Let's talk about giveaways.

[Charlotte Garnatz]

I have avoided doing a "giveaway" on my blog just because I did not want to screw it up and tick off my readers. But I realize it is a great way to build loyalty and get rid of my pile of "Already Read, but Don't Really Need to Keep" books.

My question is this, how do you fairly determine a winner?

Any other Do's & Don't would be aprreciated, too.

[Bart]

While postage costs are of course an issue, and you need to be sure that they don't get out of control. It also helps to remember that giveaways are at least in-part a form of advertising for your blog and look at an occasional higher postal cost in that context. It's of course great to reward your regular readers, but most of us that do giveaways are also hoping to get some new visitors to their sites as well.

[Charlotte Garnatz]

That is a valid point too, Bart.

[Debbie]

...but most of us that do giveaways are also hoping to get some new visitors to their sites as well.

Yes, I agree, but how do you get word out to people who don't know about your blog (i.e. the hoped-for new visitors). I do a giveaway each month, but so far haven't had a permanent increase in my regular readerships stats, so I'm looking for ideas on how to successfully accomplish this. Thanks.

[EllaPress]

same here :)

[Anysia]

If you want to get word out to new people, you have two choices:

1) Advertise your giveaway on sites other than your blog (contestgirl.com, Up for Grabs, Win A Book (West of Mars), Reading With Monie's Book Giveaway List, LibraryThing, etc.).
2) Get your readers to advertise it for you.

It also pays to run the giveaway for at least a week. I'm running a giveaway on my site now and I always have detailed rules on how to get extra entries if you want to check out what I do.

[Debbie]

Anysia, thank you for sharing this information.

[Anna]

On my contests I use random.org, it's so much better than picking a name out of hat. I usually have my contests open to US and Canada cause of cost. But if the items I'm giving away are coming from an Author, I open the contest up for everyone. Depending on what I'm giving away I'll run contest for a week. Sometimes I'll run it for the whole month.

[Vivian Deliz]

Also if the book is "used (gently read)", say so as some people do not like to win "used" books.

[Charlotte Garnatz]

Thank you for all of your advice. I took a combination of your suggestions and posted my first giveaway.

http://charlotteswebofbooks.blogspot.com/

We will see how it goes!

[Katie B]

I usually write everyones names on pieces of paper and do an old-fashioned drawing but I plan on trying random.org next time because I think it will be easier.

[EllaPress]

yeah but, when you give ppl the chance to get multiple entries, l don't think random.org is very useful

[Anysia]

I always use random.org and I always have multiple entries. I just use a spreadsheet, asign entries 1-5 to person 1, entries 6-7 to person 2, etc. No biggie.