Help: Blogging Contests

[jeffrey]

It seems that the participation in the blogging contests depends a lot on the subject that I choose - if I pick something that people feel they can write about, there is a lot of entries and it's well worth doing. If I pick on that isn't popular, then we get hardly any entries which is no fun for anyone. The problem is I have no idea what is going to be popular and what isn't. Is there a way that we can set up the contest so that we get a good participation rate each week? When people do participate, we get excellent entries that I think help everyone. I'm open to ideas.

[Broken Arrow]

Well, this may be a bad idea, but rather than having weekly contests, what if the contest was held monthly? With a bigger pot? Would that make things easier?

[Aleta]

How about just using a separate entry like you do for investing and banking, etc and use it just for what you are doing and allow others to vote on it.

[disneysteve]

I think the contests aren't publcized enough. Unless someone comes to this board, they don't know about it. It should be plastered at the top of every board in nice bold print so everyone knows about it. Perhaps you could send an e-mail to all registered users to let them know about it as well.

As for topics, that's tough. We each have our areas of interest and expertise. When the topic is one on which I think I have something worthwhile to say, I'll enter, but I won't write just for the heck of it.

[jodi]

Would having the bloggers suggest the topics generate more interest? I might be more inclined to write about a topic had I suggested it. We could have a separate post just to throw out ideas for topics.
I think making a monthly contest might drag it out too much...I could very easily lose interest after a month. Going back to every two weeks might not be so bad. I completely missed out on one contest because I never got on this site one particularly busy week

[Ima saver]

I think a month is too long also. I think you have come up with some very good topics. It does need to be advertised more, I agree.

[PrincessPerky]

I think a month is too long, but a week is too short (missed putting up my debt entry grrrr)

I think on topics..well you might never know what is popular till you try it...but you could try two topics, more chance someone sees one they like.

I think user suggested ones would also help, just cause if someone suggests a topic then they prolly have something to say about it.

[mom-from-missouri]

i agree it isn't advertised enough. I just found out about it!

[LittleGopher]

I like what jodi suggested...maybe you could have a post with blogger suggestions, as well as yours. Then possibly a vote could be made on the top several topics, with regards to interest in writing and reading.

I think two weeks is a good period of time in between contests. Also, once they are determined, having a list of upcoming topics would be nice. Letting a list of topics mull around in my head may result in something being written, but that's just me!

[jeffrey]

Hmmm, surprised to hear that people think it isn't advertised enough...every contest has gone out in the newsletter, been placed here in the forums and on my announcement blog in the blog area....not sure how much more I can do, but will work on a solution

[PrincessPerky]

After a few talks with the staff at church I have come to the conclusion that what you think you tell people you don't....seems putting things in plain sight is ignored...that is why advert companies use flashier and flashier stuff..which isn't appropriate here.

maybe a sticky on the home blog page? so when you go to look at all blogs you can't miss a mini note on the new blog contest and a link for more details?

[disneysteve]

every contest has gone out in the newsletter

What is the newsletter???

[disneysteve]

been placed here in the forums and on my announcement blog in the blog area

It should be a sticky on EVERY forum, not just the blog forum. You shouldn't just advertise it to those who are already blogging but to everyone to encourage them to start blogging. Also, even those of us who blog might not check this forum regularly so we're more likely to see it in a timely manner if it is on every forum.

PrincessPerky - You are absolutely right. We have the same problem at our synagogue. We put an announcement in the bulletin that is mailed to every member. We put it in the weekly service program. We put flyers in the lobby and hang signs on the bulleting board. We send out e-mails to everyone. And still, people complain that they missed some event because they didn't know it was happening.