How to enter a Rafflecopter Giveaway

After trying out the new fangled way of doing giveaway entries with widgets, it seems that a large number of my readers had a hard time figuring out how to complete the entries properly. Sadly, this meant that many entries did not count. I'd hate for you to attempt to enter only to be disqualified. So, before my next big giveaway I wanted to help you all out by sharing a how-to with some additional tips.

Watch the short video below for a quick overview of the basics...

If you need additional help with these basics, head to THIS post on Rafflecopter's blog for more details.

Some in-depth tips for entering giveaways here at BNG: 

1. The biggest thing is that you have to pay attention to the details. Each entry is going to ask you to complete certain tasks, you must do these tasks or your entry won't count. I have a feeling some people just click on the submit button and forget to do the rest. Verification of your tasks being completed is how you are eligible to win via your entries. 

2. Complete the MANDATORY entry correctly or the rest of your work doesn't count. The last two giveaways have had a mandatory first entry that when completed, unlocked additional entries. The bummer is, if you don't complete the mandatory entry correctly, your extra ones don't count either. Here's a little visual. My notes are in blue, marks to highlight areas on orange. 

I've set mandatory entries similar to the one above-  "visit the featured shop's website, then comment on the giveaway post with your favorite item they sell." My first Rafflecopter giveaway, half the entrants didn't leave a comment at all. A few others just commented and said something basic like "great giveaway!"….that doesn't count either for that particular entry. A comment like "My favorite item is the grey infinity scarf." would be perfect. The point is to get you to check out the featured shop, then comment on the post with the proof! Got it? 

3. Lastly pay attention to the details and verify your work in the additional entries. The entries are going to have tasks for you to perform before clicking to receive credit will count as another entry under your name. Some examples include: 

• favorite an Etsy shop- you will be asked to leave your Etsy username to verify
• follow a twitter account- you will need to leave your twitter username to verify
• tweet about a giveaway- you will be asked to leave a link to the tweet to verify
• like a Facebook page- Rafflecopter verifies this one automatically, just hit "like" 
• like a Facebook status or photo- you will need to leave your Facebook username to verify
• comment on Facebook- you will need to leave your Facebook username to verify
• visit another blog- you will be asked to comment on that blog post and leave the name you            commented under on rafflecopter 

Some of these entries are right on the Rafflecopter form, so you don't have to go to another website. Others you'll have to head over to Facebook, Etsy, or someone's blog. They're all relatively quick to complete.

Please take note that I will NEVER set an entry that requires you to post or share something on your Facebook timeline. While I think it's a great way to share pages, blogs, and shops with your friends, it's against Facebook's policies to ask users to advertise on their timeline for contest entries. However, in the upcoming giveaway, I it is okay to encourage you to share on your timeline, it just cannot be in exchange for anything (i.e. a contest entry) or it would be considered advertising.

I hope I've clarified everything that may have kept many of you from entering correctly, or perhaps at all. If you are still confused, or have specific questions feel free to leave a comment below, or on my Facebook page. You can also email me or send a private message on Facebook.

Thanks to all of you who have entered giveaways here at Breaking New Ground. The more entries each gets means more and bigger giveaways in the future, so don't hesitate to enter and encourage your friends to do so as well so I can keep offering fun opportunities to learn about new and different shops through giveaways!