Entering

1) Read the Official Rules!!! This will determine if you can enter more than once, daily, every 24 hours (there is a difference), and if there is a limit to how many people in the same household can enter.
2) Average Retail Value. Look for the ARV and be conscious of taxes. While you may get addicted to the feeling of winning any prize, keep in mind the taxes you’ll have to pay on a prize if it’s ARV is high. On average you’ll pay 15% tax on anything over $600. So if you end up winning the “ultimate home theatre room” with an ARV of $5000, expect to pay $750 out of the pocket for this prize. (Which is a GREAT deal in retrospect, but just keep in mind if you’re able to pay that.) Especially if you’re one of the lucky few to win a cash prize like $50,000 where you’ll end up paying $7500 for it.
3) Instant Wins. Everyone has a different opinion on Instant Win sweeps. Depending on the amount of prizes being given out they can be an instant gratification sweepstakes, but sometimes--especially if you’re on a winning lull--they can be frustrating when you’ve entered for weeks and haven’t won anything. Particularly if you belong to a sweeping community and see other members continually winning. These sweeps are worth entering if there is a nice grand prize to go along with the Instant Wins. As always, read the official rules because some of the IW’s limit the amount of prizes you can win, so if you really have your heart set on winning the 42” Plasma TV from Nestle, but previously won a free candy bar in the IW game you will be disqualified from the grand prize. You can turn down the IW prize if you’re really deadest on the grand prize. Just depends on your confidence level and your interest in the IW prize.
4) One Time Sweeps. I like one-entry sweeps b/c they’re nice and easy to enter and they're the ones that I tend to forget I entered and am shocked when I receive an email/phone call that I won! With one-time entries you have a fair chance of winning the prize since everyone is only given one chance to win.
5) Daily Entry. Daily entry sweepstakes are probably the most common sweepstakes out there. But make sure to read the rules to see if you can enter daily (12am-ET) or if you can enter every 24 hours because you can often lose your entry if you enter on Saturday at 9PM and then again on Sunday at 9AM because there was only a 12-hour period between entries.
6) Unlimited Entry. I avoid these types of sweeps b/c I don’t have the time and/or energy to constantly enter these sweeps. Some people have (illegal) macros or programs on their computers to have it constantly enter themselves in these sweepstakes, leaving us honest sweepers no chance. I’m not trying to discourage you from entering these if your interest… they’re just not my “game”.
7) RoboForm. Don’t give yourself carpel tunnel by typing all your entries. I’m a full supporter of RoboForm! This is a program you can download that with a simple press of a button will fill in all your forms when you visit sites (with the exception of Flash sites). It’s even great for advanced users because you can create your own fields and additional users. It also stores your passwords for the sites where you have to become a “member” of the site and are required to login to enter the sweeps. But beware, the free version has it’s limits. You can’t have more than two users and it limits the amount of passwords it will save.
8) Becoming a Member. The purpose of sweepstakes are for sponsors to generate interest in their website and/or product. More and more sponsors are making sweepers become members of their website in order to enter daily. These are always free and this is where your specific sweeping email address comes in handy. These types of sites don’t usually deter me from entering unless I really don’t think the prize is worth it or the member sign-up process is complicated. Plus they’re nice b/c they store your contact information so after you simply enter your name and password you’re entered for the day!
9) Confirmations. Make sure to read the message after you have submitted your entry to see if it says anything about sending you an email to confirm your entry. Most times it will say “One More Step!” If you do not check your email and click on the confirmation link from the sponsor your entry will not go through. Circuit City sweeps most times require confirmation.