Monday, March 4, 2013

Book Blogger Confessions #2

Hosted by For What It's Worth and Midnyte Reader
This week on the fun meme of Book Blogger Confessions, the topic is giveaways. And this time, it's a bit like an interview.

Q: As a blogger, how do you feel about extra entries, required entries etc? 

For me, I do like and enjoy extra entries. Not only for my own personal giveaways here, but also when I go enter somewhere else. As a blogger, I can have them be a follower, follow on Twitter, give me book recommendations by commenting, and/or have them tweet about it to spread the word. I think extra entries are very beneficial. Required entries? It can go either way. But as for all entries, I do not want the readers having to go through so many hoops. There's a limit on how many entries there will be and the number is not 37. 

Q: Do you have a system to choose/announce winners and keep prizes organized? What method works best for you when hosting a giveaway? (Rafflecopter/Google Doc's or other)

I announce by emailing the winner and giving them 48 hours to respond. I don't announce on my blog or do anything else. I MIGHT also announce on Twitter if they are on there. Choosing also goes with my method. "Always" sounds so confining, but I will probably always use Rafflecopter. It's easy for me and I think the people entering as well. With Rafflecopter, it chooses randomly for me. 

Q: What do you do about people who enter your giveaways but don't follow instructions exactly? 

You mean...cheaters? THEY SHALL GET MY WRATH OF DISAPPOINTMENT AND DOOM SHALL DESCEND OVER THEM. 


Well, if the cheater is a winner, I will pick another winner. If a cheater is someone else, I probably won't know about it and there's nothing I can do. But if someone doesn't complete something that they said they completed or lied or anything in that way, I won't give the prize to them. Their fault. 



Q: Have you ever had problems hosting a giveaway sponsored by an author or publisher who is supposed to send the prize to the winner and doesn't? How have you handled these issues?

No. I have never had a sponsored giveaway before so I do not qualify for this question. Hey, if an author or publisher wants to sponsor a giveaway here, contact me. 

Q: As a prize winner - what do you do if your prize never arrives? Do you contact the blogger or just let it go? 

If it's sponsored by a publisher or author? I haven't been in that situation, but if it's been a long time and doesn't come, I will contact the blogger. They have probably been in contact with the other party even if it is not their fault. If it is just the blogger's giveaway, I will definitely contact the blogger. Although it is very nice of them to give their stuff away, it is also their responsibility to follow through. I entered. I most likely followed them. I did everything they asked of me and did not cheat. I earned it. You told me I won. Now send it. 




~*~

Man, I'm in the giveaway mood now. I've only participated in two hops, but I'm thinking of either: doing another one or doing an individual one. Actually, if all goes according to plan, I will soon have two signed Ally Carter books to give away. You'll just have to keep checking back, I guess :) 


What are your feelings with all these giveaway questions? Have you had problems with giveaways before? 

**ANNOUNCEMENT** 

Blue Sky Bookshelf as been nominated for the Noob Award for Book Blogger Twitter Con (#BBTC) hosted by Parajunkee and The Bookish Brunette. This is not me telling you to go vote for me (you should vote for whoever you want to), but me letting you readers know what is happening. Even if you do not vote for me, you should vote for someone in BBTC. The event will take place April 1 to April 7. The voting started March 1. The run-offs will end March 8. Then the finals will take place March 13. For more information, go HERE.

16 comments:

  1. You tell those cheaters! I check all of a person's entries, so even if they got pulled for the free entry if they said they followed me on Twitter and didn't, then I pick another winner. Cheaters shouldn't prosper!

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  2. Great post Sunny, I don't like people who cheat on the rafflecopter forms either, especially when they think that they will never get caught! I also prefer giveaways which do a few entries, normally I'm only on the laptop for a few minutes, so don't have the time or energy to whip through the entries! Also congratulations for getting nominated for The Noob award! :)

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  3. CONGRATS ON THE AWARD NOMINATION!! I hope that you win, LOL! I HATE when people cheat on rafflecopters. I feel super bad, and then....sigh. I can't do it, LOL! And I love extra entries too, but I can't say that I do ALL of them...I wish I could, you know? But I just don't have time! o.O

    I've only ever contacted a blogger about a giveaway once, and she said she never got my verifying email, so BOO on me, LOL! But I have had to contact the author about giveaway prizes when one was hosted on my site...I wouldn't recommend it, it can be a nightmare. o.O

    Lovely post, Sunny! (:

    Loves,
    Megan@The Book Babe

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    1. Thanks, Megan! I'm with you there on time! I definitely don't do FB and I *might* do comment if I have the time. Sometimes it's such a hassle!

      Ooh, boo! Sounds like it!

      Thanks for commenting :)

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  4. Fun topic! :) I agree, it can get really annoying when I go on blog and see waaaay too many ways to enter, and I just don't understand cheaters. I've never had an author sponsor a giveaway of mine and not follow through; but 2 months ago an author told me she'd send me an ARC of a book I really wanted to read...and I never got it so that's definitely annoying. Congrats on the award nomination!!! :D

    Alice @ Alice in Readerland

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    1. YES! Sometimes I just pass over them because I'm like "I really don't have time for this." Ooh that's really annoying. I'd be very let down. Thanks!

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  5. I totally agree about the cheating part, I've had some people who could have won if they hadn't lied about what they did to get the entry. My last giveaway actually, the first 3 people I picked all got disqualified because of that. Great answers!

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    1. I've heard of those situations so I never get why people do cheat! We'll look...so what's the point?

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  6. I actually like multiple entries, it makes me feel like I have a greater chance of winning. I sometimes don't feel like doing them all though.

    I also choose another winner if I see cheating. Fake entries make me so mad!

    WOW, congrats on the nomination, sounds amazing! Be proud :)

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    1. Yes! I like the chances of winning, but I don't want TOO many and it's just a drag.

      Thank you :D

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  7. Congrats on the nomination~
    Extra entries are great, more chances at winning that something; although I do agree sometimes there's way to many. I haven't gotten on the wagon of giaveaways yet but I use Rafflecopter for my giveaways and it works really well, it's just harder finding the cheaters if there are too many entries. But I don't think I'll ever have that problem because I really don't require them to do anything but comment and not many join so yup, no problem.

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    1. Thank you!
      Well, if you know how to work Rafflecopter, it's quite easy :) Well, that's good!

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  8. I am right with you on all these things. I like offering extra entry options, but I really dislike required entries that are too long. Contests should be fun! And making people jump through hoops isn't fun at all.

    The Midnight Garden

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  9. Oh I can't believe how many cheaters I get. As if I won't find out. Jerks. I'm not MAKING them enter the giveaway, so if they don't want to follow the rules, then they will not win. I have no pity. :D

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  10. I think the only cheaters we get are people who enter the US and the INT! Those are the worst because we try and be nice to INT people and they make it hard! As for required entries I think there should be a freebie if your gonna require other things! I know people don't enjoy when you make it required to follow but as long as there is a freebie I don't see anything wrong with that!

    Jasmine

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