In an effort to get more "peepers" on your posts, no doubt you've scoured the Net for needed answers.
Experts contend that "Tweeting" is the ticket to increase your traffic and your online exposure.
While others in-the-know suggest that you make the rounds of the social media circuit "to win friends and influence people."
And you don't dare dismiss the advice that content is King.
So you devote countless hours to create posts that enable you to put your proverbial best foot forward.
Here's the $64,000 dollar question, in the words of Dr. Phil: "So how's that workin' out for ya'?"
Are you falling short of your goals? Fending off fatigue? Frustrated?
"Don't it make your brown eyes blue?" :-)
Well, here's the one thing that you should add to your efforts that will help you to "work smarter, not harder" and potentially gain the recognition you desire and deserve this year.
In a word? CONTESTS!
That's right. Entering contests can escalate your writing and blogging career to new heights. And I should know.
Though I hadn't earlier on.
Here's what caused a paradigm shift.
Remember back in 2011 when I asked you guys to give your support for the annual Write to Done's Top 10 Writing Blogs Contest by casting your votes for this blog?
Well, as many of you are aware, I made it as a Top 10 finalist.
And, mind you, there were thousands of entries received for this popular competition.
(B/T/W Thanks again for your awesome support!) :-)
Even though I didn't "win" I still emerged as a winner of sorts.
How?
That act alone has garnered more "collective" attention to my blog than guest posting, social media efforts, and begging and pleading. Seriously.
And did I mention it was tons of fun?!
Or think of it this way.
Even the finalists on American Idol garner recording contracts, acting gigs, and "groupie" gaining status.
And you can too.
With this in mind, here are a few places to enter your blog, book, or creative project for cash, prices, or minimally, more exposure and more quality connections.
1. FUNDS FOR WRITERS---Created and managed by C. Hope Clark, Funds for Writers provides weekly contest listings, along with grants and jobs for writers seeking to earn pay for their say.
2. FIVE STAR PUBLICATIONS---Sponsors the Dragonfly Awards, honoring authors in various categories. Cash prices range from $100 to $300 bucks. Click on the icon in the right side border for more details and an application.
3. ASK WENDY-THE QUERY QUEEN---Here you'll find endless updates on a variety of contests and calls for submissions to help you shine and share your works.
With this list and links, you should be off to a good start.
Wishing you much success and more moola than you can count!
Thoughts? Any award-winners out there? Don't be shy.
Well you should have received top spot. You are so generous. When I read your blog I feel as though we are sitting across from one another sipping a soft drink and you are talking directly to me. You have a way with words.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteYou are such a blessing. And lucky for you that I don't know where you live, as I would probably stop by to have a sip of soft drink more often than you'd like. LOL
You're a doll. :-) Thanks much! Glad to be of service.
Thanks for bringing this up Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteIn my previous home I had several letters about all kinds of Won Competitions (and also a print of my very first actual - the Vision - ebook Sales) pasted on my door.
Since some time ago I moved to an other (a little bigger) home, I wonder where I have those letters, because for example - besides all kinds of letters about Slogan- and Photography Contests I won - I also once won a (Crocky Chips) Competition once with some Short Writing, and I need to find out what made it win :)
While most of the Competitions that I have done in the past are more about Slogan- and Photography Contests than actual Writing Contests, entering actual Writing Competitions is an interesting idea because, besides the extra attention Contests can generate, I do think that it will never hurt to be an - Award Winning - Writer.
HP,
DeleteSounds like you could teach me a thing or two! I'd love to win a slogan writing contest. Seems as if it would be loads of fun. :-) Thanks for sharing here.
Well, with the Slogans Contests I usually indeed really do have a pretty amazing Success Rate, and actually I do think that for it I do have a little 'Secret' that might be helpful.
DeleteSomething that is also somewhat related to what you can find on - The Secret to Writing Success - Page on my Blog, that's amung other things about the question
'What Comes Next...?'
Because the thing is that with a lot of Slogan Contests you usually need to complete a sentence, something like for example 'I like reading HP's Writing Blog....,' and than you usually need to write your Slogan about - - in this case - why you like reading HP's Writing Blog.
O.K. now what I wrote about previously, it's
all about 'What Comes Next....,'
Now instead of trying to find something to rime on the word - Blog -, (like almost everybody else does) instead you 'take charge' and do something to stand out...., now you enlarge the initital sentence with your own word to rime on, like for example:
'I like HP's Writing Blog - about Blogging and doing Affiliate Marketing -' and now rime on 'your own word' - Marketing - instead. Like for example euh..,
'Because reading the posts on it
makes me - Sing -'
(just for the sake of an example :))
HP,
ReplyDeleteHow creative! Thanks for these clever tips. :-)