Sunday 8 January 2012

A Rant About Giveaways.

Photo from Google Images


I don't host giveaway's. I'm not really that keen on them, although I will admit to occasionally entering one or two if the giveaway is something I like.

Recently the Quilting Gallery hosted a massive birthday giveaway and I spent 48 hours trawling through blogs. Some of the prizes were amazing.

I started following blogs I'd never heard of and shared the post on Facebook. I didn't link to them from here as that is not in my nature. My blog is for me and my dear blogging friends and I don't like advertising someone's blog, unless I like the work they do and want to share it.


Do you know what!

I didn't win a thing - nothing - rien - nada!


A blogging/Facebook/quilting friend has just shared an Aurifil Threads giveaway on Facebook and I thought you might like to read my comment

"Given up entering giveaways. It makes my blood boil having to jump through hoops. Leave a comment, then become a follower and leave another comment, then share it on FB and Twitter and leave comments that you've done both, then blog about it and come back to tell me you have, giving me the link, then come back AGAIN to tell me you've all of that twice. Oh and don't forget to "like' the giveaway page and then blog, tweet, FB about that too! and don't forget to tell me you've done that as well. After all that I could have sewn about 6 blocks and then I never win!"

However, I'm about to eat my words here!

I've noticed that my Followers list has recently shot up to 98 (it was 99 last week but someone obviously decided they were getting bored LOL).

So - IF, and I mean IF, my Followers hit the 100 mark I will host a simple, no jumping through hoops, giveaway for my loyal Followers only.

What will it be? Ah ha! You'll have to wait and see.

More soon.


15 comments:

FeatherDuster said...

I'm with you! I hate those where you are running all over the place, especially when it involves multiple blogs/facebook pages and having to say you've completed each and every (#*$ step!

black bear cabin said...

i host an occasional giveaway, but its a simple thing, and i ask for no extras...just something i like to offer for folks that follow my blog to begin with :) and im always happy when the winner turns out to be someone i know, and not some stranger that decided to post something just for a prize! as you said, they can be a great way to generate more traffic and meet new folks...but i visit your page even without the giveaways, so its good by me :) cheers and happy new year!

Juliann said...

I stay away from giveaways too. But a sweet 100 would be fun :)

Alison V. said...

I agree! I only ever enter giveaways where I don't have to jump through hoops or I'm already a follower.

imquilternity said...

I'm so with you! I don't know what is going on these days with all these giveaways. I have to admit that I just don't understand it. I've hosted several giveaways in the past and it always drew multitudes of strangers that only came for the giveaway and then I never saw them again. The only reason I might even consider it is to promote my business (online quilt shop) but even then, I don't really care for the idea. Thanks for sharing your honest opinion.

Cassandra said...

LOL. I came across your blog post on the quiltersblog RSS feed and just had to comment...

I don't really like the giveaway hoops either. I will enter giveaways and I really enjoyed that birthday celebration that you mentioned. However, I will only enter giveaways that allow me to just leave a comment. I don't really like becoming a follower just to win a prize (it seems rude to the blogger) and I really dislike the whole blog/retweet/FB post/like to get comment entries thing. Such a nice run on sentence. :)

BUT! For the first time ever, I did win something - two charm packs of fabric and a PDF pattern during that birthday bash. So there is something to be said for entering giveaways that just require a comment.

I hope you enjoy hosting your own giveaway!

Pippa Parsons said...

BAHH humbug and if you don't enter you can't win :) I won 2 prizes on the birthday celebration and will be getting my log cabin which I wouldn't have got if I hadn't entered the giveaway. I have cut down on entering unless it's for something I want (aurifil) and I wouldn't say no to a Go or a Baby :)

Sharon said...

I so agree with you! I very rarely host or enter giveaways, just because I hate all those silly hoops. If it's something I really like, I'll leave a comment, but that's it. Like you said, it's a waste of precious sewing time!

Hope you get to 100! I think I'm following you - I'll check!

Browndirtcottage said...

Yes, me too...I agree. I just don't even pay much attention to the giveaways....tooo many requirements to enter....I am so happy to say the followers I have follow me because they want to and for no other reason!!

Cherie in St Louis said...

Hear, hear! I see that you are OVER 100 followers so I guess you'll be hosting a simple give-a-way :)

Cathi said...

I'm a regular reader of your blog, but I rarely comment. I agree with your stance on the giveaways and only enter if I just need to leave a comment.

Parisbreakfasts said...

In 6 years of blogging I've done maybe TWO giveaways.
Two too many.
And this was before things got so complicated with so much hoop-jumping pre-twitter/FB days.

Quiltdivajulie said...

Simple is good . . . simple is very good.

Lynda said...

Quite right too! I think some people use the blogging community for personal gain (more followers mean that companies will offer products to them etc) rather than the sharing and support most people enjoy.

Jenni said...

Too true! It's not a give-away really, because they want something in return don't they?