<p>Your odds of winning a big prize in a sweepstakes competition are usually very low, and most of us will never win a prize in our lifetimes. There are winners, though, and there are ways that you can increase your chances of becoming one. Here are some tips on how to pick the right sweeps to enter to maximize your chances of winning.<br />
<strong>Check Out the Prizes</strong><br />
The most important thing about a sweepstakes is what you’ll win, right? Choosing the sweepstakes you enter based on the prizes is a very smart idea that will help you narrow things down. For starters, don’t bother entering any sweepstakes that offer prizes you don’t want or can’t realistically use. You should also choose sweepstakes with many prizes over sweepstakes with just one. The more winners there will be, the better chance you have of being one of them.<br />
<strong>Consider the Locations</strong><br />
Many sweepstakes are national contests, and they are the hardest to win, because there will be entrants from all over the country. Local sweepstakes will give you the best chances at winning, so look for contests that are being held on a local or regional level. If a sweepstakes is national, look for sweepstakes that have exclusions for multiple states. Some states can’t participate in some sweepstakes because of state regulations, and the fewer states, the better.<br />
<strong>Learn about Entry Options</strong><br />
If sweepstakes offer multiple entries per person, they may be better that sweeps that allow only one entry per person, especially if they meet other criteria for preferable contests. If you’re allowed to enter more than once, such as on a daily or weekly basis, make sure you do so. Also keep in mind, however, that if there are many different methods of entering a sweepstakes, it will increase the number of entrants.<br />
<strong>Look for Restricted Sweeps</strong><br />
Some sweepstakes are also restricted by age, gender, or other qualifying factors. Whenever there is a restriction on eligible winners, it increases your chance of winning, so long as you’re qualified, of course. A smaller pool of participants is always more beneficial.<br />
<strong>Find Out about Requirements</strong><br />
If sweepstakes have a lot of requirements for entering, then fewer people will bother to enter them. For example, if you have to fill out a long survey to earn an entry, you have a better chance of winning because many people won’t want to spend the time or put in the effort. Sweepstakes that require something like a photo or video also tend to have fewer entrants. If you have to enter a product code, you usually have a better chance to win, too.<br />
<strong>Look for Second Chances</strong><br />
Many sweepstakes have second chance drawings that give away prizes that go unclaimed. Significantly fewer people enter these contents because they are not highly advertised. If you can find a second chance sweepstakes, it’s a great idea for you to enter it.<br />
<strong>Check Out the Duration</strong><br />
The longer a sweepstakes is running for, the more people will have a chance to enter it, and the lower your chances will be of winning. Try to enter sweepstakes that have shorter entry periods, and avoid sweepstakes that allow several months for people to enter before the drawing.<br />
Lucia Sorenson specializes in online sweepstakes management. She loves sharing the insider secrets to winning.</p>