When it comes to competitions I've generally been pretty lucky or, as my mum would put it, a 'jammy swine'. Over the years I've won thousands of pounds worth of vouchers, clothing, gadgets, toys, toiletries and books. So many books. (I blame Goodreads.) But. I've not been as lucky as Di Coke. She is, in her own words, super lucky.
Di's win list is enough to make anybody green with envy - cash, VIP holidays, high tech gadgets, vouchers, cars... You name it, Di's won it. (Over £250,000 worth of it!) I've been following Di's blog ever since I got into my latest comping kick during the 'beached whale' stage of pregnancy, and have already benefited from the tips and hints on her website.
I was really psyched then when Di offered me the chance to review her new book - SuperLucky Secrets: 100 tips for winning competitions, contests and sweepstakes - and host a giveaway for my own readers. In the past I've written my own little introduction to comping and a guide to Tumblr for compers but, even with years of comping behind me, I still came away armed with lots of new ideas and, perhaps even more importantly, lots of new motivation.
Di's mantra is quality over quantity when it comes to comping, and her tips on searching for low entry and more creative comps gave me plenty of food for thought. Advice on how to optimise your social media accounts to boost your chances was very welcome, too. I have switched back to using my regular Facebook and Twitter accounts for comping, and will hopefully soon be able to tell if it does make a difference. Best of all everything was clearly written, and clearly formatted, meaning you can drop in and out, and easily check back for reference.
Whether you're brand new to the hobby, or have been comping decades, you'll pick up new tips. You can get your own copy from Amazon for £14.99 (paperback) or £9.99 (kindle). Or, you can win yourself a copy by filling out the Gleam form below:
T&Cs: Open to worldwide entrants. Prize is one (1) paperback copy of SuperLucky Secrets - no alternatives or cash equivalent offered. Winner will be notified by email and have one week to respond with their postal details.
Check out Di's blog at superlucky.me
Di's win list is enough to make anybody green with envy - cash, VIP holidays, high tech gadgets, vouchers, cars... You name it, Di's won it. (Over £250,000 worth of it!) I've been following Di's blog ever since I got into my latest comping kick during the 'beached whale' stage of pregnancy, and have already benefited from the tips and hints on her website.
I was really psyched then when Di offered me the chance to review her new book - SuperLucky Secrets: 100 tips for winning competitions, contests and sweepstakes - and host a giveaway for my own readers. In the past I've written my own little introduction to comping and a guide to Tumblr for compers but, even with years of comping behind me, I still came away armed with lots of new ideas and, perhaps even more importantly, lots of new motivation.
Di's mantra is quality over quantity when it comes to comping, and her tips on searching for low entry and more creative comps gave me plenty of food for thought. Advice on how to optimise your social media accounts to boost your chances was very welcome, too. I have switched back to using my regular Facebook and Twitter accounts for comping, and will hopefully soon be able to tell if it does make a difference. Best of all everything was clearly written, and clearly formatted, meaning you can drop in and out, and easily check back for reference.
Whether you're brand new to the hobby, or have been comping decades, you'll pick up new tips. You can get your own copy from Amazon for £14.99 (paperback) or £9.99 (kindle). Or, you can win yourself a copy by filling out the Gleam form below:
T&Cs: Open to worldwide entrants. Prize is one (1) paperback copy of SuperLucky Secrets - no alternatives or cash equivalent offered. Winner will be notified by email and have one week to respond with their postal details.
Good Luck!
Hypersweep - Thousands of sweepstakes and contests!
I attempted to create a Grumpy Cat pancake for a comp once - I went through 16 pancakes before giving up!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! I tried to have a go at some of the pancake comps this year, but they were barely fit for eating - let alone photographing! :)
DeleteBought lots of soup to try to win a car. Got very sick of it!
ReplyDeleteThat's great - makes me think of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with the Wonka bars! :)
Deletespent two whole days playing a game to beat the top score and win £200!
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of all the time I've spent Farmville without the prospect of anything, that doesn't sound too bad! :)
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ReplyDeleteSpent a couple of hours and a few tins of alphabet spaghetti to make an artistic way of displaying a limerick that I wrote - won me some Alton Towers tickets so was worth it! ☺
ReplyDeleteThat's brilliant! Glad it worked out for you too :)
Deletei tried to make a handbag with my daughter
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like great fun! :)
Deletebuying 85 pots of Onken yoghurt
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty impressive!
DeleteDecorated a pair of knickers with sequins and bows
ReplyDelete:D That's brilliant!
Deletebuying stuff I don't like
ReplyDeleteI've definitely been there! :)
DeleteBuying things I convinced myself I'd eat just to enter the comp on the packet.
ReplyDeleteWe went around 7 different shops the other day to find a Kinder Bueno for a comp... I don't like them!
Deleteshow my angriest face - which I had to post on FB and my friends/family wondered what the hell was up! georgina.jacobs@blueyonder.co.uk
ReplyDelete:D I think my family must think I've lost my marbles half the time with comping photos.
DeleteI cannot say I have done anything crazy yet, that may change though!
ReplyDeleteYou know the bug has truly bitten you once you do!
DeleteSinging in a Holiday Campsite Talent Competition when I was little :)
ReplyDeleteI was always too shy - I'd enter the colouring competitions and stuff instead :)
DeleteMade my husband and kids do a video of us all dancing to the hot dog song. We won Disney tickets from it though!
ReplyDelete:D I'm constantly trying to get Anthony to pull weird faces and stuff for comps. I'll hold this story up as proof it works!
DeleteI did the dance of the washing machine, it was me and Bridie dancing around to classical music interpreting the struggle of having no washing machine. It's still on youtube and it did win me a £1200 washing machine so well worth it!
ReplyDeleteHaha, that's awesome! Definitely worth it for a decent washing machine.
DeleteWhen I was a young teenager I fitted 34 marshmallows in my mouth during a radio comp
ReplyDeleteThat is dedication!
DeleteI surrounded myself with Ryvita crackers to try and win a trip to Paris! Didn't work though!
ReplyDeleteGutting!
DeleteI took a photo of myself laying eggs in a car park...
ReplyDeleteI can't even remember the Competition now but I didn't win!
That is brilliant!
DeleteI bought lots a boxes of cereals for the pack tops i think it was of something we did'nt like,Trying to win the second prize which is what i wanted ,Instead i won the first prize,Lucky you may say but i ended up giving it away.
ReplyDeleteThat is sod's law in action!
DeleteNot overly crazy but a few weeks back I went to Asda at around 5am and I bought 60 Dib-Dabs.. my basket was overflowing and the woman serving me didn't look amused!
ReplyDeleteHehe, I bet she was thinking there's a new craze or something!
DeleteMade up my partner to look like a woman-hair, make up, clothes-the lot-for a photo competition. I didn't win. Worryingly, he didn't moan once and seemed to quite enjoy himself.....
ReplyDelete:D
DeleteI bought tons of bags of skittles for an xbox one..... I didn't end up winnng:(
ReplyDeleteHehe, at least skittles are easy to offload on people!
DeleteWrote my own lyrics to the song let it go from frozen, sang it myself and recorded it, edited the music, then dressed up in an alice in wonderland dress and minnie mouse ears, used my greenscreen to make a music video to it and then cloned myself another two times to make myself harmonise with myself. Took 3 days of work to try and win a holiday to disneyland paris for me and my friends, but I sadly didn't win ;( i'm still so proud of it though!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you were robbed!! :)
DeleteDrove about 50 miles to enter a comp for a car.. didn't win.
ReplyDeleteGutting!
DeleteI spent ages rearranging a bowl of chicken and sweetcorn soup to make it look like there was a smiley face in it
ReplyDeleteI dread to think how much time I've spent prettifying or arranging food for photographs... :)
DeleteMade a spider out of blu-tac. Didn't win.
ReplyDeleteThat is pretty random! :)
DeleteNothing too crazy so far but I've taken a lot of embarassing selfies, such as one of me posing in our car with my daughter's soft toy dragon!
ReplyDeleteThey become par for the course, don't they? :)
DeleteNothing to crazy yet as only just started comping again but figure theres plenty of time to get crazy and learn along the way :)
ReplyDeleteIt will come... :D
Delete18 hour comping marathon
ReplyDeleteThat's dedication!
DeleteI won the Onken competition with my first purchase. The Joseph and Joseph knives and utensils. However I carried on buying it because I wanted to win the Kitchen Aid mixer.
ReplyDeleteFirst time! That would definitely inspire me to keep going too.
DeleteBought a load of drinks that I dont like just because it had a comp on it. Didn't win and my friend was glad of the 'donation' x
ReplyDeleteI'm always having to offload comping products... :)
DeleteI've done lots of crazy dress ups for creative comps!
ReplyDeleteSounds like good fun! :)
Deletebought loads of frubes which no one in my family likes to enter their competition.
ReplyDeleteHave definitely been there!
DeletePlenty of crazy things. Wacky photos, videos and trips to specific places to fulfil competition criteria. I even get my boys involved (which I think they secretly love!)
ReplyDeleteMy other half always complains, but really he's quite into it. He tells me off if he thinks I'm not making enough effort!
Deleteonly been comping for a few weeks but i already have my work colleagues keeping any wrappers/packets & receipts with comps on!
ReplyDeleteHehe, sounds good to me! :)
DeleteI have got to the stage of comping were I am so obsessed that I actually pick up empty win wrappers that I see on the street, I actually jumped in a hedge once to grab what I thought was the monopoly sticker I needed to win.. it wasn't, my partner was mortified, ha ha ha.
ReplyDeleteHaha, that is awesome! :D
DeleteI haven't had to do anything crazy yet, which actually makes me a bit sad lol
ReplyDeleteThere's plenty of time yet! :)
DeleteI've not really been that crazy - taken a few pics. Been on the radio.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool, I've never done a radio comp. (Yet!)
DeleteI bought Apple Sauce baby food (haven't got a baby) and then served it up in a bowl with Roast Pork and nobody was none the wiser
ReplyDeleteThat's brilliant! I don't think I could have resisted telling everyone once they'd taken a few bites :D I'm just cruel like that.
DeleteI'm not sure if this counts as crazy or just plain gross so I'll apologise in advance....
ReplyDeleteI once took a photo of my sons soiled nappy & used the promoters logo to cover up his private parts. The request was for a 'sick' photo. Lots of people, myself included, were shocked I didn't win, LOL!!
Haha, it definitely met the criteria! :D
DeleteTaken a few silly photos of myself but nothing riskee
ReplyDeleteThere is still plenty of time... :)
DeleteI'm new to comping and had a really cheap phone with very little memory but I bought a brand new one so that I could download apps for comping!
ReplyDeleteOne of the main reasons for me upgrading my phone was so I could get instagram and enter more competitions...
DeleteI wouldn't say this is the craziest thing anyone could do but I really didn't help myself for a while. I like to bake, or I like the idea that I can bake and I always wanted to enter cake baking competitions and prove to myself I could make something delicious and fancy! It took a long time, a lot of disasters (think not mixing my buttercream icing for long enough and forgetting baking powder to help raise the cake) but I'm finally starting to get the grip of making a good cake lol
ReplyDeleteThat's so awesome! I like the idea of baking, but I've never actually taken the plunge.
DeleteHa ha. I've not really done anything crazy but my kids do think I'm crazy. I'm always getting them to enter drawing and colouring competitions. They are both much luckier than me at competitions!
ReplyDelete:D Marianna's only 8 months and every time I see a colouring comp or whatever I tell her it won't be long until she can enter...
DeleteBuying lots of kit kats to win a tablet.
ReplyDeleteAt least it was something chocolate-y :D
DeleteI've not YET done anything crazy!
ReplyDeleteThere is still plenty of time! :)
DeleteNothing too crazy apart from go to my local shop and buy their entire stock of a product because it had a comp on lol
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty impressive! :)
DeleteI bought loads of products I wouldn't eat to win a voucher!
ReplyDeleteSounds about right! :)
DeleteNothing too crazy yet, though my hubby thought I'd lost it when he caught me photographing a pair of spotty knickers on the washing line. It was for a comp that said "Show us something spotty" At least I wasnt wearing them!
ReplyDelete:D My other half is always giving me the raised eyebrow, quizzical look. It's just a one word answer now: 'comping'.
DeleteI''ve harrassed family for daily votes on a competition x
ReplyDelete:D They've got to earn their keep!
DeleteTwirling around taking a video in a busy hospital corridor! I didn't win.
ReplyDeleteI bet you gave them all something to talk about though! :)
DeleteI bought a tonne of Australia related novelty items off of eBay (think cork hats and inflatable kangaroos!) to try my best to win a once in a lifetime comp to travel there, got dressed up all silly with my partner and really put in the effort in only to realise a hour after the competition closed that the picture could only have one person in it!! Moral of the story - always read the T&Cs! :)
ReplyDeleteJen xx
www.kitsch-n-sync.com
Aw, no!
DeleteI've been taking some fun photos - in case I can use them later in competitons
ReplyDeleteI'm always doing this! :)
DeleteThe craziest thing is the fact I'm entering hundred's but NOT winning a single thing!
ReplyDeleteIt will come! :)
DeleteMainly sleep deprivation! I have stayed up far too late far too many times to try and squeeze out every possible entry. I hit 1000 comps in July...and won four.
ReplyDeleteSame! I use prizefinder as my main source and I'm always like, I'll just clear this page...
Deletelack of sleep
ReplyDelete:D
DeleteOh no, I'm quite boring compared to the rest of the comments! Think I need to up my game :)
ReplyDeleteIt will come! :)
DeleteI had to film myself jumping into a lake holding up a local magazine ! I didn't even win that one
ReplyDeleteThat is dedication!!
DeletePut soap suds in my hair and had wet clothes thrown at me to the tune of you spin me right round whilst pretending to be a washing machine I didn't win the comp and it also hurt my eyes lol
ReplyDeleteThat is an awesome idea! (even if it didn't clinch it...)
DeleteI sang a song (very badly!) to win tickets to an entertainment evening, 3 course meal and overnight stay at a hotel. They must have felt sorry for me as I won! I also had the cheek to win the top prize in the raffle on the night - haha! Unfortunately we couldn't make than evening as we had a family wedding that date - so we swapped our prize with the lady who won the bottle of wine :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a double whammy! Sounds like a lovely prize too. :)
DeleteI can't say I've done something crazy to win a competition,, maybe that's why I haven't won anything!!! Can I have some tips!!!!???
ReplyDeleteHehe, there's still plenty of time for the crazy to come! :D
DeleteThis would be really helpfull for me, just started comping and have signed up for Di's newsletter.
ReplyDeleteIt's really useful, especially on the practical, how to manage your social media / email / etc side of things.
DeleteHaven't done anything particularly crazy yet..I enter a lot of free online comps, but would never pay/buy to try and win
ReplyDeleteTaking weird selfies, all in the name of comping!! The most recent was one of my ear...
ReplyDelete:D I did one of my ear once, with a big ear cuff for a comp. I just ended up with a sore ear...
DeleteBought food I'm allergic to! Spent hours looking for a logo on a jewellery website (you know where you have to go through all the photos of their products to try and find a logo on one of the photos) and never found it! Haha I don't bother with those types anymore! - Jodie Cook
ReplyDeleteI hate those - I can never find them!
Deletetook a selfie in my underpants
ReplyDeleteThat's one I haven't done yet! :)
DeleteBaked 45 cupcakes - didn't win ;(
ReplyDeleteI bet they were fun to eat afterwards though! :)
DeleteI spent the better part of a month playing a halloween game to try and get the top score and win £50 of Aldi Vouchers - I only got to third!!
ReplyDeleteSo frustrating!
DeleteI once bought 15 bottles of wine to win a holiday to Australia. I didn't win but was happy doing it
ReplyDeleteHehe, sounds like a worthwhile purchase to me!
DeleteI haven't entered many comps yet, so haven't really got anything crazy to report!
ReplyDeleteIt will come ;)
DeleteI enter lots of comps and have had a fair few wins but would love to get some tips from Di's book
ReplyDeleteThere really is loads of good stuff in there.
DeleteGetting soaking wet just for a selfie with water behind me, how many pictures do we take do get 1 half good 1? lol needless to say my pic didn't win and I came down with a cold, oh all the fun of comping haha
ReplyDeleteAw, no! It does take so many shots to get one decent looking.
DeleteI once wrote a poem to the Mirror newspaper to try and win some Isle of Wight festival tickets for a friend and succeeded,I was so proud as the tickets went to a good home :)
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! It's the best feeling when you win something you know will make a friend / family member really happy.
DeleteI bought a giant tin of water repellent costing an absolute fortune-didn't win
ReplyDeleteAt least you won't run out any time soon, I guess!
DeleteOne hundred tips in "SuperLucky Secrets" could make a SuperLucky Me!
ReplyDelete:D Definitely!
DeleteNothing too out there as yet :)
ReplyDeletePlenty of time... ;)
Deletecollected rubbish lol
ReplyDelete:D Kept the place tidy though, I bet!
Deleteuse all my family member's email and enter an ebay competition for more than 600 times
ReplyDeleteWow, that's really good going!
DeleteBuying 2 bottles of Lucozade a day for over a year for the yes project and only winning a t-shirt :(
ReplyDeleteYou must have been sick of it by the end!
DeletePlayed a game of darts blindfolded for a bottle of red wine.
ReplyDeleteThat's brave! :D
DeleteI wrote a terrible poem :) But i did try xx
ReplyDeletePoetry comps make me break out in cold sweats! Too many reminders of school. :)
DeleteI sometimes enter competitions that need you to go on air on the radio but think if they ever rang back I'd just hang up!
ReplyDeleteHaha, that sounds just like me!
DeleteI took a selfie of my face without make up, not that I wear makeup anyway. I am selfcontious and dont like my pic taken but I did it any way.
ReplyDeleteGood on you! There have been so many comps I haven't entered because I worry I don't look 'ready' for a selfie, when really it shouldn't matter if I have make up on or not.
DeleteI went to buy a product i didn't need to enter the competition and ended buying the wrong one.
ReplyDeleteAw no, that's just typical!
DeleteI bought yogurt everyday from Onken to win a Kitchenaid. (Caroline Pritchard).
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of yogurt! :)
DeleteGot down on all fours to take a snap for the Human Centipede TV comp - a lot of stomach sucking-in required!
ReplyDeleteI saw that one - but wasn't brave enough! :)
DeleteGot stuffed with candy to get a dish washer (gained 5 kg , but got it :) )
ReplyDeleteAwesome!
Deletebought cases of mars bars from makro. Won 15 footballs! - leanne w
ReplyDeleteWorth it then! :)
DeleteBrought 30 chocolate bars! I can't say it was that bad!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I can see a silver lining with that one ;)
Deletei stayed up til four in the morning entering my name and address repeatedly in a mutliple entry form. cross eyed!
ReplyDeletexD Sounds like there was a good prize involved!
DeleteWrote an incredibly sappy story for a competition
ReplyDeleteI think we've all been there :)
Deleteas im fairly new to comping i cant say ive done anything crazy just yet but watch this space !
ReplyDeleteIt will definitely come!
DeleteI once made the children eat lunch 3 times to get the perfect photo :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, if they're anything like mine it wasn't a struggle!
DeleteSpent at least 2 hours trying to visit all the FB sites of all the sponsors - yes, that was a requirement.
ReplyDeleteSome of the Rafflecopter forms give me nightmares - so many tasks!
DeleteBought 10 pots of horrible yoghurt
ReplyDeleteI have't done anything too crazy! The most crazy thing is probably completing 300 entries on the one Rafflecopter!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a rafflecopter from hell!
DeleteBrought lots of bottles of cider to try & win some Converse! not complaining though i love Cider! :)
ReplyDeleteran around like a crazy person after my dog,trying to catch i'm doing something funny!!!
ReplyDeletenot enough to win!!!
I took a whole bunch of pictures to try to win a daily iPhone competition. Most of them were geared towards women much younger than me. I even did a duck face selfie. *shudder*
ReplyDeleteI haven't been comping for a very long time so i am sure i have much crazier stuff to come, but so far trying to get my not very impressed daughter to pose for a photo like disgust from inside out so i didn't have to lol x
ReplyDeleteMade a funny face into a spoon and WON a ipad
ReplyDeleteThe craziest thing I have ever done to try and win a competition was I made a cat sock puppet and blinged it out, and won a prize pack!!
ReplyDeleteI haven't done anything too crazy yet, just taken a lot of silly pictures!
ReplyDeleteI haven't done anything really too crazy, but you never know what the future holds!
ReplyDeleteI sit here and spend hours entering contests! If that's not crazy, I don't know what is
ReplyDeleteI dressed up in a Halloween costume to try to win another costume!
ReplyDeleteIn the old days of comping we used to buy loads of tinned things for the labels, and then forgot what was in them!
ReplyDelete