Businesses, organizations, and even some swanky individuals have hosted contests through their Twitter profile. Contests on Twitter may offer prizes for tweeting a particular update, for following a particular user, or for posting updates with a specific hashtag.

Maybe you’ve been thinking about hosting a contest using your Twitter profile? You probably also want to make sure your contest doesn’t ask anyone to violate any of Twitter’s rules or guidelines.

Great! Here are some simple guidelines for running contests on Twitter:

• Discourage the creation of multiple accounts: If users make lots of accounts in order to enter a contest more than once, they’re liable to get all of their accounts suspended. Please be sure to include a rule stating that anyone found to use multiple accounts to enter will be ineligible.

• Discourage posting the same tweet over and over (and over) again: Posting duplicate, or near duplicate, updates or links is a violation of the Twitter Rules and jeopardizes search quality. Please don’t set rules to encourage lots of duplicate updates (like saying, “whoever retweets this the most wins”). Your contest could cause users to be automatically filtered out of Twitter search. Plus, instead of their followers seeing your cool contest, their followers might start getting annoyed by your contest. You might want to set a clear contest rule stating that multiple entries in a single day will not be accepted.

• Ask users to include an @reply to you in their update so you can see all the entries: When it comes to picking a winner, you’ll want to see all the contestants. If the updates include @username mention to you, you’ll be able to see all the updates in your Mentions timeline (see here for more information on replies and mentions). Just doing a public search may not show every single update, and some contestants may be filtered from search for quality.

• Encourage the use of topics relevant to the contest: You might decide to have users include relevant hashtag topics along with the updates (like #contest or #yourcompanyname). Keep in mind that hashtag topics need to be relevant to the update; encouraging users to add your hashtag to totally unrelated updates might cause them to violate the Twitter Rules.

These guidelines should help keep your contest entrants in good standing. In general, make sure you review both the Twitter Rules and our search best practices before starting your contest. If you’re a business on Twitter, you might also want to check out the Twitter 101 for Business guide for more information and tips.

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

One misconception of the hobby is that contestors only enter to win.  They are greedy and are only out to get free stuff.  For me, and many others I have interviewed, we love the whole hobby.  There is so much fun in finding out about a new promotion, dreaming about the prize, filling out the entry form and then, sometimes, the thrill of the win.

There is also a hidden aspect to this hobby; the people.  I love sharing my finds, entry tips and wins with my friends.  I love hearing their stories in return.  I get just as giddy when a friend calls or emails me to tell me about their great luck as when I win.  (I even get the happy butterflies in my stomach.  What joy!)

When I began filling out online entries, alone in my basement, back in 2001, I never could have imagined all the excitment and crazy adventures I would be having, or life long friends I would be making, along the path this hobby has taken me on.

I love the “thrill of the chase” as I never know where this wonderful hobby will take me next!

So, what’s your favourite part?

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

Hi Carolyn,

Wealth File #6

Rich people admire other rich and successful people.
Poor people resent rich and successful people.

Poor people often look at other people’s success with resentment and envy. They snipe, “They’re just lucky,” or whisper under their breath, “Those rich jerks.”

You have to realize that if you view rich people as bad in any way and you want to be a good person, then you can never be rich. It’s impossible. How can you be something you despise?

The Huna people of Hawaii have a philosophy that says, “Bless that which you want.”

If you resent what people have, you can never have it.

To your success,
Peak Potentials Training

P.S. Learn the habits of truly wealthy people! Visit www.millionairemind.com.

The words rich people could be substituted with the word winners, and the principle perfectly explains one reason some  people win more than others.  You attract to you whatever matches the vibrational frequency you are resonating.  If you are vibrating: fun, excitement and abundance, that is what you will receive.  If you are vibrating: greed, selfishness and lack, that is what you will receive.

I help others win.  That’s what I feel my life’s purpose is. To bring more fun and excitement into other’s lives.  I am not miserable when someone emails me to tell me they won a house, a car, a trip, etc.  I am genuinely happy for them.  I even get all bubbly inside as if I had won.  Their win didn’t take anything away from me.  I didn’t lose because they won.  There are so many contests and sweepstakes running right now in Canada and the U.S. that it impossible to enter them all.  There are enough prizes for everyone.

So, what are you focusing on? Winning or losing?

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

Well, another seminar on winning, calls for another giveaway!  So, if you live in the GTA, are willing to drive to Toronto ON, or have air miles wanting to be cashed in, then enter to win a Full-Day Seminar Pass plus an autographed copy of You Can’t Win If You Don’t Enter, ($99 value).

Have you already paid to attend the seminar? Enter anyway! I will refund your registration fee if you are selected as the lucky winner.

The contest is open to all residents of Canada and the U.S., and runs from Thursday October 22nd, until 11:59pm ET on Friday November 6th. (IMPORTANT NOTE: Travel, accommodations and any additional expenses are not included.)

There are several ways to gain entries. (Listen to my interview with Valerie (@valerie2350) of Sweeps 4 Bloggers to better understand how to enter blog contests if you are new to this method of entering.)

For your first entry (required):
1. check out the seminar overview and leave a comment (on this post) on why you would like to attend. (NOTE: If you are not a blogger or if your email address is not publicly available when you comment, please post it in your entry so that I may contact you if you win.)

For extra entries, do the following, then come back to this blog post and comment that you did it:
(NOTE: If you already do any of the following, leave a comment saying you do so.)
2. follow this blog either by RSS feed or email,
3. subscribe to The Winning EDGE,
4. mark my online radio show With The Contest Queen as a favourite,
5. connect with me on LinkedIn,
6. be friends with me on Facebook,
7. follow me on Twitter,
8. tweet about this contest.

SAMPLE TWEET: I entered to join the @ContestQueen in #Toronto at her How To #WIN Cash, Cars, Trips & More Seminar! http://bit.ly/vzJy1

Winner will have 48 hours to respond to an email notification. If no response is received, another winner will be chosen.

GOOD LUCK!!

Select It, Project It, Expect It, Collect It

Due to the short amount of time we had, we were not able to give a full overview of each step.  Helene Hadsell is the creator of SPEC and she wrote the following article to further explain SPEC and how to use the four steps in manifesting anything you wish in life, including prizes.

Select-Project-Expect-Collect

by Helene Hadsell

SPEC the technique that I use whenever I have a goal to reach is not new; people in all walks of life use it in many cultures and professions. Follow me through the steps as I will explain in more detail:

Select a goal to get started. Some one asked if this technique could be used for other purposes other than just entering contests for merchandise. YES! This can be used to obtain anything you desire in the physical, mental or spiritual realms. You name it and you can claim it.

Project it can be accomplished in many ways: See it as already having it. For example, the Indians see the rain falling on the ground while they are doing their famous Rain Dance. They do not see the beginning stages of clouds forming or darkening skies-just the end result of rain hitting the ground. In the same way, a doctor, healer or patient should always see the end result of the patient’s perfect health. That is, they must visualize the patient not getting well, but instead already being 100% well. This is not lying to oneself; rather this is commanding the Higher Consciousness to bring about a particular desired goal, condition or situation into one’s life.

Expect it, is again seeing yourself as already having or enjoying the end result. The following is a simple visualization technique I enjoy doing while waiting for something to come to fruition. It’s a yoga breathing exercise that anyone can use. While sitting in a chair, inhale slowly for four to seven seconds (whichever is most comfortable for you); hold your breath for four to seven seconds; exhale slowly for four to seven seconds; finally, do not breathe at all for four to seven seconds. Repeat this breathing sequence for five minutes’ time. While doing this rhythmic breathing SEE yourself having what you want to have or being what you want to be.

A certain phenomenon occurs as you do this special breathing exercise. As you slowly exhale about the forth time, you will become aware of a very relaxed feeling in your arms and legs. You will feel so comfortable that you will not even want to move. This is because physical tension has been reduced within the muscles and nerves of your body.

At the same time, a second phenomenon occurs. Your anxieties-your mental tensions-are also relieved. This leaves your thoughts and mind open for you to program your goals. In this relaxed state mentally picture your desired end result.

Be positive! Ask for the good things of life. You deserve the best!

How else can you express your God-given talents? How else can you help others unless you yourself are healthy and happy? You need energy and a life of abundance to accomplish your best work. This technique has proven very successful for me and many of the students that use it.

Being a Positive person is so vital and important to make this process and life in general a daring-delightful adventure. I’m going to do more preaching on the subject.  First, obviously is to think positive, do not be negative either mentally or emotionally. Do not dwell on what could go wrong or what has not worked before. Visualize the end result Only and do not be concerned with how it will come to you. Just see and feel it as though it is already achieved. The second meaning about being positive is doing something constructive on the physical level to aid your mental picture. You have to “get into the act”.  You can accomplish this by using the yoga exercise I shared with you earlier or by depriving yourself of some physical pleasure until you receive what you want.

For example, one woman kept the TV turned off for weeks until she received (from unexpected sources) the money she needed to repair her house. Another student got on her treadmill and walked 15 minutes a day until she got a new car. She explained “I visualized myself in a new car. I actually could smell the newness of the interior.” She won the car from a local radio station contest three months later. You may use whatever disciplinary measure you wish that fits into your way of life. The important thing is that you do something to show your subconscious mind that you mean business, that you are willing to work for what you want.

In this way you become positive by doing some extra task on the physical level. If you fail to do the exercise or to use the discipline you have chosen, this is an indication to the subconscious that you really did not want or care to accomplish what you asked for.

Yes! Sometimes I have collected a prize or end result in a matter of hours but the majority of time there is a delayed action; that’s when the majority of people get impatient and can actually nullify their goal with negative energy. Being positive in all areas is a way of life for me now.

Collect it is the fun part and makes it all worthwhile. And the most important is to begin to love completely. LOVE everything unconditionally: the clouds, wind, stones, trees, animals, insects and all the people you come into contact with. (This is sometimes the most difficult task.) You must love and respect everything. This is not physical love, but rather a universal feeling; a common bond and harmony with all. My Indian friend taught me that even the stones have a consciousness of their own. God’s consciousness is in everything, and we must love all of it!   Helene Hadsell

AFTER THOUGHT…

I tend to get sentimental when I remember all the good things and experiences I’ve had and continue to enjoy. I have found the more that you use these techniques in and for all areas of your life the more insightful you become. A calm, contented feeling will surface when you realize what life in the physical is all about. You will find yourself becoming more of an observer and your understanding of people will take on a new perspective. It will also remind you that we are all here to learn about ourselves as we evolve. We are all ‘Gods’ in the making’ as the saying goes.

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

Serendipitously, it turns out, I am not the only one teaching fun. The company Volkswagen has created a website called The Fun Theory.  In Sweden, they are experimenting with fun and turning the mundane into the unusual.  Watch the smiling faces in the videos!

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!!

My #1 tip is: ALWAYS READ THE RULES.

It is my #1 tip because it is the thing people do the least.  If you do not follow the rules, and you are selected as the potential winner, you will automatically be disqualified.

I decided to write about this topic today because yesterday I posted a blog contest.  A very simple contest, with only two written rules:

1. Leave a 2-part comment on my blog,
2. before 11:59pm on Friday October 23rd.

As I was approving the comments this morning (a feature I enable to prevent spam), I noticed many entries did not follow the rules.  They stated why they wanted to attend my seminar, but failed to post which prize they wanted.  This concerned me, because if you are entering my simple blog contest and not following such easy rules, how may prizes are you missing out on, because you failed to read the rules and follow them?!

I get asked all the time, “How can I win more prizes?”  Make sure you are in the game!

When you come to an entry page, even if you got the link from a website that gave you a brief outline of the rules, read the rules.  (Occasionally, I have found an error and would had been disqualified had I followed the entry instructions posted on the online sweepstakes website, group or forum.)  Ensure you are qualified to enter; meet the age requirements, the geographical area of eligibility, etc.  Then ensure you follow all the entry instructions; essay required? photo? quiz? etc.  Keep reading until you are sure you understand exactly what you need to do to win.  Then enter, following those rules you just read, and GOOD LUCK!

Now I want to tell you about what can happen if you don’t read the rules properly.

Several years ago I got a call from The Toronto Sun.  I had entered their Steelback Grand Prix contest.  I had won two Weekend Silver Grandstand Passes.  WOO HOO!  However, I only skimmed the rules.  Somehow I missed the part about sumo wrestling!!  Yes, sumo wrestling.

As I lamented on whether I should claim the prize or not, my husband said to me, “You know, I read in a book somewhere that you should always read the rules.”  I said, “I know. I read the same book!“  So, I sucked it up, claimed the prize and wrestled.  (SPOILER ALERT: I got squashed!)  Scroll down and read the full sumo wrestling story here.

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

This contest is  really simple.  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post about what you think you would learn from attending a How To Win Cash, Cars, Trips & More! seminar, along with which prize you would like to win: t-shirt, gift card or both.  (Winners will be selected via random draw.)

So who can enter?  Since Giant Tiger is a Canadian company, I would recommend only Canadians enter for the gift card, but I can ship the t-shirt any where in the world.  I will close off the comments at 11:59pm ET on Friday October 23rd.

Only one comment per person please.

I’ll be announcing the details of my Toronto seminar soon, (Hope to see you there!) with more Canadian and American dates to follow…

NOTE: If you have never left a comment on my blog before, your entry won’t appear until I approve it.  It’s an anti-spam feature.  Please be patient as I am not at my computer 24/7, even though it sometimes feels like it.

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!