Cash prize contests?

**007** · 09-06-2006, 02:34 PM

What are your experiences with cash prize contests? I personally think it's a better option than hiring paid posters who will automatically leave when the job is done. ;-)

I will be launching two new forums soon and am hoping to hold a pretty significant contest to get some activity booming right off the bat.

I guess my question is how much cash does it take to get a solid buzz going, and of course some solid posting going.

And no, I'm not trying to squeak by with a few hundred bucks out of pocket. Just looking to hear what has worked for others.

Any ideas are welcome. Thanks!

~007

**LeeD** · 09-06-2006, 05:38 PM

You can see that is worked here. I think the amount of money given away is totally dependant on the niche the forum is in. I also think the bigger the prize, the easier it will be to get the contest noticed by either bloggers or media.

**GeorgeB** · 09-06-2006, 05:49 PM

Cash is OK but for me it just always makes sense to give an item related to your forum away. Or at least an item that you know fits the demographic of your forum.

It then becomes less a how much you spend thing and more about how much the people in your community want the item. With cash it's just too easy to get it wrong in terms of what amount you choose and how your members will accept it.

**007** · 09-07-2006, 04:58 AM

I've given away XBOX 360's before and that went over really well, but this time I'm considering prizes that would appeal to a larger group of people.

Thanks for the suggestions.

**007** · 09-07-2006, 06:39 PM

Assuming I do a cash prize contest, which would be better, one big prize after a few months, or one prize per month for a few months?

**imported_Anthony** · 09-08-2006, 07:56 AM

I personally feel that something like an amazon.com gift certificate would go down MUCH better than a cash prize would

**LeeD** · 09-08-2006, 09:57 AM

I think is you can give away a cash prize that is decent enough, then continuing it for a few months would work well (multiple winners).

**007** · 09-08-2006, 12:37 PM

Thanks everyone. I think I am going to split it up. By doing so, I think it will appeal to more people since not everybody will feel they have a chance if there is only one prize.

**satansjudge** · 09-08-2006, 05:02 PM

Giving something away such as cash and/or items will bring in a lot of people but they will most likely be there for the prizes. You probably wont suspect them to hang around much after that...

**007** · 09-09-2006, 10:09 AM

Well the idea is to make the prize big enough that enough people stay after it's over, similar to what happened here when EF launched.

**JustinG** · 09-09-2006, 07:50 PM

I am currently doing it now. Before I had to upgrade and in the process lose my entire database It was going rather well.

I re-launched mine now, and its attravting memebers just not a whole lot which is my fault because of hardly any advertising. I need to get out there and do it, but I think so far it is attracting alot of visitors and really gives them motivation to post.