. This way, you won’t miss any important announcements or bonus opportunities!
4. Not checking if it’s a legitimate competition
Sadly, there are some dodgy competitions out there that are just trying to get your personal information or trick you into spending money. The worst-case scenario is that you could fall for a scam that either leads to identity theft or leaves you out of pocket.
Here’s how to spot a legitimate competition:
- Reputable source: Make sure the prize draw is run by a trustworthy company or platform. If you’ve never heard of the brand before, do a quick Google search to check their legitimacy. Look for competitions on well-known sites like MoneySavingExpert, Competitions Time on MSE, or SuperLucky.
- Clear T&Cs: Genuine competitions will have a detailed terms and conditions section explaining who can enter, how the prize will be delivered, and any costs involved (if applicable). If this information isn’t available or looks a bit fishy, steer clear.
- No fees to claim: You should never have to pay to claim a prize. Free prize draws are, by law, supposed to offer a no-purchase option to enter.
Top tip for businesses: If you’re running a prize draw, make sure everything is above board and follows UK laws on competitions and prize draws. Not only does this keep you safe from legal trouble, but it also ensures your entrants feel confident that they’re entering something genuine.
5. Not keeping track of your entries
If you’re anything like me, you might enter a few prize draws a week, and it’s easy to lose track of which ones you’ve entered. This becomes a problem when you start getting emails or messages about competitions and can’t remember if they’re legit or not. Worse still, you might forget to check if you’ve won and miss out!
Solution: Keep a simple list or spreadsheet of the competitions you’ve entered. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy – just something where you note down the name of the competition, the website, and the date it ends. This way, you can quickly refer back if you get a message saying you’ve won.
There are even websites and apps that can help you manage your entries. These platforms not only list a bunch of competitions but also help you track which ones you’ve entered and remind you when to check if you’ve won.
Tip for businesses: If you’re running multiple prize draws, consider using a tool like Gleam or Rafflecopter to manage entries. These platforms help you keep everything organised, track entrants, and even pick a winner automatically, which can be a lifesaver when you’ve got loads of entries to sort through.
6. Failing to promote your prize draw properly (if you’re running one)
If you’re a business or brand hosting a prize draw, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is not promoting it enough. After all, there’s no point in giving away a fantastic prize if nobody knows about it!
Here are some practical ways to get the word out there:
- Social media: This is a no-brainer – promote your prize draw on all your social channels, whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. You can even use paid ads if you want to reach a bigger audience. Make sure to encourage people to share the post and tag their friends – that’s free promotion!
- Collaborations: Partnering with influencers or other brands can be a great way to spread the word. Look for people with an engaged following that’s relevant to your prize – for example, if you’re giving away skincare products, partnering with a beauty blogger could get you loads of attention.
- Email marketing: Send out an email blast to your subscriber list. Include eye-catching images of the prize and make the entry process simple – the fewer clicks, the better!
- Website banners: Add a prominent banner or pop-up to your website that promotes the competition. It’s an easy way to make sure visitors know about the prize draw.
- Listings websites: Make sure your competition is listed on all the sites that will take it, such as the Money Saving Expert forum (if it’s free to enter).
Bonus tip for entrants: Be cautious of overly promoted or viral competitions. Sometimes, the odds of winning are far lower when hundreds of thousands of people have entered. Look out for niche or under-the-radar competitions that don’t have as much hype but offer better odds!
Wrapping it up
There you go – six common prize draw mistakes you now know to avoid. Whether you’re entering competitions or running them for your business, a little extra attention to detail can go a long way. So, take a moment to read those T&Cs, stay organised, and always check for legitimacy. And if you’re running a prize draw, remember that good promotion is key to making it a success.
Now, go and enjoy entering those prize draws (or setting up your next big giveaway!). Good luck!