I think this is a really good point and I agree–often the contest will make me look for the book when I don’t win, just because at that point I’m hooked and want to read it. It helps to read users comments about the book–like that it has been recommended by them by other people they know or they’ve heard the buzz about it, etc.

Another thing to mention–if you do want to go the points route where you award more draws when people promote more, definitely use a form and attach it to your blog posts. Forms are very quick to fill in and there is more privacy, so people will be more willing to fill them out. If you go to Googledocs, you can find pre made forms or you can make your own.

Another trick is to find someone who uses a form with their blog contest and then follow the link that is often included so you can make your own. This is how I found out about Googledocs forms. :)

Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

I’m doing a contest later next month, it’s going to be fun…My blog is mostly about writing, but often about random life things. This contest is going to be random. My teen daughter and I have been buying random things and are planning on asking random questions (related to the goodies) and then she’s going to judge it with some friends. It should be fun. :)

Thanks so much!
Marissa

The ones where you get entered for commenting but can earn other spots in the drawing if your ambitious like me.

As a reader I find that contests sometimes make me want a book. I’ll read about it, enter, then not win but still want the book. I’m not sure how widespread that phenomena is but it works on me specifically (not all the time).

I’ve hosted several contests, giving away other people’s work. Right now, I’m hosting a verse novel challenge (read five verse novels by the end of the year). Those who complete it will go into a drawing for my verse novel ARC.

Having read only two verse novels before I sold my own, I figured I needed to become more familiar with the genre. This has been a fun way to promote verse novels in general.