*This post includes my affiliate links.
I honestly cherish each and every one of my readers, I really do. I started this blog in May of 2008 and still have some readers today, who started following me back then. For that, I am truly thankful. Without YOU, my blog would not be anything to anyone.
I am also very thankful for my new followers and for people who are just here to enter my giveaways. Hey, that is okay, I don’t care! You are here now and that is what counts to me. Maybe one day you will become a loyal subscriber/reader of my blog, but today you are here to enter my fabulous giveaway/s I have to offer. I love it and that is fine!
Do you want to know the honest truth about blog giveaways? Do you want to know if bloggers really use the random button to select their winners? You want to know if certain people are singled out or ‘blacklisted‘ from giveaways? Then listen up, because I am here to tell you the truth about blog giveaways.
Do Bloggers Blacklist People?
I am sure there are some bloggers that do. Me personally, no, not yet. I have though been into it with one sweeper and my feelings were hurt really badly (hey, I get my feelings hurt really bad, quite easily, just who I am) and so I blocked this person on Facebook and from my Facebook fan page. I also blocked this person on Twitter but eventually let this person be able to ‘like’ me on Twitter again, for a contest because I am just like that. I am forgiving to some extent. But, this is the ONLY time I have ever gone to that extent to make someone leave me the hell alone because they were so rude to me. I do NOT tolerate that.
Do Bloggers Select Friends/Family To Win Their Giveaways?
I have never in my 8 years of blogging done this. I socialize online with a lot of good bloggers who have never done this. But, there is ALWAYS a bad seed in every bunch that ruins it for others. You cannot stop that, unfortunately.
I select my winners by using the button on my Giveaway Tools page. I click on the ‘generate a random winner‘ button and it pulls up a drop down menu that asks me ‘how many winners’ I want to select. Usually, it is just one. Then I click the ‘generate winner’ button and my winner appears at the top of my page. There is no way I can pick a family member or friend if I wanted to because it is all generated by this widget, not by me. I love this feature because the winner then appears on the widget for all to see. No lies, no secrets, no second guessing anything. I love using Giveaway Tools because it makes it simple to select my winners.
The only time I will reselect a winner is if my first winner never returns my email. I give the winner 48 hours to confirm their win or I will select another winner. I have even given my winners several days before and then emailed them AGAIN. So yes, I give ample time for my winners to claim their win before another winner is selected.
Why Do Certain People Keep Winning?
It has to be PURE luck, it really does! Like I said before, I use the ‘generate a winner’ button in my Giveaway Tools page. There are no hidden tricks or certain ways I select a winner, I just literally press a button and there they are. If you win a lot on a particular blog or blogs, you are lucky! Congrats to you! I wish I were so lucky.
Why Do Bloggers Have So Many Ways To Enter?
Well, why not. I work damn hard to set up my giveaways and so I put out extra entries. I rarely have a mandatory entry, unless a sponsor requests one. So, all of my entries are optional. I just see it as a way for my readers to enter my giveaways however they want to. Easy, simple and anyone can enter that way.
As for other bloggers, I am sure it is the same way for them too. We as bloggers work super hard on these giveaways. We not only write them up but add pictures, links and we promote the crap out of them. So, if you see a blog giveaway with a billion entries, just choose which ones you want to do and forget about the rest. If there is a mandatory entry, then skip it if you don’t want to do it and leave that blog. Easy peasy!
Do Bloggers Really Send Out The Prizes?
You bet! And all the bloggers I associate with do too. Again, there are some bad seeds in the bunch and that is probably why you are wanting to know the answer to this question. Some people ruin it for others and that just sucks.
Me? I ALWAYS make sure my winners receive their prizes. I have winners email me asking me when they should expect their prizes or that it has been over a month or so and still nothing. I will ALWAYS respond and always check on the status of the prize, for my winners. If I do not get back to you it is because your email went to spam or you are using the wrong email! I will always gladly help you if you have a prize that has not been fulfilled that you won on my blog. I have even gone as far as sending out something from ME that I bought, just to make up for a prize not sent out to the winner.
It also sucks pretty badly when you go out of your way to do a blog post for a sponsor that says they have products for a giveaway and then they do NOT fulfill their end of the bargain. Now that REALLY sucks. All the promotion a blogger gives them and all the people who enter the giveaway, it is just not fair and it sucks. Thank God that does not happen very often.
There was a funny blog post that I did one time because someone was accusing me of not fulfilling their prize, when in fact they were messaging me on my Facebook Fan Page and I NEVER even saw the message. Did they get their prize once I realized they were trying to get a hold of me? You bet they did! And see, they did NOT have to be rude about it or accusing! Read that post HERE.
So, if you are wondering if blog giveaways are legit, then I would have to say yes, yes they are. I know many good bloggers who run giveaways, who are honest and legitimate, including myself of course. We work hard to bring our readers these fun giveaways and hate to hear that anyone of you have ever had a bad experience with a blog giveaway. Don’t let your bad experience ruin your fun in entering other blog giveaways!
Since you are already here, check out my most recent blog giveaways going on now. Check out my ‘5 Tips On How To Win Online Giveaways‘. And, good luck to you! Keep entering these blog giveaways and I promise one day you will be the lucky winner!
What Do You Like Or Dislike About Blog Giveaways?
Natalie says
How do you find the URL for a retweet I retweeted? It always asks for the retweet URL and I cannot find it!
Margot C says
There is no new URL generated when you retweet. I always put my entry in as “Retweeted by @AnnaZed – and the original tweet url” because that is all that I can think of to do. Kim might have other ideas though, she’s the pro!
sabina edwards says
One thing I think bloggers should do, as a courtesy, is to EXPLAIN a few things, esp if you want us to follow you on so an so (like VINE ..just because I can join the thing, doesn’t mean I can figure out what the heck my unique url is etc ) Right now there are so many ways to enter a sweep BUT most bloggers just won’t explain how to find certain things (I still get confused as to how to find a RETWEET ..not a reg tweet, but the ones I’M asked to retweet etc) and OMG SNAPCHAT? what the heck… my daughter even throws up her hands in the air when trying to explain it to me….then..theres the OH take a screen shot of your phone..my God, having a baby is easier …so YEAH, perhaps YOU might know how to do everything UBER perfectly when it comes to online stuff, but there are some of us who are clueless and DO need help. (and I hope that the contest entry form makes it super easy for you to figure out if there person has followed you on those million sites, cus I can’t even imagine the spreed sheet lol)
Kim Delatorre says
LOL! I totally agree on this! I absolutely do not do Vine or Snapchat, no way. I would not be able to figure it out either. Thank you for the suggestions!
Edye says
Thanks so much for this post! I’m a new blogger and host some giveaways on my site as well. I love your blog! Have a great weekend 🙂
Blessings,
Edye | http://gracefulcoffee.wordpress.com
Kim Delatorre says
Thank you so much 🙂
Kimberly M. says
Great post and I really do believe you are an honest blogger but unfortunately I have never won from your blog. I do wish all bloggers would post the winners somewhere. Either on the rafflecopter after the giveaway is over or somewhere where if you return to the page the giveaway was on you can see who won. I know different people I have talked to about blog giveaways wonder about some bloggers because they never see any of the winners posted. I feel if you enter a giveaway you should let the blogger use your name or at least put up your initials or something. We like to know who won OR if anyone won. I think for the most part most bloggers are honest. I just know that there are always in anything people who make it bad for everyone (a dishonest blogger) but I don’t really think there are many of them. I’m sure the sponsors would catch on eventually. At least I hope they would. Thank you for so many great giveaways. I hope someday I get an email with “Congratulations you’re the winner.” Until then I keep entering.
Kim Delatorre says
You are very sweet! I know, I hate it when I enter a giveaway and then go back to the blog I entered at and there is no ‘winner’s’ page. I have a winner’s page for that very reason! That way everyone can keep tabs on who won! Keep entering my giveaways, eventually you will win <3
Marci says
Hey Kim!
I am one of your original followers. I love how your blog has evolved. I still enjoy it even after all these years! ( I remember some of the silly things you would ask us readers to do to enter a contest way back when, it was quite fun!)
As for giveaways, who doesn’t love to win?! I know most of the blogs are very honest about their practices and it’s greatly appreciated. I know it takes a LOT of work to run a blog as well as to offer a giveaway. I could never do it and I appreciate you for taking the time to do it.
I have always thought the reason for a giveaway is to enlighten us about a product or service. Because of blogs, I have become a loyal customer to many companies of which I would have known about otherwise. For me it’s a win-win!!! (pun included haha)
But just like everything else on the internet, more and more people are finding these blogs to enter contests. Which means a lot more competition (why it’s harder to win). And there may be a reason why some people win more then others, because they put a lot more time and effort in to trying to win.
So with all of that being said……..THANKS!!!
Kim Delatorre says
Yes, you are an original loyal reader 🙂 I really appreciate that! Always nice to see you, Marci! Thank you for hanging around!
Pamela Gurganus says
I enter a lot of blog giveaways and have won some really great things. But lately, I’m on a bad streak. It’s not that I haven’t won, but that I did and let the allotted time for prize fulfillment to go by and nothing. So I contacted my only contact…the blogger….only to be told they are not responsible and basically, oh well. I know you bloggers put A LOT of work into these giveaways for your followers/readers, etc., but without us following/reading…well…and we put in a lot of time and effort entering too. We “depend” on one another. So to be told by a blogger….”well, everyone else (multiple winners) received their prizes….don’t know what to tell you”, doesn’t sit well with me. I keep very careful track of my wins. I know I didn’t receive that win and felt like I was being accused otherwise. So sad and very discouraging. Thus, I have some bloggers I will not enter their giveaways because their sponsors are not trustworthy for follow through, or the bloggers themselves aren’t. I currently have one giveaway out in limbo. The blogger notified my 14 weeks ago I was the winner. The blogger told me she was not responsible for prize fulfillment and to expect up to 12 weeks for delivery. I’m seriously having anxiety about contact the blogger to let them know I haven’t received my prize. ugh Mind you, I do not enter giveaways just to enter. I started entering a few years ago out of need and it’s still that way to this day. I don’t enter for things I do not need and/or want. And again…I know bloggers put a lot of work into their giveaways, but us entrants work hard too to enter. Especially some giveaways that ask you to comment and post and tweet and answer and follow and etc., over and over and over again!
Kim Delatorre says
That is too bad. If one of my winners doesn’t receive their prize and they contact me to let me know, I will ALWAYS contact the sponsor and ask what is going on and when my winner will receive their prize. There have been a few times, unfortunately, that the sponsor will not get back to me no matter how many times I contact them and that just really sucks for everyone. SO unfair. That is why I will send out a prize from ME to my winner just because I feel so bad for them! Also, yes, when you enter blog giveaways you do put in a lot of time. That is so appreciated!!!! I know I appreciate you 🙂 Thank you!
Lisa E says
Good post. I have gotten most of my prizes over the past 5 years – the only two I haven’t gotten seemed to be from small companies (both were shirt companies). I emailed the blog owner and they said they checked into it and emailed but still never got it – It was up to the company to send it. What can you do? Nothing – on to the next giveaway!
Kim Delatorre says
You have a very good attitude about it! But, it is wrong that the sponsors don’t fulfill their end of the bargain. We all put in a lot of time with these giveaways, the people that enter do too. Thanks for being a reader of my blog 🙂
SHIRLEY SYMON says
I just received my prize from another blog in the mail today. I actually got in four weeks when she said it could take up to ten weeks to receive it. I also received another prize from another blog in about a week instead of the standard 6-8 weeks. Obviously the more ways you enter the better chances you have to win. If you do not want to enter in the ways listed then don’t. Because I don’t do twitter I do not use those entry methods and yet I still won. That shows me it is definitely a random drawing. Great article.
Kim Delatorre says
So glad to hear you are having positive experiences with blog giveaways! That is what I love to hear!
Karen Glatt says
I found this very interesting. For the most part bloggers have been very good in getting me my prize. I have only had a few times when I did not get it. Thanks for the information and I do know that you do have a person that is lucky on your blog and that wins all the time. I wish I was this lucky. It is really hard to win prizes. But for the most part, if everyone is being truthful. We are here to win prizes!
Kim Delatorre says
Yes! Just keep trying and entering. Use all the ways to enter, if you can, to increase your chances of winning. Good luck to you!
Maryann D. says
Thanks for this interesting article! Your giveaways are definitely fun and I do love your blog!
Kim Delatorre says
Awe, thank you very much! It means a lot to me, it really does 🙂
Julie Beveridge says
Great post! I run my giveaways with giveaway tools as well. I don’t think I have ever even had a family member or friend win. Haha! There are more honest than not thankfully. I keep entering and I have so a couple of times myself
Kim Delatorre says
Well, good luck to you 🙂 Thank you for being a reader of my blog!
ellen says
I am one of your long timers. I know for certain, that you are honest and have always been very good with responding to your readers. That’s one of the biggies in my book is how responsive a blogger is. It also is a real quick way to tell how much the blogger cares about the readers.
In this whole contest mess, I have always seen it as somewhat symbiotic …… we follow perhaps at first for an entry, and in turn a bloggers numbers go up enabling them to be rewarded by companies and brands.
The funny part is, or maybe the best part, is there are some blogs and bloggers you grow to really like. You see their kids grow, they make you laugh and sometimes cry. You see their name, and you know they are good people behind this screen we see- and you Kim are one of those bloggers.
Are there bloggers who lie and cheat? You betcha. Are there people on the other end who lie and cheat? Yes again, and likely more (although the good bloggers catch on to them)
So keep doing what you are doing, you do it well. Thank you for having these contests, and even those recipes I see late at night that make me hungry ha!
Kim Delatorre says
Oh Ellen! So nice to always see you on my blog and responding! You are so sweet to say those things. I try to always be on top of things! And those late night recipes on my Facebook fan page kill my diet!!! LOL! I can’t help it though, yum!!! 🙂
Kimberley Thomas says
Great post ! I like the fact you confirmed the facts !! Always wondered about how winners were really chosen.. Going to enter the contest now & thank you so much for all your hard work as a blogger !!
Kim says
Melody,
Thank you so much for being a reader of my blog. I value you and am happy this blog post helped answer a few of your questions ☺️
melody hodge says
I really like this post because I have had alot of these same questions. I actually found your blog because I was doing a sweepstakes. Here lately I havent had alot of time to read up on the few blogs I enjoy but tonight, I had a few and yours is always the first one I read. Thank you for all the information you share with us and hard work you put into it.
Kim Delatorre says
You are very welcome and I am glad that I could answer some questions for you. I appreciate you reading my blog, it really means a lot to me! 🙂