Competition Entry Tips: 25 Secrets from Winning Compers

Competition Entry Tips: 25 Secrets from Winning Compers

Winning competitions isn't just luck - it's a combination of strategy, consistency, and knowing the insider tricks that successful compers use every day. We've gathered 25 proven secrets from experienced winners to help you dramatically improve your success rate.

Getting Started Right

1. Create a Dedicated Comping Email

Why it matters:

• Keeps winning notifications separate from personal email
• Easy to filter and organize competition correspondence
• Protects your main inbox from promotional spam
• Quick to scan for WEMs (Winning Email Messages)

Pro tip: Use an email service with good mobile notifications - you don't want to miss a time-sensitive win claim.

2. Set Up Browser Auto-Fill Correctly

Why it matters:

• Saves massive time on form entries
• Reduces typing errors
• Ensures consistency across entries

What to save:

• Full name (exactly as it appears on ID)
• Email address
• Phone number
• Complete postal address
• Date of birth

3. Use a Password Manager

Why it matters:

• Quick logins to competition sites
• Secure storage of credentials
• Track which sites you've registered on

Maximizing Your Odds

4. Enter Competitions with Fewer Entries

Where to find low-entry competitions:

• Local business pages on social media
• Niche hobby brands
• Regional radio stations
• Competitions requiring slight effort (answering questions)
• New brands building audience
• Competitions with short entry windows

The math: Entering 10 competitions with 100 entries each gives better odds than 1 competition with 1,000 entries.

5. Focus on Skill-Based Competitions

Why they're valuable:

• Creative entries reduce competition
• Your effort directly impacts winning chances
• Many people skip them as "too hard"
• Develop transferable skills

6. Enter Daily Competitions Every Day

Why consistency matters:

• Each day compounds your odds
• 30 daily entries vs 1 entry = 30x chances
• Many compers miss days - your consistency is advantage
• Build habit for long-term success

7. Time Your Entries Strategically

Early entry benefits:

• Ensures eligibility
• Some random pickers favor early entries
• Avoids missing close deadlines

Late entry benefits:

• Can assess competition level
• Some pickers randomly favor recent entries
• Last-minute competitions often have fewer entries

Best approach: Enter early, but also check for last-minute opportunities.

Social Media Mastery

8. Keep Social Profiles Public

Why it's essential:

• Brands must verify your entry
• Private accounts can't be checked
• Winners with private accounts often get skipped
• Story shares need to be visible

9. Make Your Profile Look Genuine

What brands check:

• Real profile photo
• Complete bio
• Regular posting history
• Genuine follower/following ratio
• Diverse engagement beyond competitions

10. Follow Entry Instructions Exactly

Common instruction mistakes:

• Tagging wrong number of friends
• Missing required hashtags
• Quote tweeting instead of retweeting
• Not sharing to stories when required
• Forgetting to follow the account

11. Tag Real, Active Friends

Why fake tags hurt you:

• Some brands verify tagged accounts
• Inactive accounts look suspicious
• Friends tagging back creates authentic engagement
• Builds comping community connections

Organization and Tracking

12. Track Every Entry

What to record:

• Competition name and URL
• Entry date
• Closing date
• Prize value
• Entry method used
• Result (win/no win)

Why tracking helps:

• Avoid duplicate entries where not allowed
• Identify successful patterns
• Stay organized with daily entries
• Celebrate progress over time

13. Set Reminders for Closing Dates

Prevent missing:

• Last-day entries for competitions you forgot
• Claim deadlines for wins
• Daily entry competitions
• Prize collection windows

14. Create Bookmark Folders

Suggested folders:

• Daily Entry Competitions
• New Competitions to Enter
• Closing This Week
• Creative Competitions (need time)
• Favorites/High Value

Claiming Your Prizes

15. Check Email Multiple Times Daily

Why urgency matters:

• Many wins have 24-72 hour claim windows
• Alternative winners selected if no response
• Some wins arrive in spam folders
• Quick response shows you're a reliable winner

16. Always Verify Winner Notifications

Before sharing personal details:

• Check sender email matches company domain
• Verify social media account is genuine
• Look for official verification badges
• Search for company contact details separately
• Never pay fees to claim legitimate prizes

17. Respond Promptly and Professionally

Quick response benefits:

• Shows you're engaged and reliable
• Prevents missing deadlines
• Builds good reputation with brands
• May lead to future opportunities

18. Keep Records of All Wins

What to save:

• Screenshots of winning notifications
• Email correspondence
• Tracking numbers for deliveries
• Prize values for your records
• Photos of prizes received

Advanced Techniques

19. Use Free Entry Routes for Purchase-Required Promos

Where to find them:

• Terms and conditions (always)
• "No purchase necessary" sections
• Postal entry addresses
• Alternative online entry forms

20. Research Brands Before Creative Entries

What to study:

• Brand voice and tone
• Previous winning entries if available
• Company values and messaging
• Target audience
• Recent campaigns and themes

21. Enter Competitions in Your Interest Areas

Why niche focus works:

• Smaller, more engaged audiences
• Genuine enthusiasm shows in entries
• More likely to want (and value) prizes
• Expert knowledge helps with questions

22. Join Comping Communities

Benefits of community:

• Discover competitions others find
• Learn tips and strategies
• Support and motivation
• Win celebrations inspire continued effort
• Share experiences and advice

Avoiding Mistakes

23. Read Terms and Conditions

Key things to check:

• Eligibility requirements (age, location)
• Entry methods and limits
• Prize details and alternatives
• Winner selection method
• Claim process and deadlines

24. Never Pay to Enter or Claim

Red flags for scams:

• Entry fees for sweepstakes
• Fees to claim "prizes"
• Shipping charges for supposed wins
• Requests for bank details
• Premium rate numbers for entry

25. Stay Consistent - Don't Give Up

The winning mindset:

• Treat comping as a long-term hobby
• Wins come in waves - dry spells are normal
• Consistency beats occasional bursts
• Every entry is a chance
• Track progress, not just wins

Statistics from experienced compers:

• Average win rate: 1-2% of entries
• Most wins come after consistent months of entering
• First wins typically occur within 2-4 weeks
• Annual prize values vary £500-£5,000+ depending on activity

Putting It All Together

Daily Routine Example

Morning (15 mins):

1. Check email for wins
2. Open daily entry bookmark folder
3. Complete daily entry competitions
4. Quick social media competition check

Evening (20-30 mins):

1. Search for new competitions
2. Enter website competitions
3. Complete social media entries
4. Update tracking spreadsheet
5. Check closing dates

Weekly Tasks

• Review and update bookmark folders
• Remove ended competitions from tracking
• Add new daily entry opportunities
• Research creative competition entries
• Batch postal entries if applicable

The Golden Rules Summary

1. Be consistent - Enter regularly, not just occasionally
2. Be organized - Track everything
3. Be genuine - Authentic profiles and entries win
4. Be patient - Wins build over time
5. Be smart - Target better odds opportunities
6. Be careful - Avoid scams and protect your data
7. Be positive - Enjoy the hobby, celebrate wins

Conclusion

These 25 secrets represent the collective wisdom of successful compers. You don't need to implement everything at once - start with the basics and add more techniques as you develop your routine.

Remember, everyone who wins consistently started exactly where you are now. The difference is they started, stayed consistent, and refined their approach over time.

Pick your first three tips to implement today, and build from there. Your winning journey begins now!

Start finding competitions on Sweepzy and put these secrets into practice!