Ethics Question: Would you allow family and friends to enter your giveaways?

[Kathleen Garber]

I know a lot of people's family and friends don't even read their blogs but do you or would you let them enter your giveaways? If you are using random.org to pick a winner I don't see why not. They would win fair and square if they do right?

What do you think?

[Deborah]

If they truly want to read the book, I see no problems with them entering. I always use random.org to pick winners, so it isn't as if I'm playing favorites.

[Katie]

I do have one family member who reads my blog... I also allow her to participate in giveaway. She's a teacher (1st grade) and mother to an eight-year old. My blog is children's literature focused. And since I use random.org, I don't see why she shouldn't be able to enter... it's not like I'm playing favorites!

[avisannschild]

My sister reads and comments on my blog regularly and I allow her to enter giveaways. She even won one, which I did feel a bit weird about (I don't want other readers thinking I'm playing favourites), but it was totally random!

[Kathleen Garber]

Deborah, Katie and Avisannschild.. thanks, that's exactly how I feel but was curious what others though. I'd really like to hear from someone who wouldn't allow it.

[Charlotte Garnatz]

LOL --Some days, I think my friends & family are the only ones to read my blog. LOL I would not have a problem with them entering.

BUT, having said that, if my blog grows into a media monstrosity (not going to hold my breath here) then I might put some "terms & conditions" in place.

[Kathleen Garber]

You mean if you were one of the very well known blogs with tons of visitors?

[Charlotte Garnatz]

Exactly.

[Nicole Trist]

Hello!

Well, I do my giveaways with the assistance of the author and I allow them to pick the winners. So I do have family and friends enter the competitions.

See, when I run a give away it isn't as simple as leaving a name and email, I ask for a question to be answered so I think that in my case it would be unfair to use a random number generator as some people put more thought into their answers then others. So, I ask the author to help judge the answers, as the question is based on the book, making them the authority on what a good answer would be.

Nicole Trist @ Books, Books Everwhere
GIVEAWAY- "The Flesh Statue" by U.L. Harper
http://bookywooks.blogspot.com/2010/01/giveaway-flesh-statue.html

[Kathleen Garber]

Wow that's a neat way of doing it. I've seen others ask questions but I don't think they ever had the author pick the winners. Do they just go read them on your site and tell you who won?

[Nicole Trist]

Thanks!
Well, the current giveaway I am doing the author has been really great. I started the Giveaway and a few days in he emailed me and said he would love to help pick the winners, so I agreed. So when the giveaway finishes on the 9th Feb I will email him with the answers I think are best and he can make the final decision and let me know. At the end of the day, the question is based on their book, so who else would be a better authority on what a good answer would be..?
As good as random number generators are, for a question based giveaway I think judging the answers is the better way to go because there are some people who put so much thought into their answers and some who just come up with the first thing they can think of just to get themselves in the running.
Nicole Trist @ Books, Books Everwhere
GIVEAWAY- "The Flesh Statue" by U.L. Harper
http://bookywooks.blogspot.com/2010/01/giveaway-flesh-statue.html

[Kathleen Garber]

Well I don't often giveaway books my family is interested in but it has happened a few times.

[Marilyn Shoemaker]

No, since I buy so many books I would give them one.