By Linsey Knerl

Today, I’m going to share a bit of what I’ve learned from a fun hobby I’ve mastered over the last 10 years--entering sweepstakes! While a lot has changed over the last decade, the basic keys to winning haven’t.

What is a Sweepstakes?

Simply explained, a sweepstakes is a giveaway where entry is free, and the winner is chosen randomly. Much different than lotteries or raffles, which require some form of payment to enter, the odds are evenly dispersed among all entrants and a purchase won’t increase your likelihood of winning. Most often held by companies wishing to gain added exposure for their product or service, sweepstakes (or “sweeps” as the regulars call them) have been a legitimate, if unpredictable, way to supplement the family budget.

Where Do I Find Sweepstakes?

Long gone are the days when you had to arm yourself with a stack of 3 X 5 cards and costly sheets of stamps (although some sweepers still do this.) Most sweepstakes are conducted entirely online, allowing anyone with an Internet connection to get in on the action. Knowing where to look for the best giveaways can give you a leg up on the rest!

How to Find the Best Online Sweepstakes

Several websites makes listing sweepstakes their only mission. One of my favorites, Sweeps Advantage (www.sweepsadvantage.com), is the largest entirely free database of sweepstakes listings, giving you access to daily updates on sweepstakes with values ranging from a few dollars up to a million bucks! Another great site is Online-Sweepstakes (www.online-sweepstakes.com). While the better listings on this site are available to paying members only, there are useful message boards that help sweepers share hints, tips, and members-only giveaways.

How to Find Sweepstakes on Blogs

Blogs have become one of the most avid embracers of the sweepstakes, offering what they call “giveaways” for everything from baby blankets to Mac laptops. With a shorter running time and less promotion than many of the sweepstakes offered by major corporations, the odds of winning are usually much higher. For some of the best blog listings, I suggest Prizey.net (a site dedicated to blog giveaways only) and Sweeties Sweeps (sweetiessweeps.com).

What’s the Best Way to Enter Sweepstakes?

The key is to be consistent and keep entering if you really want to win!

There are different schools of thought as to how you should enter sweepstakes. Many sweepers enter the day before the sweepstakes is scheduled to end, as this guarantees that they get one last shot at a giveaway and don’t accidentally enter more than once for sweepstakes that only allow one entry. Some other sweepers swear by entering as soon as they find a new sweepstakes--after all, the early bird gets the worm (as some promotions are only open to the first so many entrants.)

The reality is that most hobby sweepers do what works for them. For some, this may mean signing up for one sweepstakes site, doing 15-20 minutes of giveaways in the morning, and another batch before bed. Others sit down and do several hours of giveaways at a time. The key is to be consistent and keep entering if you really want to win!   

Which Sweepstakes Should You Enter?

How should you decide which sweepstakes to enter?

For some, it’s about the thrill of the win, so it doesn’t really matter what they are entering for. Winning lets them know that they are making it as a sweeper, and it keeps them going through the dry spells of winning nothing (and believe me, everyone has dry spells.) For the second group, it’s about supplementing a lifestyle with items that you couldn’t afford, otherwise. I personally have won cash, a trip, a private movie screening, and a popular hand-held gaming system (among other things.) These are all items that I wouldn’t have been able to purchase, but they were on my “wish list.” If a prize isn’t going to enrich your life somehow, it may be best to leave it for someone who can enjoy it.

Do I Have to Pay Anything to Claim My Prize?

A legitimate sweepstakes will not usually require that you pay anything to receive your prize. On a rare occasion, there may be special costs involved with enjoying a prize (airfare to a special event if it’s not included in the prize description, for example), but a legitimate giveaway should never ask for payment to claim a prize. Additional warning signs of a scam include asking you to give detailed banking info, claiming to be a government organization, or insisting that you entered something you don’t remember. For additional information on sweepstakes scams, check the contests.about.com website.

One thing you will be financially responsible for is any tax liability on the prize. Since winnings from a sweepstakes should be claimed as unearned income, you should budget for any payments you may have to make as a result of winning a large prize. Most companies will only issue you tax forms for prizes valued above $600, however, you are still responsible to pay taxes on the total of all your prizes each year – even if you received no forms.

What the Real “Winners” Know

Since sweeping styles can be as varied as the person entering, there aren’t too many hard and fast rules that will work for everyone. There are, however, some general words of wisdom that many successful sweepers will agree on. Be sure to follow these additional quick and dirty tips for winning: