It depends on who’s running the sweepstakes or contests, but most of the time you’ll end up filling out a digital form. Your entry will either be randomly selected or judged for eligibility by a dedicated panel.

Be ready to include your:

• Name
• Age
• Phone number
• Email address
• Mailing address

You may also need to fill out additional information depending on the nature of the contest. Some may ask an open-ended question you have to respond to like an essay or have you fill out some kind of survey.

There’s no surefire way of guaranteeing you’ll win a contest, but there are a few things you can do to increase your odds.

Here are a few tips!

1. Enter a Bunch

Those who don’t try, won’t succeed. In other words, the more contests you enter, the stronger the chance you’ll actually win at least one. You can enter daily, weekly, or monthly contests, so be aware of making the deadlines.

2. Use a Dedicated Email Address

You want a specific email only for entering contests. That will keep spam from building up in your inbox.

3. Find Local Giveaways

Contests in your neighborhood are going to have a smaller pool, which means your likelihood of winning will increase. You can score deals on nearby concerts or at restaurants and movie theaters.

4. Read the Rules

The last thing you want to do is apply for a contest you’re not eligible for or to get all the way to the end only to get charged a fee. Read the rules before sending in your entry.

5. Claim Your Prizes

It’s important to keep track of which contests you are entering. You may win without even noticing! Be sure to check your emails, and if you’re really hardcore, keep a Google Sheet of all the contests and sweepstakes you enter.

You’ll never win anything if you don’t give it your best shot. Send in your entries and see what happens!

Whether it’s concert tickets from a radio station, a t-shirt caught from the cannon at a baseball game, or a swag bag full of goodies at a 5K, there’s no beating getting things for free!

It’s best not to underestimate the value of free, especially as a business owner. And in the meantime, try your hand at a few of the contests featured in the websites above!