Tips For Winning Competitions

Winning competitions in Australia is not only fun but also an easy way of getting free stuff and great deals. Before you enter any competition, you have to play smart if you want to give yourself more chances at winning. The following are some tips that you should keep in mind when entering Australian competitions.

1. Enter multiple competitions at a time:
   The higher the number of competitions you enter, the higher your chances of winning. Enter as many competitions as you can. These should however be only high quality competitions. Check the advertiser who has initiated the competition; it should be a reputable company. If you doubt, check the competition’s website. It should be professionally made and should outline what is required to participate. Stay away from shoddily done websites or those that only give scanty information.
2. Read the terms and conditions:
   All competitions come with different terms and conditions. Ensure you know the minimum requirements for participation. Check the age required in order to participate, location where the competition is open to and submissions required. Do not be tempted to enter a competition if you do not fulfil even one of the conditions. Some competitions bar people affiliated with the advertiser in one form or the other from participating. Check whether this applies to you.
3. Give out your correct details:
   When you enter a competition, make sure you provide correct contact details. If your phone number is required, provide the primary one. Give an email address that you frequently check. It will be wise to open an email address specifically dedicated to entering competitions. Check the deadlines of the competitions and keep watch of the date when winners will be announced. Know through which media the winners will be announced and how they are going to be contacted.
4. Get inspiration from past entries:
   For competitions that require you to make a writing or photography submission, draw inspiration from past winning entries. Check the judges’ notes on why the entries were chosen and the common mistakes that were noted with the majority of the entries. Ensure you submit your entry in the required format and time frame. Do not deviate from the requirements of the competition. Submit multiple entries if allowed. However, do not copy or plagiarise someone else’s creations or past entries.
5. Follow the competition guidelines:
   Check the guidelines of the competition. Does the advertiser require you to submit your name or email address or do you have to purchase something to enter the competition? If you are submitting a photograph, what format is it required to be in? What about a writing piece, are there specific formatting guidelines you have to adhere to? Guidelines are set to be used as a benchmark for picking winning entries. Only entries that follow the guidelines to the latter can be drawn for the winning prize.
6. Enter competitions with more prizes:
   Enter competitions that award multiple winners or that have a variety of prizes. With such, you have greater chances of winning. While the consolation prizes may not be as grand as the winning ones, they can be great additions to your merchandise. Common consolation prizes include T-shirts, stereos, iPods and MP3 players, sports equipment among others. Check whether the prizes offered are worth your effort participating in the competitions.
7. Enter less common competitions:
   The easiest competitions to win are those that are not well known. This means that few people will take part in them and as a result, participants have a higher chance of winning. Most of the competitions are usually niche based. Common examples of the competitions can be found in specialty magazines and coupons of different products. If a competition is expensive to enter, many people will shy away from participating in it. Take advantage of such. Check trade magazines and websites for specialty competitions that they open to their readers. Keep in mind that you may requires some specialised skill to take part in some of these les common competitions.
8. Enter competitions with few participants:
   Avoid competitions that simply require you to provide your name for a chance to win. Such usually have many participants and the chances of winning are very minimal. Moreover, the selection is usually done by a computerised system and winning is entirely by luck. The best competitions to enter are those that require some effort from your side. These include photography, writing or video competitions. Many people do not enter such competitions and thus your odds of winning are higher.
9. Keep updated with upcoming competitions:
   With so many competitions in Australia, it can be difficult to know of upcoming competitions. The best way to keep track of them is to sign up for online newsletters from advertisers who regularly hold them. You can also sign up at online competitions websites to receive regular updates of competitions that are coming up. Use a separate email address to sign up for the newsletters as they can come many at a time and fill your email account pretty fast.
10. Know the outcome of winning:
    Before you enter a competition, know what will be expected of you in case you win. For instance, if you are entering a Win a Holiday competition, will you be required to have a passport to travel? What about expenses, will the advertiser cater for them or will you have to foot your own bills? Is the prize transferable? What if the trip is being offered during your working days, will you be able to take advantage of it? Know what will be required of you from the advertiser in case you win. If you are not comfortable with the post-winning arrangements, look for another competition.

With so many competitions in Australia, you only have to play smart and know the right competitions to enter to win great merchandises and exclusive offers from advertisers. With the above points and a little bit of luck, you are bound to win many competitions in the country.