I recently interviewed Linda, owner of the Contestgirl website. This is part two of our interview. You can find part one HERE.

What are some of the challenges you've faced in running a website?

Fortunately, I do get a lot of assistance from my husband when he's not at
his day-job. He knows computers and programming and has done most of the
technical work. Without his help, it wouldn't be nearly as efficient and
easy to use. The site is becoming very popular and this sometimes creates
slowdowns in the functionality. We're looking into ways to improve any lags
created when the sites usage peaks. Also, it's very easy to find lots of
contests every day, but takes a long time to put it all onto the site,
because I need to skim the rules for each. I also get lots of email from
the sites users and try to answer in a timely manner. I do like to have
time during the day to run errands and keep the household running, so, I'd
say finding enough time to keep the site fresh, answering my email and
running my home are the biggest challenges at the moment. I'm doing it all,
but it's a balancing act.

What are some of your future goals for the Contestgirl site?

At some point, I would like to add a modified forum. Because the site now
takes up so much of my time, I'm not quite ready yet to do this. A forum
would require a lot of moderating, as they can become flashpoints when
people don't get along. I have a lot of wonderful people contributing
'comments' and interacting now and love the co-operative nature of it all.
I have a real contesting community and it would be nice to give people a
better way to interact with each other.

I'd like to share an unexpected benefit of running this website, is that
I've made some terrific contesting friends and have also connected some of
my contesting community contributors to each other for friendship. I've had
so many people thank me for making their day brighter. Some of these people
are housebound because of illness and have found this hobby and the people
they interact with in the 'Comments' makes their day much brighter. I also
get such a kick when people write to me to tell me how happy they are that
they won a prize or received a free sample. I get a lot of positive
feedback from www.contestgirl.com users, and it really makes my day a little
brighter too. The level of pleasure the website has brought to myself as
well as others was not something I had planned or expected.

For more information, visit the Contestgirl website HERE

According to the Direct Marketing Association, it is estimated that more than 55 million Americans enter sweepstakes each year, with 15 million entering four or more times a year. Here are some more interesting tidbits about sweepstakes that you may not have been aware of...

A sweepstakes mailer that states "you may have already won" really is making a true statement.

These types of sweepstakes generally have a pre-selected winning number which is chosen by an unbiased third party, or randomly by computer, prior to the sweepstakes mailer being sent out. Therefore, you really MAY have already won once you receive the mailer... of course, in this case, should you decide not to respond, you will forfeit your prize and it will generally be awarded in a random drawing to someone else (for those failing to respond to these types of mailers, it could just as easily read " you may have already forfeited your prize", so don't be afraid to enter!).

Colorful sweepstakes entries are 60% more likely to be picked than plain white entries.

This figure is according to a January 2006 article in "Woman's World" magazine. I have seen this demonstrated myself on several occasions during major TV shows when they are choosing a contest winner ("Regis and Kelly is one of them), along with some local contests. The judge will outright say "ooh, I like this bright red one!" or something to this effect. They, too, are human, and if it catches their eye, they are likely to pick it.

This same articles states that approximately 50% of sweepstakes entries are disqualified due to being incomplete, so be sure to fill in all entry fields when you are entering.

According to the National Consumers League, in the first six months of the year 2002 sweepstakes scams were the number three scam for consumers, with credit card scams taking first place, and Work-at-home scams following at number two.

This report also stated that the elderly were the most targeted group for sweepstakes scams with 61 percent of its victims being age 60 or older. Another reason to emphasize to elderly family members that they are <b> never</b> required to purchase anything, or pay for shipping, nor are required to pay any other types of fees to claim a legitimate sweepstakes prize.

The term Sweepstakes originated in horseracing.

This actually stems from a traditional horseracing game of chance where entrants would put up a stake, and the winner would "sweep all stakes". Again, current sweepstakes are required by law to request no monetary investment in order to win.

Sweepstake Art Print

Recently I contacted Linda, owner of the "Contestgirl" website for an interview. Here is what she had to say in part one of our series...

Jennifer: How did you get started entering sweepstakes?

Linda: My sister won a cruise holiday in a radio phone-in contest. This piqued my
interest in the idea of entering contests. Since I loved using the internet,
I started to explore to see what online contests I could find. I was
surprised to find very large world of contests and haven't looked back
since.

Jennifer: What are your favorite types of sweepstakes and why?

Linda: My favourite type of sweepstakes are the local ones put on by newspapers, TV
stations, radio stations and even shopping malls. These ones have a much
smaller pool of people entering them, so your chances of winning are much
better. I also actively seek ballot boxes when I'm out and about for the
same reason. Having said that, it's also a lot of fun entering the huge
national or even international contests for really big and exciting prizes,
even if the odds of winning are almost nil, because I can at least enjoy
imagining winning that great trip or whatever the prize might be, and
especially if it's a one-entry only contest, because I don't feel it's a
time waster.

Jennifer: What made you decide to start your own website?

Linda: I decided to start my own website because I had time on my hands (I'm a stay
at home mom), and I thought I could do a good job being a filter for some of
the garbage contests out there. There are so many wonderful and legitimate
contests, but there are also some poor ones, or people who use the format of
contests to get your info for spamming. I saw too many lousy ones being
listed on some of the contest directory sites and wanted to create a site
where there was more of an attempt at filtering those ones out of the pool.
I hope I'm doing a good job of that--it's sometimes just a judgement call.

Next week we will continue with part two. In the meantime, you can visit the Contestgirl HERE

On Choosing Whether to Work at Home

Tips for Winning Online Instant Win Sweepstakes

Online instant win games are a fun form of sweepstakes that has some type of game or other action to be performed by the entrant in order to win a prize. A prize can be then be won instantly upon the completion of the task. Generally, these games will have an overall drawing from all entries for one Grand Prize, with smaller prizes as instant wins. As a rule of thumb, these are just as generally daily plays, and offer more prizes per game than the average sweeps.

When the Grand Prize winner is chosen in a drawing from all qualified entries at the end of the sweeps, it is obvious that the more games you play, the better your odds for winning the Grand Prize drawing. By playing each game daily when you are able to, you will increase your odds for winning both instant win and Grand Prizes.

For many of the instant win prizes, random computer-generated times are chosen throughout the life of the sweepstakes as "win-times", and anyone who properly plays the game at that time, or closest to that time, wins the designated prize for that time-frame.

Depending upon the number of entrants, and the number of people playing daily, some of these "win-times" may pass without anyone receiving the prize before the next "win-time" arrives, which can end up leaving extra prizes remaining at the end of the drawing. Playing during times of less web traffic can help increase your odds of winning the daily instant win prizes by picking up some of these empty windows.

Upon completion of the final drawing, the Grand Prize winner may not be reachable for various reasons, thus leaving the Grand Prize as unawarded. When these things happen, the majority of sweepstakes will hold a second chance drawing for any unawarded prizes. For online instant win games, the second chance drawing is generally done by drawing from all qualified entries that did not win a prize in the primary phase of the game. In this case, each qualified play increases your odds once again.

Some sweepstakes will also hold second chance drawings by postal mail. This will be clearly stated in the official rules, along with an address as to where to send your entry. Many of these will allow more entries of one style than another, so if you really have your sites set on something, be sure to read through the rules to find out how to maximize your odds of winning.

Find Instant Win Sweepstakes at BellaOnline

Limbo 41414

Limbo 41414 is a free reverse bid game where you can "bid" for prizes (at no charge) and the lowest unique bid wins! You can play from your cellphone as well. Text PLAY to the short code 41414 for a current list of auctions.

How to Avoid Sweepstakes Scams

The Federal Trade Commission (chief consumer protection agency of the U.S. government) has an alert on file warning consumers of sweepstakes scammers posing as government officials who would claim that their prey had won a prize, then ask for money in order to send it. The scammers would end up being the only ones to receive any money, and the would-be prize winner would be holding the bill. The alert goes on further to state several timeless ways that these scams can be avoided.

#1 Don't pay to collect sweepstakes winnings

If you are required to pay anything, then pass it by. Legitimate sweepstakes won't ask you to pay anything in order to receive your prize. Some promotional contests do ask for a shipping and handling fee... however, in the end, it is more often than not, a lot of red tape and extra fees which could end you up with nothing.

#2 Hold on to your money

Scammers will sometimes ask you to wire them money, or to overnight them a check or money order for quick delivery of your prize. No, no, no. These are not legitimate tactics. True sweepstakes sponsors want you to have a wonderful experience with their company and product, which does not include asking you to pay for their promotion in any way.

#3 Look-alikes aren't the real thing

If it looks, smells, and feels like an orange, then go ahead and eat it. However, in the sweepstakes realm, just because someone says your prize is insured doesn't necessarily ensure its delivery. Phonies can give false appearances, sometimes posing as being insured by a legitimate agency... which generally doesn't mean anything at all. So, don't let it lull you into a false sense of security.

#4 Phone numbers can deceive

Don't rely on your caller id to be a totally reliable source of information. Internet technology can allow scam artists to "disguise" their phone number so you won't know where they are calling from. Someone could have a number from Washington, D.C. show up on your telephone when they are really calling you from Siberia.

#5 Take control of the calls you receive

Place your telephone number on the do not call registry at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 to help reduce the amount of unwanted phone calls.

#6 File a complaint with the FTC

If you receive a suspicious winning phone call, file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov, or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP. If possible, include the date and time of the call along with the name and/or telephone number of the organization that called you. Even if it is a phony number, enforcement officials may still be able to track it.

The Alltel My Circle 500 Go-Kart Race and Pit-Crew Challenge is a two-level event with a go-kart race for ten first prize winners, and a pit-crew challenge for teams of the first prize winners and seven to ten of their guests.

The ten first prize winners will receive a trip for up to ten, yet not less than seven, people to Charlotte, North Carolina on May 24 - 27, 2007 to participate in the Alltel My Circle 500 Go-Kart Race and Pit-Crew Challenge, with an opportunity to meet Ryan Newman and the #12 Alltel Dodge team. Included is round-trip airfare with hotel accomodations and various VIP treatments.

With this they will also receive one wireless handset and accessory with a value of $340, and upon meeting all requirements of the challenge along with their guests will also be awarded a single corporate check in the amount of $13,257.00 (good for paying the the taxes), bringing the total value of each first prize to approximately $39,331.00.

Practice is on Friday, with the race on Saturday. Anyone in the race who beats the established time of Ryan Newman will be awarded a one second deduction from their pit crew time.

The Pit-Crew Challenge will include each team member performing a standard pit crew duty on a standard-sized race car, with the team having the fastest time receiving a $200,000 award. In the event that time beats the industry standard of 14.5 seconds, an extra $300,000 will be added, for a total Grand Prize of $500,000.

Anyone who is currently, or who ever was, a professional or semi-professional motorsports driver, crew member, or coach is ineligible for the challenge.

Ten weekly prizes are also awarded. This week's prizes are $100 Mobil Gas Cards. One entry per weekly drawing, so this is your last chance to enter... the end date is April 30, 2007.

To enter from your cell phone, send a text message to the short code 67783. Some cell carriers may not work with this type of service.

You may also enter online Here .

Cellphone Accessories