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Words
are the tool of your trade...
by
Lynne Suzanne
Without
a doubt, words are the tools of your trade. Watching
anglers on riverbanks, I liken entering competitions
to fishing. You throw in bait for the fish and sooner
or later you'll hook one. Just like entering prize draws.
Post
enough and sooner or later your entry will get picked.
It’s the luck of the draw!
After
a day's fishing you may come back laden with small and
medium size fish, perhaps one `whopper', unless it was
the one that got away!
Similarly,
you win small prizes or the big fish - the car or holiday.
As
many compers, as people who enter competitions are affectionately
known, only enter prize draws to win the `whoppers',
there's not so many entries for `tiddlers', so there's
more chance of you netting these prize fish.
The
serious angler doesn't leave his hobby to chance. He
carefully selects his bait. He studies the fishing ground
and all other factors likely to enhance his chances
of `landing the whopper'.
Even
after careful planning he's not going to hook every
fish he goes after, but he has increased his chances
of success.
You
as a comper can be like our mythical angler. You prepare
your bait, i.e. words to use in your slogans. You
select your best fishing grounds, i.e. finding your
entry forms, especially those elusive ones which may
be hidden on tops of shelves, tucked in between display
cabinets. Just because the entry forms aren't displayed
in prominent view with eye catching WIN to attract you,
doesn't mean to say there aren't any competitions in
that store.
You’ll
find yourself becoming a `Sherlock Holmes', tracking
down the best competitions to enter and the thrill of
the chase.
When
our angler takes up his rod and settles down to a day's
fishing, or our `Sherlock' comper sets out on an entry
form safari, attitude is everything.
With
a negative `the waters too high, temperatures wrong,
won't catch no fish today' or `expect I shan't find
any forms today', `not in the mood to write tiebreaker
slogans', `I never win anyway', one thing is certain.
You're right, you won't!
Armed
with a positive, `What a wonderful hobby, I've won a
first prize in a tiebreaker competition and I can do
it again', or a `I WILL win a car', one thing is certain.
You will win. For you will put enthusiasm into your
entries, spending time writing and perfecting - and
the prizes will come.
We
often hear of people talk about `The Law of Averages'.
Send in enough entries and sooner or later you win.
You
may win one prize a month for a period, then not win
anything for six months. Just when you wonder what you're
doing wrong, low and behold, three prizes arrive almost
at once.
Following
a lean spell, I won a five star health break, a holiday
to Miami and a gleaming bright red car – all within
ten days. On `average' the prizes even themselves out.
Interestingly
then how many compers loose enthusiasm, feel defeated
or just give up when they feel the postman has deserted
them.
Take
a tip. Enter every competition with enthusiasm. Give
it your best shot. Post it. Forget about it. Move onto
the next one and do the same. Do this and you increase
your chances of success.
Must
dash. Off to play the pools and reel in a few prizes!
© 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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