Did something go wrong with my contest?
December 5th, 2007 | by Brook Durant |
Only in the blogosphere would one manage to hold a contest giving away free money ($50.00) and then have a few people decide to attempt a virtual crucifixtion. Since a few of the entrants seem to be distraught over the contest that I help I’ve decided it is time to clear a few things up.
- Zybron had the following to say:
- In his article entitled How not to hold a blog contest he wrote -
Here is the first lesson when running a blog contest: pick a random winner. If that is not the way you wish to hold the contest, then be very clear exactly how you will pick the winner…up front. Had I known that the intent was to come up with the most original way of spending $50 on my blog I certainly would have composed a different post for the contest.
Fair enough. Except for the fact that in the post announcing the contest I stated the following (2nd version of the published paragraph):
How would you spend $50.00 on your blog? One lucky and creative winner will get a check for $50.00 from me in order to spend on their blog however they wish. In order to enter just this article. On December 1st I will choose one winner from all entries based on creativity, originality, and likelihood of success. Any takers?
I’ve added the underline emphasis for the purpose of this article. The text was only changed once in order to further clarify. You can see the original version of the above paragraph in Rotus’s entry. No matter which version you read you can’t help but come to the following conclusions-
- The prize is $50.00
- The winner will be choosen on December 1st (it ended up being December 5th)
- The selection will be based on creativity, originality, and likelihood of success
I think that pretty well addresses Zybron’s contention that I wasn’t clear how I’d pick the winner “up front”. If you didn’t know the intent was to come up with the most original way of spending $50.00 on your blog you didn’t read the instructions. It is as simple as that. You did exactly what the rest of us do 99% of the time. Saw the prize, saw how to enter, and went to town ignoring the details. And Rotus’s post confirms that what I was looking for and how the winner would be choosen was right there, in the details.
As for you contention that the winner should be random I’m not sure how I could both pick a random winner AND pick a winner based on the stated criteria of the contest (creativity, originality, and likelihood of success).
Your second “lesson” has already been addressed. From the time I published the contest I stated I was after creativity and originality. It wasn’t added in later. People aren’t upset about that suddenly being thrown in there. Because it wasn’t. People are upset because in my post announcing the winner I took the time and was graceful enough to tell a few people why they hadn’t won. People are upset because I didn’t write a post graciously thanking everyone for entering. A few people I commented directly in their entry post my thanks, several who didn’t enter properly I took the time to email and advise them of the proper way to enter.
All that said I have to agree. My post announcing the winner should have been a thank you for entering post. Because apparently it would have saved me the time of needing to write this rebuttal article? Myself I’d just want to know if I did or did not win and why or why not. I’m coming to the realization that is not the case for many people.
- Brent had the following to say:
- Brent’s comments were left in the “Winner” post. First he said:
Actually that would be a reverse pyramid scheme. Since I would be losing out on it. But I digress.
And that was a bit offensive buddy not much of a critique. Probably should be a bit nicer to people supporting your contests. Maybe a thanks for input? Just a thought.
He was responding to my comment as to why I hadn’t choosen his post. Lacking in originality and I’m not a fan of pyramid “schemes†lol. Clearly I was joking about it being a pyramid scheme. Else I wouldn’t have thrown in the “lol”. We carried on a few times in the comments but essentially it came down to this. Brent believed I owed a “better” critique of his entry (and others I would guess). I never said I would critique the entries. Nor did I make any attempt to do so. I simply gave a bottom line reason and moved along.
- Beth had the following to say:
- Once again in the comments -
I agree with Brent. How is buying crap from ThinkGeek original? That’s basically what the person who won said he would do, and uh, last I checked, uploading videos on YouTube was free, (and he’s using all of the “crap†from ThinkGeek to “enhance†his blog, yeah ok). A bit offensive? Really offensive. We took the time to write a post giving you a backlinks and you 1. don’t thank us and 2. Insult those of us who entered. Besides, I at least would have used the money for a header/logo for my blog, not on crap and would have been thankful for it.
How exactly does one address that obvious bitterness? She’s attacking my decision of who the winner was and worse yet she’s attacking the winner and calling his ideas “crap”. Ok that’s her business I suppose, but I think this demonstrates perfectly how sore people can be when they lose. She also neglected to notice that I reciprocated the backlinks and promoted her/their blog(s) as well. It wasn’t a one way street. Furthermore if you read her first comment in her entry post you’ll notice it was me thanking her for entering. Further you’ll notice that she was thanking me for the compliment. Which to me means she noticed and acknowledged my thanks. For those who don’t quite believe it…
I hope this clears up some questions that people seem to have. Bottom line I should have handled the winner announcment with “kid gloves” and I’m the first to admit I never would have dreamed that anyone would be offended by having the reasons they didn’t win pointed out. If anything I thought I was being helpful. For that mistake I apologize.
To answer the question I asked at the very beginning I have to say yes. Yes something went wrong with my contest. That being I failed to take into account human emotions. I’d love to hear your take on this good, bad, or indifferent!
Don't forget to subscribe to A Blog about Nothing's RSS feed!
By Beth on Dec 6, 2007
To describe me as being bitter is, yet again, going a bit far. I stated how I felt about the way the contest was handled from your end. A simple, “Thank all of you for submitting posts, but I believe this post, (winner’s post), is more creative etc., etc.,” But instead you butchered everyone who entered. You also commented on my blog after the post was written, that I could buy “cheap header/logos from the DP forums.” Thanks, but I didn’t know this until after the fact-not to mention yes, the money would have gone towards hiring someone to do the graphics. Now we come to the likelihood of success. How does one judge the likelihood of success before something has even been implemented? All ideas proposed have a likelihood of success. (Although I’m a bit confused as to how buying items from ThinkGeek to use for YouTube videos is going to skyrocket a blog into receiving tons of traffic and success). I’m not bitter-in fact I don’t think any of us are-we’re just a little upset with the tact you used in handling the end of the contest. Had I been bitter, I wouldn’t be the only one who mentioned a thing.
Beth’s last blog post..My Dream Geek Project For The New Year.
By A Blog about Nothing on Dec 6, 2007
Beth - How could I have advised you to check DP before the post was written? I had no way of knowing you 1) were entering and 2) were interested in a header.
As far as likelihood of success it was just one of three conditions. Everyone met the “likelihood of success” criteria. But only one truly stood out as being creative and original.
As far as bitterness go back and read your comment. “Listen” to the tone. It sure reads bitter to me. Excerpt:
“How is buying crap from ThinkGeek original? That’s basically what the person who won said he would do, and uh, last I checked, uploading videos on YouTube was free, (and he’s using all of the “crap†from ThinkGeek to “enhance†his blog, yeah ok).”
By Simonne on Dec 6, 2007
This is quite a lesson for all of us. Do you remember the saying that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”? Well, due to emotional reasons, you just paved a little alleyway to that dark place. I can perfectly understand your intentions, I am aware that you invested some time in giving valuable feedback to the participants, but:
1. They were not looking for feedback. If I’m going out to play bowling, then this is what I want to do, not pay attention to how many peanuts I eat that night, because I’m overweight. Yes, I am, and your advice is for my better, but I only wanted to have one night of bowling fun.
2. Balanced feedback is much easier to take. Always say something good, give a little praise before taking out the hammer.
I’m sorry for your issue, but I got my lesson, thank you very much.
Simonne’s last blog post..77 Article Directories For Your Bum Marketing Campaigns
By hari on Dec 6, 2007
As a total stranger to your blog and reading your winner announcement post for the first time, I think that it’s quite offensive myself.
I would have been a lot more diplomatic and probably wouldn’t have commented on other entries myself. Some things are very sensitive and etiquette plays a big role in keeping off them.
By Kevin on Dec 6, 2007
Good for you for calling out these sore loser types. I for one appreciated your honest, if brief, comments on each of the entries, and while a couple folks may have had their feelings hurt (”Hi, you must be new here. This place is called the Internet.”
), it made for a much better post than the typical fluffy and pointless “oh my god, you guys are all, like, the best ever, and I can’t even choose between you, so I’m giving $50 to everyone, except I’m donating it to Rwanda in your names! Luv u okay bye bye.”
I mean, sheesh!
By Zybron on Dec 6, 2007
Well, I guess I owe you an apology. You are correct on one point, I totally missed the one sentence that described how the contest would be judged. I’m not sure how I missed it, maybe it should have been emphasized the way you did here.
Open mouth, insert foot, I guess. It’s not the first time I have done so. Thanks for pointing out what I obviously missed before.
Zybron’s last blog post..How Not To Hold A Blog Contest
By mikster on Dec 6, 2007
I think it’s fairly common for people to skim over blog posts and not get all the details. I once wrote a blog post about my “dream” vacation to prove this and 50% of the people who read the post were convinced that it was reality, rather than a dream.
I’ll bet this was a learning experience for you though. You never know how people will react to some things.
mikster’s last blog post..Everyone Has Used A Rating System
By Karen on Dec 6, 2007
See there? You should have chosen me. That would have given them something to talk about.
By A Blog about Nothing on Dec 6, 2007
Simonne - I agree and disagree. When I put forth an effort to do something be it entering a contest or mowing the neighbors lawn I want to know why I didn’t win or why the neighbor wasn’t pleased with the job. For me personally that goes without saying and I expect the same of other people. Clearly that was my mistake. In the future I won’t be so presumptive to believe that others want reasons.
I’m just a cut and dry type of a person I guess. If I suck or something I have done sucks I expect to be told about it. That’s why I’m not offended by the reaction to my announcing the winner. If anything it has opened my eyes a bit more into human nature.
Hari - I tend to be pretty blunt because I find that saves a lot of grief. Consider this if I had just wrote a post saying that so and so had won and nothing more it wouldn’t have changed a thing. The only difference would have been that everyone would have been left to speculate the reasons which may or may not have caused as much commotion.
Kevin - Thanks, but I’m not really calling anyone out. Just defending myself from a lot of misunderstanding and bad “mojo” that were borne of my announcement.
Zybron - Thanks for the apology. Not really necessary, but appreciated.
Mikster - It certainly has been a learning experience.
Karen - No kidding, huh?!
By Beth on Dec 7, 2007
I’m curious as to how someone is to “listen to tone” through typing. I gave my opinion on how I felt the entire thing was handled, as did a few others.(by the way, it was written as sarcasm, not bitterness). As for the post- I meant the actual post I wrote about the contest and submitted. You commented on that post after I had submitted it and informed me I could find cheap logo/header designers on the forums at DP. You just stated in your response to me:
“As far as likelihood of success it was just one of three conditions. Everyone met the “likelihood of success†criteria. But only one truly stood out as being creative and original.”
If this were the case you should have stated you were looking to judge based on creativity because any of us could be successful in what we chose. I’m not bitter, I’m not a sore loser, but when someone makes it a point to belittle other bloggers who took the time to enter a contest, yes I will stand my ground. If I was truly bitter I would have written a post about this entire thing on my own blog, but I didn’t, because it isn’t worth it’s own post. I’m sorry this happened, but I’m not sorry for how I feel it was handled.
Beth’s last blog post..Is John Chow Really The Evil Dot Com Mogul He Claims?
By A Blog about Nothing on Dec 7, 2007
Beth - You said:
“If this were the case you should have stated you were looking to judge based on creativity because any of us could be successful in what we chose.”
This post addresses that issue.
In short you are dead wrong about pretty much everything you’ve said.
1) There was no predetermined winner
2) The rules were never changed in the middle of the contest
3) There was never any randomness factor as so many seem to think there should have been. If there was why the hell would I make people take the time to write a post about what they would do with the money?
Bottom line: My blog, my contest, my rules. Whoever enters one in the future can expect pretty much the exact same thing.
1) I will determine the winner in whatever manner I feel to be appropriate
2) When the contest ends I will announce the winner(s)
3) I will tell the losers, in public exactly why they lost. Except in the future I will be much more detailed. Why? Because I’d hope for and expect nothing less for myself.
By ROTUS on Dec 7, 2007
Nothing livens up a blog like a good bloody row in the comments. I think your contest was a big success.
ROTUS’s last blog post..Some Linky Love to a Great Blog
By A Blog about Nothing on Dec 7, 2007
Rotus - Funny how those things work out, huh? Not sure how one is to measure success in terms of blogging contests, but I think I agree about it being a success. At least it has generated some discussion around here.
By GET - MORE - TRAFFIC on Dec 12, 2007
Save the drama for your mama.
GET - MORE - TRAFFIC’s last blog post..You Must See Agloco’s Killer Replacement To Believe It!
By A Blog about Nothing on Dec 12, 2007
You’re a little late to the party darling
By windyridge on Feb 7, 2008
Good grief I was thinking about a “Name That Lamb” competition but now I am petrified!
windyridge’s last blog post..I Was Flying
By A Blog about Nothing on Feb 7, 2008
Windy - Go for it. Just be real clear on the rules, etc.