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Carry
on Comping...
by
Lynne Suzanne
"Aren't `compers' greedy, wanting to win cars and
holidays?" quizzed a well-meaning journalist when
she telephoned to ask about my latest wins.
"Not
at all", I told her, "we're helping the economy,
employment, charities and introducing people to a wonderful
hobby".
"Oh",
she said, "tell me how".
Think
for a moment. When you collect your entry form in-store,
it has already provided employment. Staff designed the
competition, artists and photographers played their
part, printers produced thousands of leaflets, which
were transported to retail outlets. People deliver
entries, sort and judge the competitions, prepare winners
lists, notify winners, perhaps organise prize presentations.
Journalists may run stories on major prize winners.
"So why do promoters organise competitions?",
she quizzed.
Now you and I are not as naive as to think that competition
promoters give away cars, holidays and the like,
just for the fun of it. Organising a competition
is simply a promotion, another form of advertising,
designed to promote brand awareness, increase sales
or for marketing purposes.
The promoter may organise a free prize draw, perhaps
asking you a simple question relating to the product,
for instance, what colour packaging does their new fresh
fragrance come in. By entering you have been made
aware off the new product and have a chance to win.
You may, although you're not obliged to, decide to buy
the product.
To encourage you to buy and try their product, the promoter
may organise a skill contest, for instance, completing
a tiebreaker slogan, where you may have to purchase
the product to qualify for entry. Once you've tried
it, they hope you will buy again. Plus of course, you
have a chance of winning an exciting prize.
Now what if only five people entered the task and tiebreaker
competition to win a holiday. And this is no figment
of my imagination, I assure you. National competitions
have been judged where there have been more prizes than
entrants. I believe the promoter would be disappointed
and never likely to run a competition again.
When
thousands of entries are received, the promoter is encouraged
by the response, benefits from advertising, increased
sales and new customers, who perhaps only bought the
product to enter the competition, liked it and made
repeat purchases. These promoters will organise
future competitions, which is of benefit to us all.
The promoter, subject to Data Protection Act, may ask,
when you enter the competition, if you wish to receive
further information about their products. Most
keen compers, myself included, always opt-in. When you
receive mailings from the promoter, you can decide if
their offer is of interest to you. They may include
a special offer or a money-off coupon or another competition
for you to enter.
"Comping"
as this hobby is affectionately, offers you an educational,
stimulating, enjoyable and fun pastime. A chance to
shower your family and friends with prize-winning gifts,
enjoy family holidays, drive new cars. Perhaps make
new friends. It's a hobby you can enjoy at home, on
holiday, on your own or with family and friends. One
you can "pick up and put down" as the mood
takes you.
I am grateful to competitions and the people who helped
me. Discovering this pastime after redundancy,
I fulfilled an ambition to become a freelance writer
with a regular column in a national newspaper which
I penned on a daily basis for almost three years, to
write features, books, give talks and present Roadshows.
Now my business is helping people like you, to win prizes
too.
With
comping, you never know "where on earth" you'll
be!
Yes,
it's a wonderful hobby. Have fun. Share it.
Enjoy it and "Carry on Comping".
© Copyright 2002 Lynne Suzanne www.win-with-lynne.co.uk
About the author
Lynne Suzanne is a freelance writer, consultant and
speaker. She has written four books on winning prize
competitions and slogan writing and presents Win With
Lynne Roadshows and marketing seminars.
FREE Win With Lynne Expert Guide to Winning competition
prizes
http://www.win-with-lynne.co.uk
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