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How To Make Thousands Of Dollars By Winning Contests
Everyone wants to "get rich quick", but
here is the sure-fire way to do it!
OVERVIEW
What does the average American usually dream about?
If you answered "getting rich", you're probably right!
All you have to do is look at some of the best-selling
books of all time like "Wealth Without Risk" and "How To
Make Millions Selling Real Estate" and you soon realize
what's on everyone's mind.
And why not? That's the ultimate American adventure, isn't
it? Look at the California and Alaska gold rushes. Or two
of the more popular T.V. series in recent history: the
Beverly Hillbillies and Dallas, where the heroes are oil
barons; all indicating an interest in a short cut to wealth
and fame. Becoming a millionaire is a worthy goal, though
most confine it to their dreams and only a few pursue the
dream vigorously enough to make it. Many people feel it's
"not in the cards" for them. They have virtually no chance
of ever making that much money, they feel, so they don't
bother to even attempt it.
That's too bad, because there is a lot of wealth in this
country still to be had. In fact, a substantial amount of
money and merchandise is given away every year in this
country -- in sweepstakes and other contests! This is not
just the luck of the draw -- people try to win at these
contests, so why shouldn't you? If there are people
willing to give this wealth away, why not get in line for
your share?
You, like others. may be skeptical of prize money and
luxury items that are given away in these contests. Is
that because you've never known anyone that's won? Because
these giveaways actually happen.
Another reason for skepticism is the wonder at how anyone
sponsoring the contest or sweepstakes can afford to give
anything like these amounts away. Yet this is just another
form of advertising for the sponsor. Each year, huge
amounts of money are spent to reach the buying public. Some
companies pay several million dollars to have a 30 second
advertisement run during the Super Bowl. Others prefer to
give that money away and try to get people to notice their
name and ultimately buy their products.
Think about it! You receive tons of junk mail every year.
When you get the million dollar giveaway envelope, do you
open it to see what it says? Chances are if you read any
of the junk mail, that's going to be the one you pick up as
opposed to those flyers not giving anything away.
Advertisers understand this and that's why they run
legitimate million dollar giveaways -- to advertise to
people like yourself who might not otherwise have heard of
this particular company. This is how the sweepstakes and
contests got their start and continue to flourish and more
and more people look for that ultimate millionaire dream!
Do you play the lottery every week? If so, why? To win
the big prize money, obviously. There are long odds
against winning but you play anyway because there's always
that outside chance, right? If you don't play, your
chances are 100% that you'll lose, but buying a ticket gets
you at least an opportunity, no matter how small, of
cashing in the ultimate check.
So what's the difference between playing the lottery and
participating in sweepstakes and contests? Nothing! If
you devoted a little energy into playing all of these
contests that came your way, you have created more
opportunities for yourself to win -- and win big! You
can't win if you don't play. Here are opportunities that
show up nearly every week for you to realize that dream of
being wealthy. And the work effort involved is minimal
considering the potential payoff you are striving to
receive.
Look at it this way. Contest sponsors are going to give
this money away to someone. Why not you? The company
bottom line is to advertise their product(s). They will
accomplish this through their promotion. If there's
something to be won in the meantime, shouldn't you try for
it?
What have you got to lose?
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF WINNING
Winning is an attitude. Many of the best say that they can
see themselves in a winning state long before they actually
achieve that status. They can see the baseball go over the
fence for a home run. They can see their name being called
when the Oscars are handed out in Hollywood. They can see
themselves reclining at their pool, having a meeting with
their stockbroker about their recent successful
investments.
It's a mind game. It's a belief. It's an attitude.
Whatever it's called, all the winners in this world possess
it: an uncanny sense and confidence in their own abilities.
This confidence instills an overwhelming desire to succeed
that is impossible to deny. These individuals will strive
for the best, reaching beyond what one thinks they are
capable of to grab the brass ring.
It is this attitude that puts people in the winner's
circle. If you believe that you will be successful, you
will be.
This isn't a trick. All of the studies of winners have
shown this same pattern: the belief that they would win no
matter what the odds or the elements.
You can mold this same frame of mind and turn it into a
personal success story. You have the same talent and
ability as these winners. Many have risen beyond people's
expectations, but that's what attitude does for you.
How many times have you seen people with a lot of natural
talent and ability fail to win? Quite often, actually.
The difference between them and those that win (who may
possess less natural ability) is attitude. You're born
with natural talents, but attitude is something you develop
yourself.
You alone can control your own mind. If you set your mind
to win, it can and will happen for you.
If you set your mind to win at these contests, eventually
you can do it!
On the other hand, if you don't believe in yourself, if you
don't think that you can win at these sweepstakes and
contests, then you probably won't win. Attitude plays such
a large part in winning, that your frame of mind can
dictate success or failure almost exclusively.
You also must believe that if you win at these contests, it
will be because you worked hard at it and deserved to win
them. The money you make from these winnings will be more
than you've ever seen, but it's yours to have and spend.
Don't think for a minute you shouldn't have it! You earned
it, you made it, now you can spend it as you please. You
must believe that you were destined to get this money or
you won't fully have achieved the winning attitude you need
to earn this money and stay on top!
If you've conditioned yourself all your life to believe
that you're not a winner, that you couldn't possibly ever
be rich, you will likely fulfill this self-prophecy. But
it's not too late to de-program yourself and turn your
attitude around.
A constant reinforcement of positive thinking can alter
this losing mindset. You must be vigilant in your internal
promotion of a winning attitude, however, to be able to
maintain this feeling on a regular basis. You can't afford
to sink back into the negative abyss you have created. The
longer you've taken to build a low self-image, the longer
it will be before you can break it.
Don't give up! Winning all starts in your mind. Keep at
it! The positive can overwhelm the negative if you want to
believe in it enough. Once one idea stream begins to
dominate the other, your continual reinforcement of
thoughts will be based on the new dominant force. If that
force is positive, that's what your outlook will be.
Don't let the doubts wear you down. Doubting can bring
down all the positive thinking you've trained yourself to
do. The phrase, "we have nothing to fear but fear itself"
simply illustrates this point. It may be well within your
power to be a winner now, but self-doubt will crowd out the
winning attitude you need. In this battle, you are your
own worst enemy. Everything is within your grasp, only you
can prevent it from happening. "I can't do it" is a claim
that will inevitably come true if you allow it to dominate
the winning attitude of "I can -- and will -- do it!".
It's up to you. Are you a winner?
This new attitude will help you in everyday life. Things
that seemed impossible in the past will now seem within
your reach. Your personality will undergo a positive
change that will help you in whatever you do or become.
People react to positiveness. A cheerful, outgoing
attitude is almost contagious and people will remember you.
You'll be a winner in every respect.
This doesn't mean success will come easy!
But success will never arrive if you're not mentally ready
for the challenges being successful and being wealthy
present. It must be something you're prepared to undertake
and to keep at no matter how long it takes.
Remember: successful, winning attitudes of people have them
seeing themselves in various forms of winning poses long
before they actually get there. But these images give them
a "tangible" to strive for; a goal they believe is theirs
to have -- and hold. You, too must believe this. You,
too, must have your eye on the prize and believe that it's
only a matter of time before you collect it.
In this case, it's the jackpots given away by willing
advertisers. Close your eyes and see yourself shaking
hands with the executive of the company who's just handing
you a check for $1,000,000.00.
Hold this image in your mind. It's your new, positive goal
for the future.
THE SWEEPSTAKES GAME
One of your visions may be of Ed McMahon walking up your
steps, ringing the front door and presenting you with that
million dollar check. Great! Ed is a spokesperson for one
of the longer running sweepstakes contests in America.
But it is by no means the only one. Read your mail and
see. There are giveaways of all kinds, all the time! This
is simply corporate advertising at work.
In exchange for the chance to win something, the sponsors
are getting the opportunity to plug their product. If it's
a product you might use anyway, chances are you may buy it
from these giveaway folks. Because so many do, advertisers
can afford to give away the amounts of cash and merchandise
that they do. Everybody's a winner in the sweepstakes
game!
Sweepstakes are legal in every state today and they are
regulated by the Federal Trade Commission, who requires
that the sweepstakes sponsors print all those rules you see
in these contests. It's the legal fine print, but it
underscores the fact that these contests are legitimate.
If not, the companies run afoul of the FTC, a fate no
corporation or entity wishes to face.
Sweepstakes entries are everywhere from the mail to the
mall. Magazines carry offers. You can even find a
sweepstakes game in a supermarket check-out line. They're
everywhere!
The giveaway estimates are even more staggering. Experts
put the amount of cash and merchandise given away annually
at more than 200 million dollars! As long as there are
people willing to participate, there is no reason to
believe this number is going to reduce, just the opposite!
Like any advertising campaign, corporations work to "one-
up" the competition. This is good news for contest players
since it means even bigger and better prizes to come.
Corporations that know these campaigns are successful for
them are not going to abandon them in the future. If
anything, they will figure out a way to multiply this
success story and offer even more sweepstakes contests and
prizes for people to win. The sky may not be the limit!
More than 10 million prizes are awarded every year! that
gives you some pretty good odds at being among the winners
since many people don't bother to participate. There are
people who are very adept at playing the sweepstakes game
and this is now your goal: to learn how to organize a game
plan for winning!
There are tips for success in sweepstakes playing. To a
certain degree, playing these contests is an art form.
There are certain things you can do to raise your chances
of winning dramatically.
Consider some of these thoughts:
+ the best time to enter
+ what colors attract the most attention
+ how often to send in an entry form
+ how the drawing is done
All of this information and more is what you need to learn
and be successful at the sweepstakes game. You've already
seen yourself in the winner's circle. You know you are
going to win. Now it's time to do something about the end
result!
Look for sweepstakes entries in magazines, newspapers,
stores and in your mailbox. There are hundreds of chances
to win at the sweepstakes game. Collect every entry you
can lay your hands on!
Enter the contests that have a prize you really want. Even
if you don't like the prize, recognize that the prize has a
value. This means that you can always sell it at a reduced
rate and still come out way ahead. There are all kinds of
prizes from vacation getaways to jewelry to cars to homes
to stereos to motorcycles and, of course, cash. If you win
it and you don't want it, advertise it and sell it! If
there is a strong cash value to the prize, it's worth
entering!
Many sweepstakes are geared towards the fall with an end of
the year deadline for submitting your entry form. This is
because people are often looking to buy at this time of
year as the holidays approach. Remember, sweepstakes are
advertisements in disguise, so this is the time of year
when the companies haul out their big guns to promote their
products.
The holiday season is also the time people are busy and
likely won't take the time to prepare and send in their
entry form. Good! All the more reason for you to spend
your time sending in as many entries as you can to increase
your chances of winning. Send in a bunch at this time of
year. It's a decisive advantage!
The big prizes are most often up for grabs at year end
sweepstakes, so the increase in your number of entries is
well-timed to take advantage of these all-star giveaways.
Cars, vacations and the million dollar checks are most
common in the last quarter of the year.
Don't depend solely on your own ability to find all the
sweepstakes offers you can. Ask for some help. Get family
members, friends and work associates to accumulate these
contest entries for you. The more people that are looking
on your behalf, the greater the number of entries you'll
make. You may also find several sweepstakes offers that you
haven't -- and wouldn't -- have seen.
As you stockpile the entry forms, organize them into a
logical pattern. On a separate pad, write down a summary
of information about the sweepstakes entry, including:
+ name of the sweepstakes
+ name and address of the advertising sponsor
+ the specific prizes being given away
+ date of the drawing
+ date of sponsor notification of winning entries
+ number of entries you submit for this sweepstakes
+ amount of postage you've spent on this sweepstakes
+ date of each mailing of your entry forms
This will give you an easy checklist to refer to on any
given sweepstakes. You may want to also have cross-
checking records in the form of ledger sheets and monthly
calendars, so you can record expenses and dates again for
easy reference for those particulars.
For every sweepstakes you enter, you must read all of their
rules carefully. Only by following the given rules will
you be able to have a qualified entry. If you ignore the
rules, your entry will never be placed in the bin for
drawing. You will not know this, either. Advertising
sponsors aren't going to take the time to tell you they've
discarded your entry form. If you don't do it right,
that's not their problem.
So, be careful! Here are a few examples of the types of
rules that often appear in sweepstakes contests:
+ No purchase necessary. This is part of the FTC
regulations. You don't have to buy anything to submit a
correct entry form that may be drawn. You may not be able
to use the entry form attached to the sweepstakes offer,
but you have every right to follow the directions and
submit the necessary information on a separate piece of
paper or index card.
+ Postmarked by OR Received by rules. This is important to
note. Get your entry out in plenty of time to ensure that
it will qualify as a correct entry form and place you in
the drawing for the grand prize. Don't time it too
closely. Beat the dates by a comfortable margin.
+ Non-transferability. You must take the prize that you
win. You can't trade it for another prize.
+ One prize per household. This increases your chance to
win since contest rules forbid more than one winner from
the same family.
+ Age/Geographic limits. Some sweepstakes have age
limitations and/or regional boundaries. The contest may
only be available to people who live in the home state of
the advertiser, for example. Watch these limitations! If
you don't qualify, toss this entry form!
+ Multiple entries: You usually can enter as often as
you'd like but remember: you must submit all entries
separately! One entry to an envelope is the usual rule.
It will cost you more postage, but the more often you
enter, the better the chances of you having a winning
entry.
+ Envelope size: There may be a specification as to
envelope size. If there is, don't ignore it. Get down to
your office supply store and be sure you have the right
size envelope. Otherwise -- disqualification!
+ Penmanship: You must print legibly on the entry form or
the sponsor could throw it out. If they can't read it, you
won't win.
+ Inclusions: Quite often, there are attachments you must
include with your entry form to have a qualified entry.
Often, this is a sticker that must be affixed to the entry
form. It may also be a bar code, a label or some other
identifier, often bearing the product name. Advertisers
like to know you saw and read the name of the product line
being pushed. Don't miss the instructions on inclusions.
Otherwise, your entry form will be tossed.
+ Original form: Entry forms must be the originals. You
can't use photocopies of them. If it isn't the original,
it won't be placed in the drawing.
+ Distractions: Unless specifically instructed to do so,
do not use staples, tape or paper clips to attach any
inclusions or otherwise mark up your entry form. This is
likely to get the entry disqualified.
Yes, there are a lot of rules. But -- follow them exactly!
You'd be surprised at how many people that try to enter a
sweepstakes but are ruled ineligible simply because they
missed one rule. Don't let that happen to you. No matter
how silly the rule sounds, the sponsor has it in there for
a reason. Don't judge! Just follow the exact instructions
and you'll have a qualified entry.
There are several types of sweepstakes. The primary ones
are: random drawing, card game and second chance.
Random drawing sweepstakes accept sealed envelope entry
forms only and store them in large bins until drawing time.
An official sweepstakes judging agency often does the
honors of selecting the winning name. You might even
receive a letter in advance of the drawing identifying the
people who are charged with selecting the winning entries.
Some of these draws may be televised. Sponsors like that
exposure as well as the excitement of an official drawing.
If a computer is used to select the winning entries, the
high drama is often missing. There's nothing like a staged
event to attract a little more attention to a company's
product.
Card game sweepstakes are emerging in popularity. Here,
you follow the instructions on the card to have a chance to
win. You may have to scratch off a portion of the card to
reveal a prize or an entry or a number or some other
identifier that tells you what to do next.
The instant winner form of the card game tells you
immediately what you have or haven't won. Companies like
McDonald's do this to give away food, prizes and cash. Or
you may have seen a Pepsi bottle cap with a prize on the
inside. These are example of instant winnings.
Another form of card entry is the matching type. Here, you
get a card with a number or picture on it and have to match
it to the master number or picture which has a pre-
assigned prize. If your number or picture is identical,
you win the prize associated with that number.
Supermarkets do this frequently and you have to check in
the store to see the weekly winning number or picture
display.
Collection games are becoming more common in this card
format sweepstakes. In this game, you have to collect a
series of cards that solve a puzzle. It may take four,
five, six or more cards needed to solve the entire maze and
there's always one or two cards that are hard to obtain.
Speaking of puzzles, another card game form involves
decoding information or numbers to correctly put together a
winning card. Clues to the decoding are often available on
the back of the advertising sponsor's product(s).
The third primary sweepstakes game is referred to as a
second chance effort because it gives you the opportunity
to win prizes you might have lost out on in an earlier
game. There are many unclaimed prizes in sweepstakes and
this is the way of distributing them. You send in a
completed and usually sealed entry form (or dozens of them,
preferably) and there is a random drawing held to assess
winners. There are almost always fewer entrants to this
type of sweepstakes, thus increasing your chances of
winning. So, be on the lookout for this type of game.
There are other types of sweepstakes which, though less
popular, can earn you some substantial winnings. One of
these is the automatic entry sweepstakes. Here, you
complete a coupon which you use at a store to receive a
discount on a product. That coupon automatically becomes a
sweepstakes entry when the coupon is sent in by the store
to be redeemed. It's one way to get you to buy a product
and still hold a sweepstakes, but because the primary
intent is the coupon value, the sweepstakes is valid and an
extra bonus, actually, above and beyond the value of the
coupon.
There is also the early bird game where an advertiser wants
to know how a promotional kick-off is faring and gives an
early deadline after the campaign kickoff to mail back a
form to enter a sweepstakes. Watch the deadlines here!
Finally, the sweepstakes entry form may have a multiple
choice quiz, requiring you to answer the question in
addition to completing the entry form. Only those entries
identifying the right answer will be eligible for the
drawing. If you know the answer, enter as many times as
you can. If you are unsure, you may want to pass on the
contest since your entry form with an incorrect answer will
not be used. You could also send entries in with several
assigned to each possible answer. Then you know that at
least one set of entries will be correct and they will be
used for the drawing.
Even though you may find the same sweepstakes in different
places, don't take a chance that the rules are similar. To
be safe, read every one and check it against the
information you have to be sure.
It can take up to six months to notify you of your winning
entry, so don't lose hope. Usually the sweepstakes rules
spell out the length of time from drawing to notification.
Send in a steady stream of entry forms over the entire
length of the contest. You have better odds at winning
then if you simply mailed all of your entries at one time.
If you have a choice, use a colored envelope to submit your
entry. This may well increase your chance of winning. Only
do this if the sweepstakes rules don't require a certain
color.
Being organized is the key to sending multiple entry forms.
When you have the time, pre-address envelopes and complete
entry forms. It's O.K. to do them in advance. Just mail
them out in a systematic fashion as previously suggested.
Remember your zip code! Don't leave this out or your entry
won't make it.
Make sweepstakes entry a regular part of your day, like
exercising. Put aside an hour a day just to work on your
entries and mailings. The time you invest will pay off in
the long run. Note all your mailing and entry data in the
forms we've suggested for easy reference. You can also
write up a mailing schedule on a weekly basis to remind you
of what has to be mailed when.
Write to every advertising sponsor and request a "winner's
list". This way you can see if all the prizes were
awarded. It will also clue you into when a possible second
chance sweepstakes would occur.
People are notified every day of their winning entry in a
sweepstakes. You usually have to sign an affidavit first
and return it to claim your prize. It is important that
you keep the post office aware of your whereabouts. If you
move, leave a forwarding address. The sponsors aren't
going to the ends of the earth looking for you. Make
yourself easy to find.
The Federal Trade Commission does regulate the drawings to
ensure they are held fairly and competently. If you win,
you will be notified. Save this letter! It's your
evidence in case the prize doesn't follow within the
specified period of time. Keep a record of all your
expenses incurred in sending out your entry forms. Your
postage, envelopes, pens and some other office items will
be deductible IF you win a prize. Since you will be taxed
on the value of the prize, the expense deductions will help
reduce your tax liability.
The sweepstakes game is definitely one you can win if you
believe in yourself and spend the necessary time submitting
all the entries. Good luck!
THE CONTEST GAME
American contests are a 20th Century preoccupation.
Initially, they were featured by general magazines and
newspapers. From modest beginnings, contests now claim a
wide variety of styles with some noteworthy prizes to back
up correct solutions.
The difference between a contest and a sweepstakes is the
need for skill. A sweepstakes is merely an entry with only
the rare opportunity to answer a multiple choice question
in order to have a correct entry form. A contest requires
you to solve something -- a crossword puzzle, a maze, a
diagram, a photograph or to create something like an
advertising slogan or a poem or a song to promote a
specific product.
There are numerous contests sponsored throughout the
country. One of the most popular is a word game where
there are two possible correct answers and you simply have
to choose between them. There might be 20 of these answers
from week to week. If no one correctly identifies all 20
answers, the cash jackpot rolls over and more cash is
added. This can go on for weeks and the longer the game,
the more entries that are filed as some big money can come
into play. It's almost pot-luck, though, as it isn't a
matter of selecting a wrong answer since both answers
(given) are correct. You must pick the one the editors of
the puzzle settle on as the best answer. That makes it
tough, but challenging and fun, too. There are a lot of
people in town who look forward to playing that game each
week.
And for the newspaper that sponsors it, it means more sales
of the paper as people who might not ordinarily buy the
tabloid, do so to get the puzzle. Sales mean dollars and
thus the chance to give away prize money to increase
subscriptions. Increased circulation can mean more
advertising revenue. And the beat goes on!
Puzzles like these make contests fan favorites. One can
participate in hundreds of contests given the time. The
more you compete in, the better the chance to win one or
more prizes.
To get organized, simply make this an extension of your
sweepstakes work. Maybe an hour per day is devoted to
sweepstakes, another hour for contests. You'd use the same
supplies you accumulated for the sweepstakes and keep the
same type of records to ensure that you'll have proper
records to deduct the expenses should you win any prizes.
Divide your contests up into type. Crosswords will go in
one file, mazes in a second file, advertising jingles in a
third, and so forth. Place them in date order and
construct a list of the next two month's dates followed by
any contest answer that has to be mailed by then. Leave
yourself plenty of time so you won't miss any deadlines.
As with sweepstakes, follow the instructions. They likely
won't be as detailed as sweepstakes, but the guidelines
should still be followed to qualify your entry for a prize.
Above all, enjoy the contests! They can be more fun than
sweepstakes because there is a skill involved. They may be
more time-consuming then sweepstakes, too. After two or
three months, you'll have a better idea of how many
contests and sweepstakes you can keep up with on a regular
basis.
You will also get better at one type of contest or another.
If you find yourself adept at crosswords, but lousy at
coming up with advertising jingles, then prioritize your
contest work around the puzzles. Given a couple of
deadlines, you'll know to work on the puzzles first and the
jingles later. This way you have a better chance of
winning the prize offered.
As you do more and more of these contest games, you will
find yourself getting better and better at it and cutting
down the time it takes to complete the forms. Puzzles,
especially, have a number of clues that are used universally,
meaning you'll know a few answers each time simply because
you've seen them before.
You'll also come to recognize a style or a particular pattern
of a given company which could give you the key to the correct
contest answer. For example, if one company tends to have
contest answers that involve their own products, you will be
able to concentrate on a smaller number of possible answers
than the individuals who are infrequent players in the contest
game.
The more you play, the better your chances of winning. Not only
will your skills improve, but you will also be playing amongst
fewer participants than a sweepstakes. Contests that require
skill generally discourage many people from playing. The ones
that stay in it will be good, but there will be less entrants
among which prizes must be spread. This should give you some
extra incentive to hone your contest skills accordingly.
Good players who consistently return entries can win huge
dollar amounts!
Keep a pen and pencil handy at all times. You should even
put one next to your bed! There are times when a contest
answer may come to you in the middle of the night. If you
have something close by to write on, you ensure that the
answer will still be with you in the morning.
When you win, be sure to keep track of all the prizes. Cash
is relatively easy to record, but merchandise carries a
different price tag. You will need to assign the good a
value. The sponsor of the contest can help, but do a
comparison with other products on the market to be sure the
assigned value is fair since you will have to pay taxes on
it.
You should check with an accountant to be sure that you are
doing the correct job of reporting your prize totals less
any business expenses deductions.
SUMMARY
Are you ready? Wealth is out there for the taking and you
are just the person who can reel it in. It's time to stop
reading and take up the fight to earn these valuable
prizes.
Hopefully, you have been reinforcing your reading with the
positive thoughts of a winner. You will not be a winner
unless you believe it yourself first. This confidence and
winning attitude can help you through any trouble spots you
encounter.
Yes, just a few hours per week of concentration on
sweepstakes and contests can earn you a substantial amount
of money. Someone is out there right now winning the
prizes you deserve! It's time to do something about that!
What do you have to lose? Time and a few dollars in
postage and supplies? A small investment for such a
gigantic potential return.
Start looking for those entry forms today! Good luck!
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