Cool Widget for Contest Bloggers

Critiqued by A Cowboy's Wife | July 29, 2008 .

I came across this cool little widget where anyone holding a contest or giveaway can use. It’s a widget box that allows people to enter via the box instead of the comments. I really like this idea for a couple of reasons:

1) It will keep me from getting nonstop emails for comment entries.

2) It will keep the contests posts from showing up as the most popular posts. I hate that some of my regular stuff doesn’t get showcased in the popular posts section because of the giveaway posts.

This widget box will solve both those problems. See the example widget below:

I will be using this on my next giveaways and all future giveaways. If you’ve used it, I wanna hear your thoughts. If not, will you use it?

If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.

9 Comments so far

Cindi-Moomettesgram July 29, 2008 4:26 am 1

I am going to be hosting more contest giveways and will certainly consider it! Thanks for the tip! I’m finding people don’t pay attention to the contest rules and I’m having a difficult time with the contest I’m running now. Hope this widget will help next time around!
Bonnie Sayers (autismfamily) July 29, 2008 4:45 am 2

I have never done a contest giveaway. I basically give things away in my newsletter or specific sites for donations and come holiday time I adopt families at http://www.wishuponahero.com

Since I have expanded beyond the BellaOnline site to a blog and learning about stuff I really like this, plus I am an associate and vine member of amazon so using amazon is really good.

I never really read blogs before and I am so confused with the guest posts and sending me in circles to read here and there that I have not wanted to do anything like that. I saw over 600 comments and thought this is insane on a contest and not really interested in doing such a thing.

I like this widget and I would try it and would enter contests and visit sites more often if this was the case and not hundreds of comments. Kind of irks me when I have ideas on my blog and no one comments on real writing stuff but all these contests.

My blog - http://autismfamiily.blogspot.com

Bonnie Sayers (autismfamily)s last blog post..Improving Speech and Eating Skills
Connie July 29, 2008 4:48 am 3

I haven’t used it but I think I’ll give it a try. I’m going to be holding two contests on my other blogs soon. Maybe I’ll wait for you to be the guinea pig first though and see if you like it!

Connies last blog post..Did You Makeup?
Mary July 29, 2008 1:34 pm 4

Very cool. You are my blogging guru! Thanks.

Marys last blog post..Learning to Love Being a Redhead
Courtney July 29, 2008 7:55 pm 5

What a great find! Wish I had it for the bloggy giveaway at MomGiveaways.com. I have over 500 entries and that means over 500 emails! This would have been a lot easier.
A Cowboy's Wife July 29, 2008 9:25 pm 6

Yes, I wish I had had it when I did my 3mth long giveaways on my food blog! UGH!
A Cowboy's Wife July 29, 2008 9:25 pm 7

Blogging Guru?? Ummm, not quite but I’ll go ahead and add that to my many titles anyways!!!
Elizabeth July 30, 2008 5:13 am 8

Except, with DoFollow, the people who leave a comment get a backlink. Will they get one with the widget? I’d like to get your thoughts on it after you use it for a giveaway.
A Cowboy's Wife July 30, 2008 11:13 am 9

That’s true Elizabeth but when you get 800 entries, it sure would be a whole lot easier. I’ll update when I try it, which will be soon;) Have fun in the C city:)