Buying Subscribers! Random Thoughts on Contests
So all the time you see more and more contests for the chance to win a prize in exchange for following/subscribing to a blog. I do it- You do it, but why do we do it? The simple reasons being 1- Everyone loves free makeup, yes. 2- Contests are fun! 3- We are wonderfully generous people who like to make others happy of course! But mainly 4- For the opportunity to share our thoughts with others! As well as our opinions and experiences through our blog.
I would love if there was a search engine on blogger that we could enter keywords, search multiple interests and a list of Fabulous Blogs would appear! There are various sites that try to do this. But not all blogs are linked unless you add your own. Blogger offers something somewhat like this search, however it only uses one keyword at a time. Just because I like the same movie as them someone dosent mean I will like what they blog about!
But since we dont have many of these options I find blogs of interest based on browsing blogs of a friend or perhaps a random internet search or a contest! We are all consumers and love to share deals! Hosting a contest gives people a opporunity to check out your blog, and makes it known to people that may not have come across it before.I dont expect that everyone who looks at my page subscribes but I like that they have seen it and now have a choice to.
I love Luke 6:31. and believe this plays a huge role in all of our lifes. I think what you put out you get back. If people are mean or unfair me to me. I get over it. Because they will see the same back at them. But for me, I can relate this statment in other ways too. I am kind to those who are kind, Support those who show support, and on and on. I dont believe by having contests I am”buying readers” so I will continue to host more and more contests. Not for the purpose of gaining new readers but to support those those are taking the time to read my blog currently. My goal isn’t to increase my count, its for people to hear me.
FYI- Just to clarify… nothing was said to me by anyone. No negative comments were posted. Just as I was reading though some of the reads that I mentioned in the Blogger Bashing post, someone had said something regarding this topic. So I just felt compelled to share my opinion on this point as well 
You’ll notice I have a hard time keeping quiet when something is one my mind. lol.
Agree or disagree? What are your thoughts?
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13 Responses to “Buying Subscribers! Random Thoughts on Contests”
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I completely agree with you. I post my contests mainly on my YT channel but have included my blog in the most recent one. I do contests to than the subscribers and if I gain new ones in the process then its an added bonus but its not about the numbers to me. I have won many blog contests and it is so much fun that I want to be able to give back as well. I like to think of it as good blogger karma
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There are TONS of giveaway/contest on Blogger these days.
I don't enter all of them though.
If I hold something they do have to be a follower, OF COURSE!
Of course if something is being handed to us for free, we're going to want it! lol.
But there are few people who just have sucky intentions and only want that freebie.
It's kind of crazy how there are so many of us who hand out free items to people we barely know. lol Isn't it?
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Another thought provoking post Sara.
Blogging isn't a popularity contest — at least it shouldn't be. Sadly, I do think there are those that see it as such.
But I would like to think that the majority of us who do this are doing it because we love the conversations that we are generating about our common interests.
Hopefully any negativity that might exist out there about this kind of thing fizzles out, and we can focus on the positives.
Just my two cents.
Michelle xx
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I completely agree.
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Ha! I love your candid rants. No excuses, don't take it personal cause its just your opinion and anyone who has a problem with it can stop reading! I love it!!!
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i agree with you…it's so high school on blogs and youtube…people getting jealous for whatever reason.
Contest are a great way for bloggers to get new subscribers..and if a person doesn't want to read they have the choice of moving on..
You are doing a great thing and i hope no one ever gives you grief for doing something you enjoy.
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I agree, a lot of contest require you to be a follower, but I think that's because bloggers want a winner to be someone who frequents their blog often and is genuinely interested, not someone who just happened to stumble open their blog while they were holding contest and probably would never visit again, know what I mean?
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I agree with you too.. I did a contest earlier in my blog but it was only to make people happy and they didn't have to be a follower to join my contest at that time. I don't want to force anyone to follow me if they are not interested in. If they follow, then it is cool but if not, then it's cool too.
I have seen so many contests lately, I didn't want to enter all of them. However, it seems like a good way to make your blog known by making a contest. Because people enter your contest and post your contest in their blog, eventually you reach many other people without putting too much effort on it.
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I completely agree with what Arezu has said in that I prefer the contest winner to be a follower as the interaction is there. It becomes personal, you get to know the person.
I personally wouldn't like my blog to get too massive as I like being able to interact with everyone. I do not want it to feel like random faces in the crowd.
I love getting to know all the girls and I can honestly say I am excited about someone winning my contest as sometimes I love shopping for others more than myself!!!
Great post Sara
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Very well timed post. I’m still pretty new to blogging and reading blogs. However I will say that you can tell the difference between those trying to show reader appreciation and those just trying to up their subscriber counts. I do feel it is a little ridiculous to have to follow someone on their blog, twitter, AND YT, in addition on posting them on my blog, just to enter for ONE chance to win. I actually just entered a giveaway that was doing this because I *really* want the prize. I know a lot of my friends that wouldn’t enter the contest just because it required opening a twitter account for them. Those are the type of giveaways that tend to urk me, lol. That being said…..how do I gain more readers? lol
.-= Mika chan´s last blog ..Tuesday Mail Call =-.
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Ack! Ok so it’s not a well timed post, I just realized that I’m very late reading this! >_<
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Sara
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February 19th, 2010 at 9:02 am
hahah! Late or not the topic always seems relevent! I have giveaways too. I get annoyed too with the stalk me requirements, lol. But I know there are a bizillion blogs. Alot posting the same content. So it does mean alot that people chose to read mine,. So I trully do appreciate my readers! Followers mean nothing if they dont read your blog. I like to show appreciation. But again with honesty in posts, appreciation with giveways, etc. I think people can soon tell where you are coming from easily!
Dont get me wrong. I love winning lol. But intention is easily seen is where I was going.. lol
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Sara
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February 22nd, 2010 at 9:38 am
haha! No problem! Its still relevant no matter how long ago it was posted, lol!
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