How to Win Contests

I just read the comments for my most recent In My Mailbox post, and noticed that many people commented on how many contests I win. Yes, I do tend to win a lot of contests. But it's not because I'm a lucky person. It's more about the sheer amount of contests I enter. I've decided that I'm going to give my readers a look at my personal method for finding and entering contests.

Step 1 - Be Prepared: Follow a lot of book blogs and/or subscribe to them on Google Reader or a similar feed reader. Also, follow bloggers on Twitter (and those people that link to a lot of contests.)

Step 2 - Find Contests: When you check the latest blog posts, open up all the contests you find. Set up a system (either a Word document, system of internet bookmarks, etc.) to organize the contests by the date they should be entered (usually the day of the deadline or before if you need more time to get extra entries.) I personally use a Word document where the contests are listed by month and day.

Step 3 - Enter Contests: Open up your Word document or other organizational system. Find the contests for the current day (and the next days if you want to get ahead.) Open the links and comment with your entries (try to get a lot of extra entries, which is easiest if you have a blog and Twitter account.)

Step 4 - Win Contests: Check back at your feed reader or Blogger dashboard every now and then to see if winners have been posted, and your e-mail you use for contest entries. If you entered a contest on a blog that you don't follow or subscribe to, check back to it using your list of contests. This step is largely based on chance, but if you enter enough contests with a lot of extra entries, you will win eventually.

Here is a sample of my list for this month (I update it all the time, so it will soon be outdated, but you may find these links helpful):

(September 7) http://www.eclecticbooklover.com/2009/08/interview-giveaway-janet-lee-carey.html
(September 7) http://www.kidsreads.com/funstuff/contests/0907-bedeviled.asp
(September 7) http://katiesbookshelf11.blogspot.com/2009/09/giveaway-give-up-ghost-swag-pack.html
(September 7) http://teralynnchilds.blogspot.com/2009/09/some-awful-title-ideas.html
(September 7) http://litbites.blogspot.com/2009/08/book-preview-black-is-for-beginnings.html
(September 7) http://litbites.blogspot.com/2009/08/school-of-fear-by-gitty-daneshvari.html
(September 8) http://lindagerber.blogspot.com/2009/09/freebe-friday-with-lauren-baratz.html
(September 8) http://www.kaycassidy.com/blog/2009/08/31/living-your-five-logo-contest-for-tac/
(September 8) http://angieville.blogspot.com/2009/09/interview-with-moira-j-moore-heroes-at.html
(September 8) http://www.revolutionsf.com/article.php?id=4625
(September 8) http://readnowsleeplater.wordpress.com/contests/
(September 9) http://bambookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/100-followers-contest.html
(September 9) http://theyabookblogger.blogspot.com/2009/08/upcoming-releases-contest.html
(September 9) http://libslibrary.blogspot.com/2009/08/imposters-daughter-giveaway.html
(September 9) http://reveriemedia.blogspot.com/2009/08/win-signed-shiver-by-maggie-stiefvater.html
(September 9) http://libslibrary.blogspot.com/2009/08/imposters-daughter-giveaway.html
(September 9) http://proudbookworm.blogspot.com/2009/08/author-interview-matthew-gasteier.html
(September 9) http://www.iheartmonster.com/2009/06/genre-irrelevant-summer-photo-contest.html
(September 9) http://travelingtoteenstours.weebly.com/1/post/2009/08/another-faust-contest.html
(September 9) http://shalondasblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/lipstick-apology-contest.html
(September 9) http://jessicaverday.blogspot.com/2009/08/r-u-haunted-by-hollow-contest.html
(September 9) http://melanies--musings.blogspot.com/2009/08/contest-time-again.html
(September 10) http://harmonybookreviews.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/prophecy-of-the-sisters-and-victorian-guys/
(September 10) http://readingrocks4me.blogspot.com/2009/08/james-patterson-prize-pack.html
(September 10) http://fantasyscifibookreview.blogspot.com/2009/08/giveaway-rosemary-and-rue-by-seanan.html
(September 10) http://www.luxuryreading.com/2009/08/review-giveaway-ravens-by-george-dawes.html
(September 10) http://yabookrealm.blogspot.com/2009/08/james-patterson-prize-pack.html
(September 10) http://stackedbooks.blogspot.com/2009/08/ripleys-seeing-is-believing-giveaway.html
(September 10) http://confessionsofawanderingheart.blogspot.com/2009/08/snap-review-giveaway.html
(September 10) http://aleapopculture.blogspot.com/2009/08/giveaway-how-to-steal-car.html
(September 10) http://shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com/2009/08/interview-giveaway-with-carol-snow.html
(September 10) http://shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com/2009/09/timothy-carter-interview-giveaway.html
(September 10) http://shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com/2009/09/guest-post-with-timothy-carter-extra.html
(September 10) http://brodiashton.blogspot.com/2009/09/free-book-friday-new-blog-tradition.html
(September 10) http://fantasticbookreview.blogspot.com/2009/08/win-another-faust-by-daniel-dina-nayeri.html
(September 10) http://shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com/2009/09/shana-norris-troy-high-interview.html
(September 10) http://butterflybookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/win-t-shirt-from-hollow.html
(September 10) http://lainahastoomuchsparetime.blogspot.com/2009/08/bookcase-giveaway.html
(September 11) http://www.bookworminginthe21stcentury.com/2009/08/300-followers-contest.html
(September 11) http://cutelittlecindy.blogspot.com/2009/09/in-my-mailbox-95.html
(September 11) http://katiesbookshelf11.blogspot.com/2009/09/giveaway-prize-pack.html
(September 11) http://ellzreadz.blogspot.com/2009/09/announcing-my-first-contest.html
(September 11) http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2009/09/ultimate-zombies-giveaway.html
(September 11) http://diaryofareaderjunkie.blogspot.com/2009/08/arcs-interwined-or-hush-hush-giveaway.html
(September 11) http://fantasticbookreview.blogspot.com/2009/08/win-tear-collector-by-patrick-jones.html
(September 12) http://ultimatebookhound.blogspot.com/2009/09/interview-giveaway-with-author-lois.html
(September 12) http://onlythebestscifi.blogspot.com/2009/09/signed-giveaway-in-ashes-lie-by-marie.html
(September 12) http://booksbytheircover.blogspot.com/2009/09/comment-contest.html
(September 12) http://thatchickthatreads.blogspot.com/2009/08/crank-by-ellen-hopkins-giveaway.html
(September 13) http://blackteensread2.blogspot.com/2009/09/next-giveaway-in-september-giveaway.html
(September 13) http://bookreviewsbyjess.blogspot.com/2009/09/contest-arc-of-dreaming-anastasia-by.html
(September 13) http://justyourtypicalbookblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/james-patterson-promotion-pack.html
(September 13) http://yathenaeum.blogspot.com/2009/08/james-patterson-max-promotion.html
(September 13) http://neverendingshelf.blogspot.com/2009/08/3-2-1-contest.html
(September 13) http://fantasticbookreview.blogspot.com/2009/08/vampires-werewolves-fairies-oh-my.html
(September 13) http://butterflybookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/contest-win-as-you-wish-signed.html
(September 14) http://bookluver-carol.blogspot.com/2009/08/james-patterson-ya-book-promotion.html
(September 14) http://stephsureads.blogspot.com/2009/09/ash-celebration-week-giveaways.html
(September 14) http://www.greenbeanteenqueen.com/2009/09/win-catching-fire-prize-pack.html
(September 14) http://readingisthespiceoflife.blogspot.com/2009/08/alice-i-have-been-contest.html
(September 14) http://presentinglenore.blogspot.com/2009/09/catching-fire-prize-pack-contest.html
(September 14) http://thebooksmugglers.com/2009/09/catching-fire-giveaway.html
(September 14) http://thebookowl.blogspot.com/2009/09/black-sheep-by-yvonne-collins-and-sandy.html
(September 14) http://www.thestorysiren.com/2009/08/catching-fire-contest.html
(September 14) http://www.melissacwalker.com/blog/2009/09/win-it_wednesday_graceling_by.html
(September 14) http://kidlit.com/kidlit-contest/
(September 14) http://bookloverreviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/max-promotional-prize-pack.html
(September 14) http://cornucopiaofreviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/100th-follower-contest.html
(September 14) http://stephsureads.blogspot.com/2009/09/ash-celebration-week-giveaways.html
(September 14) http://www.books-for-sale.net/1732/catching-fire-giveaway/?wscr=1680x1050
(September 14) http://wickedlovely.com/forum1/index.php?PHPSESSID=23844b6292d4d9d2eda62c4344173ed0&topic=1572.0
(September 15) http://www.libraryloungelizard.com/2009/08/awesome-contest.html
(September 15) http://sharonlovesbooksandcats.blogspot.com/2009/08/contest-stupid-cupid-by-rhonda.html
(September 15) http://annavivian.blogspot.com/2009/09/catching-fire-giveaway.html
(September 15) http://fallingofftheshelf.blogspot.com/2009/08/contest-new-blogger-layout.html
(September 15) http://www.5minutesforbooks.com/1752/catching-fire-giveaway/
(September 15) http://lushbudgetproduction.blogspot.com/2009/09/author-interview-and-giveaway-with-gena.html
(September 15) http://litbites.blogspot.com/2009/09/ban-this-win-this.html
(September 15) http://www.luxuryreading.com/2009/09/giveaway-catching-fire-by-suzanne.html
(September 15) http://butterflybookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/interview-with-jessica-packwood-of.html
(September 15) http://freneticreader.blogspot.com/2009/09/catching-fire-contest.html
(September 15) http://karinlibrarian.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/amazing-catching-fire-contest/
(September 15) http://omgbookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/contest-candor-and-15-amazon-gift-card.html
(September 15) http://www.luxuryreading.com/2009/09/giveaway-catching-fire-by-suzanne.html
(September 15) http://www.scifiguy.ca/2009/09/promotion-contest-catching-fire-by.html
(September 15) http://book-love-affair.blogspot.com/2009/09/giveaway-suzanne-collins.html
(September 15) http://aleapopculture.blogspot.com/2009/09/giveaway-catching-fire-swag.html
(September 15) http://scifichick.com/2009/09/01/giveaway-catching-fire-prize-pack/
(September 15) http://connected2christ.com/theblog/2009/08/daniel-x-watch-the-skies-by-james-patterson-givaway-3-winners/
(September 15) http://thebookbinge.com/2009/09/giveaway-catching-fire-by-suzanne.html
(September 15) http://confessionsofawanderingheart.blogspot.com/2009/09/barely-bewitching.html
(September 15) http://www.thediscriminatingfangirl.com/2009/09/01/giveaway-catching-fire-by-suzanne-collins/
(September 15) http://notenoughbooks.blogspot.com/2009/09/catching-fire-by-suzanne-collins.html
(September 15) http://www.kidsreads.com/surveys/2009-reader-survey.asp
(September 15) http://booknerds.net/blood-promise-contest
(September 16) http://booksaregolden.blogspot.com/2009/09/james-patterson-book-promotion.html
(September 16) http://bookslovejessicamarie.blogspot.com/2009/09/giveaway-day-falls-stood-still.html
(September 16) http://mariah-readingadventure.blogspot.com/2009/09/maximum-ride-promotion.html
(September 17) http://book-mac13.blogspot.com/2009/08/100th-posts-contest.html
(September 17) http://tvandbookaddict.blogspot.com/2009/09/maximum-ride-by-james-patterson.html
(September 17) http://fantasticbookreview.blogspot.com/2009/09/win-ash-by-malinda-lo.html
(September 17) http://aparkavenueprincess.blogspot.com/2009/08/fatal-encryption-debra-purday-kong.html
(September 18) http://fantasticbookreview.blogspot.com/2009/09/win-devils-kiss-by-sarwat-chadda.html
(September 18) http://wantmyya.blogspot.com/2009/08/promotion-big-james-patterson-giveaway.html
(September 18) http://orientaldesires.blogspot.com/2009/09/swag-giveaway.html
(September 18) http://gofita.blogspot.com/2009/09/pirate-week-and-giveaway.html
(September 18) http://takemeaway-jennala9.blogspot.com/2009/09/blog-tour-and-giveaway-nurture-shock.html
(September 18) http://bookreader4.blogspot.com/2009/09/james-patterson-maximum-ride-book.html
(September 18) http://firstnovelsclub.blogspot.com/2009/09/maria-v-snyder-guest-post-on-avoiding.html
(September 18) http://meghansbookblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/ash-contest.html
(September 18) http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/2009/08/100-followers-giveaway-1.html
(September 19) http://casey62588.blogspot.com/2009/09/dreaming-anastasia-giveaway.html
(September 19) http://litbites.blogspot.com/2009/09/bea-swag-grab-contest.html
(September 19) http://booksbytheircover.blogspot.com/2009/09/comment-contest.html
(September 19) http://taste-life-twice.blogspot.com/2009/09/review-defining-twilight_06.html
(September 19) http://presentinglenore.blogspot.com/2009/09/cover-interview-and-mega-prize-pack.html
(September 19) http://lizdoglover.blogspot.com/2009/09/just-like-that-by-marsha-qualey.html
(September 20) http://ibteens.blogspot.com/2009/09/win-devoured-by-amanda-marrone.html
(September 20) http://bibliophilesupportgroup.blogspot.com/2009/08/promotion-celebration-for-maximum-ride.html
(September 20) http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/2009/09/paperback-book-of-choice-contest.html
(September 20) http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com/2009/08/james-patterson-ya-prize-pack.html
(September 20) http://heyteenager.blogspot.com/2009/09/win-100-voucher.html
(September 20) http://tickettoanywhere.blogspot.com/2009/09/happy-birthday-to-me-and-happy.html
(September 20) http://theelectricalbookcafe.blogspot.com/2009/08/giant-contest-happy-birthday-electrical.html
(September 21) http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/2009/09/signed-copy-of-vampire-academy-contest.html
(September 21) http://aflightofminds.blogspot.com/2009/09/interview-with-jess-c-scott-contest.html
(September 21) http://mustandlustforbooks.blogspot.com/2009/09/ruined-contest_04.html
(September 21) http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/2009/09/once-was-lost-by-sara-zarr-contest.html
(September 21) http://officiallymrs.blogspot.com/2009/08/contest-win-copy-of-girl-goddess-9.html
(September 22) http://laurenscrammedbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-very-awesome-contest.html
(September 24) http://thebookcellarx.blogspot.com/2009/09/richelle-meads-signing-giveaway.html
(September 24) http://www.pureimaginationblog.com/2009/09/richelle-mead-book-signing-and-blood.html
(September 24) http://wickedgoodbooks.blogspot.com/2009/09/enter-to-win-set-of-james-patterson.html
(September 24) http://yabookrealm.blogspot.com/2009/09/catching-fire-book-giveaway.html
(September 24) http://www.alertnerd.com/?p=2546
(September 24) http://temppatt.blogspot.com/2009/09/james-patterson-prize-pack-promotion.html
(September 24) http://poppiesbloom.blogspot.com/
(September 25) http://katiesbookblog-katie.blogspot.com/2009/09/love-is-higher-law-giveaway.html
(September 25) http://the-book-vault.blogspot.com/2009/09/huge-max-promotion.html
(September 25) http://ceceliabedelia.blogspot.com/2009/09/dark-and-stormy-fairy-tale-giveaway.html
(September 25) http://tabwriter.blogspot.com/2009/09/september-book-giveaway.html
(September 25) http://readintothis.blogspot.com/2009/08/giving-away-nine-books.html
(September 26) http://booksbytheircover.blogspot.com/2009/09/comment-contest.html
(September 26) http://whatbrireads.blogspot.com/2009/09/giveaway-ruined-by-paula-morris.html
(September 26) http://bloodybookaholic.blogspot.com/2009/08/mega-palooza-contest.html
(September 27) http://bambookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/09/maximum-ride-prize-pack-promotion.html
(September 29) http://alainereading.blogspot.com/2009/09/win-fire-or-her-fearful-symmetry-or.html
(September 29) http://connected2christ.com/theblog/2009/09/chicken-soup-for-the-soul-extraordinary-teens-review-giveaway/
(September 29) http://theshadyglade.blogspot.com/2009/09/gift-card-giveaway.html
(September 29) http://windowpane-memoirs.com/2009/08/31/arcs-contest/
(September 29) http://www.bookworminginthe21stcentury.com/2009/08/september-comment-contest-august.html
(September 29) http://theshadyglade.blogspot.com/2009/09/random-contest-first-lines-contest.html
(September 29) http://themindfulmusingsbookblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/giveaways.html
(September 29) http://teddyree-theeclecticreader.blogspot.com/2009/09/win-hush-hush-or-fire-or-catching-fire.html
(September 30) http://sharonlovesbooksandcats.blogspot.com/2009/09/before-i-fall-contest.html
(September 30) http://thebookresort.blogspot.com/2009/09/win-6-pack-of-books.html
(September 30) http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-200th-follower-giveaway.html
(September 30) http://theshadyglade.blogspot.com/2009/09/random-contest-cover-contest.html
(September 30) http://fallingofftheshelf.blogspot.com/2009/08/contest-new-blogger-layout.html
(September 30) http://www.greenfyr.com/
(September 30) http://theshadyglade.blogspot.com/2009/09/take-survey-win-prize.html
(September 30) http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=home.ballads
(September 30) http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=home.forest
(September 30) http://cherylrainfield.com/blog/index.php/2009/07/27/excited-author-videos-and-win-book-gift-certificates-and-books/
(September 30) http://theshadyglade.blogspot.com/2009/09/blogoversary-birthday-contest.html
(September 30) http://thehidingspot.blogspot.com/2009/08/contest-win-copy-of-snap-by-carol-snow.html
(September 30) http://confessionsofawanderingheart.blogspot.com/2009/09/september-giveaway-molly-harper.html
(September 30) http://www.mrsmagooreads.com/2009/09/giveaway-win-james-patterson-set.html
(September 30) http://alexia561.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-first-contest.html
(September 30) http://ajourneyofbooks.blogspot.com/2009/08/win-signed-copy-of-blood-promise.html
(September 30) http://wordforteens.blogspot.com/2009/09/spiderwick-september.html
(September 30) http://theshadyglade.blogspot.com/2009/09/september-comment-contest-win-copy-of.html
(September 30) http://thebookresort.blogspot.com/2009/08/win-copy-of-rampant-diana-peterfreund.html
(September 30) http://thebookresort.blogspot.com/2009/08/win-copy-of-hollow-jessica-verday.html
(September 30) http://runningforfiction.blogspot.com/2009/08/books-books-and-then-some-kidding-its.html
(September 30) http://www.wherethemountainmeetsthemoon.com/2009/06/party-contest-enter-drawing.html

*Paradox*