Graphic Design Contests

**angele803** · 10-12-2006, 05:06 PM

This might not be the correct place to put this, but I wanted to get input from designers and contest holders. I have been a member of webmaster-talk.com for a while now and have participated in several design contests. I have not entered many lately because of all the scams and problems we have had here lately. I just wanted to start a discussion to get ideas on how to improve the contest section of the site. Maybe if the mods see some of our ideas, they will get put into action. I have a few ideas.

1. Minimum post limit to run a contest. I know Tim mentioned this in an earlier post. I think someone should have at least some kind of reputation around here before we can trust them to run a contest. I know I don't enter contests from a brand new member. I just dont trust 'em.

2. Maybe have a feedback rating like ebay or namepros.com.

3. Enforce watermarking.

What other ideas do you guys have?

**Writer** · 10-12-2006, 05:20 PM

It's all a risk really and its up to the participants

The way I see it is if they don't label it, its not really theirs, they make it public...

**Captor of Sin** · 10-12-2006, 05:24 PM

Minimum post count is a good idea. I like the idea of a rep or feedback system too. I like the way namepros is doing their contests now as well, with the template they have to fill out when requesting designs.

Just my two cents.

**angele803** · 10-12-2006, 05:32 PM

Yeah, I think we can learn a lot from namepros.com. They are working on improving their contests as well. I agree with Captor of Sin about how its nice to have a format for requesting designs.

And Writer, you are right about it all being a risk. I just hope we can come up with some things to help minimize our risks.

**classeium.com** · 10-13-2006, 01:42 AM

This is a community of websmasters, surely we could contribute to a user rating system?

This way we coulc check post count, previous posts, and a rating system to check their ledgibility.

Just a thought.

**Writer** · 10-13-2006, 07:14 AM

How about this...a new system. We earn "Rep points or Friend Points" because people give us a good rep (not feedback) and after we have 5 we can make 1 contest.

If a report of no payment is found, filed, and prosecuted it will result in a IP ban...

**Neonimage** · 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Writer

How about this...a new system. We earn "Rep points or Friend Points" because people give us a good rep (not feedback) and after we have 5 we can make 1 contest.

If a report of no payment is found, filed, and prosecuted it will result in a IP ban...

Sounds good but we already have this going (talkupation) it could be easily modified to do this, apart from we have this running at the moment but almost no one uses it or gives it. So that means truthful people wanting to host a competition won't ever get a chance and will just go meaning no contests. So I suggest we have a sort of thing where the contest holders MUST pay a small deposite like $3 to webmaster talk and then when the contest is over and everything has gone smoothly. The contest holder gets payed back his $3 and if the contest doesn't go well and he just leaves or it's not true webmaster talk keeps the $3 so the holder looses $3 and we gain $3 meaning a better webmaster talk and less scams. But if this were going to happen we would need more admins and moderators to work the system. We also need the price to be low in order not to put people off.
Just a thought.
Neon

**Juice Daddy** · 01:46 AM

I have some suggestions,

I agree that we should enforce a watermark thing... and I was discussing this with a friend of mine, and he suggested that we should also put "webmaster-talk" on the logo, (with the watermark) so the image cannot be used in a fake contest somewhere else

like I did in this contest:
http://www.webmaster-talk.com/graphi...te-25-a-2.html

**classeium.com** · 10-14-2006, 01:56 AM

Regarding the payment not delivered issue, why not just enforce a payment first policy. Wouldnt that make sense anyway because you can get your money back with paypal anyway, not too sure about egold though.

I think a reputation system which is used would probably work well, or even a reminder of talkuptation, like a little hint throughout the graphics section of the forum.

Just another though,

**TimSchroeder** · 10-14-2006, 02:21 AM

Thanks for the great feedback and suggestions.

When I get back in town, I assure you that we will begin implementing many of your suggestions.

**woosh** · 10-14-2006, 02:30 AM

I think the webmaster watermark would ensure designs are not used elsewhere, there are other forums who have a system where the contest holder pays the agreed amount into a paypal account and the forum releases it once a winner has been decided and vice versa with the artwork, only problem is it creates more work for someone. I would put my hand up but i have to many other responsiblities to tend to. I also agree on a minimum amount of posts before they can put up a comp, and a more set out way of submitting a contest with details etc. Thats my two cents lol ... hope ya all well i been a bit busy lately

**Writer** · 10-14-2006, 08:24 AM

Maybe do it like escrow services or like on SP where you actually have to pay to make contests. About 10 of them popped in in a day, probably 7 or 8 are fake

**Neonimage** · 10-14-2006, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Writer

Maybe do it like escrow services or like on SP where you actually have to pay to make contests. About 10 of them popped in in a day, probably 7 or 8 are fake

But were not SP and we don't get that many visitors we'd just scare them off if they had to pay to make contests i think theys should get their money back if it goes well but if it's a fake then they don't

**Writer** · 10-14-2006, 08:38 AM

$1 per $10 in prizes...meaning that they are less likely to fake it. Just grows a bit of trust. Even if they had to pay 10% straight up and it can be refundable but what if I make a logo then right after he is refunded he uses mine on his site?

...Watermark I know but lets say I don't use it...

**Neonimage** · 10-14-2006, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Writer

$1 per $10

Then they are likley to submit low prizes

**Writer** · 10-14-2006, 09:51 AM

Which shows that they don't plan on paying.

Or the 10% up front

**Neonimage** · 10-14-2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Writer

Which shows that they don't plan on paying.

Or the 10% up front

suppose...
But we cant do 10% up front because then you dont know who will win

**Juice Daddy** · 03:44 PM

so... so far we have established:

- contest entries must be watermarked by the owner
- contest entries need to have a webmaster watermark somewhere
- payment must be recieved first

:/ anything else?

edit:
and if someone wins a contest, they need to send the host talkupation, and vise versa

**Captor of Sin** · 10-14-2006, 04:22 PM

Those are definitely great ideas. Don't forget some kind of design template or guidelines to follow when requesting a design. Like size, format, color scheme, contest end date.. stuff like that.

**Neonimage** · 10-15-2006, 11:56 AM

I say mods should take off any entries that havent been watermarked