Over the summer, I posted daily tips on Twitter using the hashtag #compingtip
In case you missed any of them, here is the full list.
- check where a promoter is based - nobody is going to send you pate or cheese from the USA, it would go off in the post
- Make a list for each day of the week and add any promoter who regularly runs a comp on that day
- If the comp tweet contains a link, check it to see if you need to follow it to enter – sometimes what looks like a RT comp isn’t one
- Check how many times you are allowed to enter, multiple tweets might disqualify you
- Look when a promoter last tweeted – if they’ve not been around for a few weeks, the comp probably is never going to be drawn
- Don’t just tweet comps, it makes you look like a bot and promoters might think you are one pick another winner if you are drawn
- If a comp closes at a certain number of followers, check how many they have before tweeting in case you are too late
- If a promoter never tweets anything but their comp, and they don’t have a website, it could be a scam – check carefully.
- Some ways of collecting tweets only show the most recent so it can help to enter very near to the closing time
- Check the apps you have authorised and only keep the ones you currently use, to help avoid getting hacked
- Never open a link in a message that has no other text even if it is from a friend – they may have been hacked
- Alarm bells should ring if a big prize is offered by somebody with only a handful of followers
- Scam comps may be a spammer trying to get you to follow them so they can send dodgy DMs
- Make sure you RT the right tweet, not one that is just info about the comp (unless you are just informing friends of it)
- If a comp requires a unique answer, copying yours from somebody else will rule you both out. Don’t do it.
- Twitter will only let you RT the same thing once; if you are allowed to enter more often you will need to edit the tweet
- If you have a list of tweets to send daily, note down when each closes. Some people tweet comps months out of date!
- Don’t trust other compers to have checked T&C, check them YOURSELF.
- Interact with promoters. Then they will know you are a human, not an auto-tweeting bot.
- Don’t claim you’ve done something (liked, followed, commented, subscribed) if you’ve not – you’ll be disqualified.
- An obvious “comping” username can count against you. Avoid the words “comp” and “win” in it.
- Don’t tweet more than 100 times an hour or you’ll end up in Twitter jail.
- If a promoter is based in Ireland, check which part. The Republic has different laws so you probably can’t enter their comps.
- Tell non-comping friends and family to select “Hide retweets from this person” on your Twitter page.
- Don’t have a protected Twitter account – nobody will ever know you’ve entered their comps.
- Don’t tweet the same thing several times – you could go to Twitter jail or be filtered out of search
- Follow as many other compers as you can – if they spot a new comp you’ll be one of the first to know
- It’s fine to use the retweet button nowadays, in fact if the promoter collects entries by email it’s the ONLY way to enter.
- If a promoter tweets about a comp, then doesn’t tweet again for 6 months, the comp isn’t going to happen
- Make sure the person running the comp gets an @ mention in your tweet or they won’t know you’ve entered
- If there’s a hashtag, make sure you include it and spell it correctly
- Have a picture on your profile, not just a Twitter egg. It really does make a difference to how much you’ll win.
- Always check the rules and instructions. Don't rely on another comper as they may have been in a rush and not checked themselves
- Check your @ messages and DMs at least once a day to see if there are any winning messages
- Follow the person running the comp – it’s good manners and means they can DM you if you win
- Check the closing date – it’s no use entering a comp that has already closed
- If there’s a link to the rules, follow it. Otherwise look at the promoter’s timeline for info about the comp
- Don’t let your timeline be all retweets as you may get filtered out of search. Chat a bit as well!
- Don’t copy another comper’s entry if there’s a slogan or opinion question – you need to give your own answer.
- Check that the promoter is in the UK or says the comp is open to the UK or you won’t get your prize
- When a tweet says “enter by 4pm”, it’s no use entering at 8pm!
- Say thank you when you get a prize. It’s good manners and lets the person know it’s arrived safely.
- Don’t retweet other compers’ entries. It’s annoying to them and means the promoter probably won’t see your entry.
- Make lists – one for your comping friends, and lists for comps that run regularly on certain days
- Look out for scams and hackers – you CAN’T see “who viewed your profile”.
- Don’t cheat! Promoters can easily spot people tweeting from multiple accounts.
- If a winner is being picked at a certain number of followers, check their current number to make sure you’re not too late.
- Not every comp on Twitter is a retweet comp – make sure you’re doing the right thing.
- Interact with the promoters – many of them have a real person handling the Twitter account and they’ll enjoy a chat.
- Try to make some free time on Fridays as there are so many one day only comps then – it can be hard to keep up!
- Hashtag searches can sometimes help you to find comps. Try #competition #giveaway #bookgiveaway and #comp
- It sometimes helps to enter right at the end of a comp, as older tweets can be lost from Twitter search.
- Treat over-generous comps with caution. Somebody with 250 followers can’t afford to give as big a prize as one with 25,000.
- If somebody RTs your entry, deleting your tweet will undo their RT. Then you can tweet again - they probably won't RT again
- If a promoter has Ireland in their name it usually means the Republic. Most ROI comps aren't open to UK - check with promoter
- Check whether a comp has closed before tweeting – if the prize has already been won, you can’t win it