Ahh, giveaways. I know for a fact that the net is full of people who trawl sites just for giveaways and contests, as well as those who manage to enter single drawings numerous times under various pseudonyms without getting caught.
Because who doesn’t like free stuff?
And as much as the blog is great on its own, I’m sure that one of the reasons The Pioneer Woman is so popular is because she’s always hosting FABULOUS giveaways.
Hosting a giveaway is also one of the quickest ways to draw new readers to your site. Not all visitors will stick around, but I’ve found that I’ve always snagged at least a few new loyal readers from hosting giveaways. And I’m sure that this is one of the reasons I am always seeing great giveaways on the sites I read regularly.
That being said, I don’t always enter giveaways myself.
Why? Unless it is a product/service that I really, really want or need, I won’t do it lest I ruin the chances for someone else who really wants to win.
Does that make sense?
I know that some of my fellow bloggers want as many people as possible to enter their giveaways to: (1) make it more fun, and (2) show that they have a good readership.
But even then I won’t enter unless I really want to win that product/service because I know that there’s someone out there who must want it more (and in my eyes, is more deserving to win).
Do you enter as many giveaways as possible?
Does anyone else share my philosophy on giveaways?
With that out of the way, let’s get to the fun stuff.
I recently received a $20 gift card to Shutterfly* that I have no use for — so I figured why not give it to one of my readers?
To enter the giveaway, just do one or two or all of the following (each will grant you a separate entry):
- Comment on this post
- Tweet: I just entered to win a $20 gift card to Shutterfly.com via @geekinheels and you can too! http://bit.ly/eueDGP
- “Like” this post using the Facebook “Like” button at the bottom of the post
The giveaway will close at 9pm EST on Sunday, March 27. I will announce the winner on this blog.
And stay tuned for another giveaway next week…this one I’m pretty excited about, because I use the product myself and love it! It’s on my must-have list of items for babies!
*The gift card is good for a one-time $20 credit towards a purchase of $20 or more (excluding shipping, handling and taxes) at www.shutterfly.com.
I like books, gadgets, spicy food, and art. I dislike shopping, hot weather, and the laws of entropy. Although I am a self-proclaimed computer nerd, I still have a love for handbags and makeup... and I am always teetering on high heels. To learn more about me, visit the 
I love shutterfly! 🙂
I rarely enter giveaways because most of the blogs I read are small enough to not do them, but, like you, I only enter ones I actually want and would be happy to get. I don’t see the point in entering for stuff I tell myself I’d ebay but would actually sit in my basement. Every once in a while I’ll enter something on a blog I’ve never seen before if a friend links to it or tweets it or something.
I agree with your giveaway philosophy 100%. If I don’t want it, then I won’t enter. I do, howevs, love me some Shutterfly. I actually made three of their photo books for Christmas presents this year. Easy peasy.
In FACT, I accidentally made a photo book on Snapfish, thinking I had used them before (somehow confused them with Shutterfly) and was disappointed in the quality. You live. You screw up. Occasionally you learn not to screw up the same way twice.
I’m with you on the giveaways. I only enter the ones where I actually want to win the thing being offered. I enter most of the PW giveaways except not the camera ones because I already have more cameras than I know what to do with. Would love to win one of the stand mixers or visits to her ranch though!!! You know, I’m actually amazed by how many people enter to win the clothes she’s giving away, I thought it was interesting that I was just her size but then I guess tons of people are. Or maybe just want to have her clothes.
Anyway, I use shutterfly to get pictures printed out so I would use your giveaway. 🙂
Nice idea,i agree it helps.
Yes please!
i usually don’t enter giveaways because i don’t have use for what is being given away, but i could really use a $20 gift card to shutterfly!!
I don’t enter these things a lot either, bu the shutterfly gift card would be surprisingly convenient for me– one of my college friends just gave me the password to her site where she has just TONS of our old photos and I’d love to get some printed.
Same here – I usually don’t enter for baby stuff, for example, because we don’t have kids yet and I don’t want to take it from someone who can actually use it. (Although my best friend is pregnant, so now if it’s something I think she’ll like I enter.)
Shutterfly, I adore. We’re trying to do a little Young House Love hallway collage of places we’ve been together. So I’m entering this one!
I used shutterfly to make my Christmas and Valentine’s card. I had discounts otherwise I wouldn’t have.
Takes too much time and effort to go trolling to enter contest. Pioneer Woman contest gets like thousands and thousands of people. I don’t bother wasting my time there.
I do share your philosophy about only entering give-aways you can actually use.
That said, I would definitely use this!
I Tweeted about the give-away!
I also “Liked” this post on FB!
I agee I only enter a contest if it is something that I really, really want or need, because I won’t do it lest I ruin the chances for someone else who really wants to win 🙂
I share your philosophy. I did win a giveaway once, and it was a random prize that I wouldn’t have picked for myself. Plus the giveaways I really want to win all have thousands of entries…
I pretty much share your philosophy. I have enough “junk” in my home, I don’t want anymore. I only enter giveaways I actually want and could use. I could use them one! Thanks for thinking of your readers.
Tweeted!
http://twitter.com/WirednWitty/status/54591139684163584
ha!! I’m a total dork and didn’t even pay attention to the deadline.. sorry about that. Having fun catching up with my blog feeds though. Hope you got a good giggle out of that too!