Some Contest Rules really get into the legal jargon to the point you need to be a lawyer to understand them. Yes, you want your Contest Rules legal and well-defined but there is also a fine line. The average person needs to be able to understand those Contest Rules. If your Contest Rules are too difficult to understand you will turn people off and they will not enter. Point and case, they will not sign up for a contest if they can not understand the Contest Rules. Would you sign up for something you did not fully understand? Again, your Contest Rules must contain some legal jargon but also must be easy to understand.
Below is an example taken from our Sweepstakes/Contest Rules. Contests and Sweepstakes are very similar. Without getting into detail about the differences between the two we are going to call them “Contest Rules” for this example. Please feel free to use our example below.
Sweepstakes 13 OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES
OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ("U.S.") AND CANADA (EXCLUDING QUEBEC), AUSTRALIA, UNITED KINGDOM & NEW ZEALAND WHO ARE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.
1. CONTEST RULES ELIGIBILITY: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR CLAIM PRIZE. PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE CHANCES OF WINNING.
Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia ("U.S.") and Canada (excluding Quebec), Australia, United Kingdom & New Zealand who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Employees, officers and directors of (the "Sponsor"), its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, webmasters/suppliers, and members of the immediate families (spouse, children, parents, siblings) and persons living in the same household (whether or not related) of such employees, officers and directors are not eligible. Void in Quebec and were prohibited.
2. Contest Rules PROMOTION PERIOD: The Sweepstakes 13 "Vegas Getaway for Two" Promotion begins on (A month, day, year) and ends at 11:59 pm ET on (A month, day, year). The "Your Sweepstakes" promotion is on going monthly with a winner chosen each month on the (day you choose). It is amazing how people forget to list the date/time period in their Contest Rules.
3. SWEEPSTAKES 13 CONTEST RULES “TO ENTER”: The Sweepstakes 13 "Vegas Getaway for Two", visit (web-page) and The "$599.99 Tax Free Sweepstakes" visit (web-page) Make sure you clearly define HOW and WHERE you can enter. You can have the best looking website and promotion but if your navigation is to difficult it is all for nothing. This should be towards the top of your list of Contest Rules. Many times, people will put them at the end of their Contest Rules focusing on the prize at hand and the most important part "The Entry" gets lost.
("Web Site"), and access the sweepstakes/contest entry form. Complete the entry form and submit as directed. Entries must be received by Sponsor's server by 11:59 pm ET (A month, day, year) (For the Vegas Sweepstakes). Sponsor's server is the official clock for this promotion. Limit one entry per person per day. All Entries are only accepted online. For "$599.99 Tax Free Sweepstakes" the same applies, however a winner will be chosen monthly. Deadline to enter each month is the 1st.
4. Contest Rules DRAWING/PRIZE: For the Vegas Sweepstakes a random drawing will be conducted after (A month, day, year)from among all eligible entries received to award the following prize: (1) Prize(s): Package(s) includes: Round-trip airfare for two and hotel; three nights and four days in Las Vegas. The prize will be given in the form of a voucher. Subject to availability. Some Contest Rules restrictions apply. Package expires (A month, day, year). If the winner cannot accept the prize as stated in the Contest Rules, the prize will be forfeited in its entirety and awarded to an alternate winner. All expenses not specified are winner's sole responsibility. Winner will be notified by email, phone or snail mail per Contest Rules. Please add (email address) to your "safe senders" list to ensure the email notification is delivered to your inbox. Odds of winning will be determined by the number of entries received.
5. Contest Rules GENERAL: All taxes on prizes and expenses relating to acceptance and use of prizes and not specified are the sole responsibility of winners. By participating you agree to abide by the Contest Rules, entrants (and entrant's parent/legal guardian if entrant is a minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence) agree a) to these Contest Rules and decisions of Sponsor which shall be final and binding in all respects and in all matters relating to this promotion; b) to release, discharge, indemnify and agree to hold harmless Sponsor, its advertising and promotion agencies and all of their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, agencies, agents and representatives and all of their respective employees, officers and directors (individually and collectively "Releases") from any liability or responsibility whatsoever for any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages (whether due to negligence or otherwise) of any kind (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to, loss of or destruction of property, or rights of publicity or privacy), arising out of or in connection with the promotion or from their acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize, or participation in the promotion or any promotion related activity or travel related activity; and c) if a winner, by acceptance of prize, to the announcement/use of name, voice, image and/or likeness, at any time or times, for trade, advertising, publicity and promotional purposes without compensation (unless prohibited by law) by Sponsor and those acting pursuant to Sponsor's direction, in all media now known or hereafter discovered, worldwide, including but not limited to the World Wide Web, without notice, review or approval and agrees to execute specific consent to such use if asked to do so. In no event will Releases be responsible or liable for any damages or losses of any kind, whether direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, punitive or other damages. Winner (and winner's parent/legal guardian if winner is a minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence) will be required to complete an affidavit of eligibility, liability and (where legal) publicity release, which must be returned within time period specified by Sponsor or prize may be forfeited. If any prizes or documents are returned as non-deliverable, or if a winner is found to be ineligible or not in compliance with these Official Contest Rules, winner will be disqualified and prize forfeited and an alternate winner selected.
If winner is not of the age of majority in his/her state of residence, prize may be awarded in the name of or to parent or legal guardian (as solely determined by Sponsor) who must execute all documents and agree to all undertakings of winner set forth in these Official Contest Rules or prize may be forfeited. Releases are not responsible and shall not be liable for: a) telephone, electronic, hardware or software or program, network, or Internet or computer malfunction, or any communications accessibility, availability or lines, or technical errors of any kind or by any human error which may occur in the processing of entries, or the incorrect or inaccurate capture of entry or other information, or the failure to capture, or loss of, any such or similar information; b) failed, incomplete, garbled, corrupted or delayed computer transmissions; c) lost, late, misdirected, mutilated, incomplete, illegible entries or postage-due mail, entries or email; or d) any condition caused by events that may cause the promotion to be disrupted or corrupted. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel or suspend the promotion or any portion thereof should computer hardware or software malfunctions (such as but not limited to virus, bugs, worms, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures) or any other causes corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the promotion, and select the winners from entries received prior to the action taken or in such other manner as deemed fair and appropriate by Sponsor.
6. Contest Rules ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS: Releases are not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Web Site users, tampering, hacking or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the promotion and assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or technical error or unauthorized access to the Web Site. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the promotion or Web Site; to be acting in violation of the Official Contest Rules; to be acting in violation of the terms of the Web Site, or to be acting in a non-sportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person.
Releases are not responsible for injury or damage to participants' or to any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating in this Sweepstakes/Contest or downloading materials or programs or software to any computer, or downloading materials from or use of the Web Site. Any use of robotic, automatic, macro, programmed, third-party, or like entry methods, will disqualify all entries using such methods. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded. Entry information and entries become property of Sponsor. In case of dispute, the authorized subscriber of email account used to enter the Promotion, at actual time of entry, will be deemed to be participant and must comply with these Official Contest Rules. Authorized account subscriber is deemed to be natural person who is assigned an email address by an Internet Access Provider, online service provider, or other organization that is responsible for assigning email addresses. No prize transfer or cash redemption or substitution, but Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prize with prize of equal or greater value should prize become unavailable.
IN NO EVENT WILL RELEASES BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF INTERNET SITE (website address) OR THE DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM SAID SITE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, EVERYTHING ON THIS SITE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OR LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.
7. Contest Rules PRIVACY: Information submitted with an entry is subject to the Privacy Policy stated on our Web Site. To read the Privacy Policy (web address).
8. Contests Rules ARBITRATION/CHOICE OF LAW: Except where prohibited, entrants (and entrant's parent/legal guardian if entrant is a minor) agree that: (1) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this promotion, or any prize awarded, or the determination of the winner, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by arbitration pursuant to the Contest Rules of the American Arbitration Association, than effective, and (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this promotion but in no event attorneys' fees; and (3) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Contest Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrant and/or Sponsor in connection with the promotion, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of (your state, country etc.), without regard for conflicts of law doctrine, and all proceedings shall take place in the State of (your state, country etc.)
Those are our Sweepstakes and Contest Rules. They are to the point and contain the main Contest Rules details you need. You will see other Contest Rules and some are so long it is like reading the dictionary. It's a matter of finding that balance. You want to make sure you protect yourself and be very straight forward. You can always seek professional legal advice as well.
Please feel free to use our above Contest Rules for your Contest or Sweepstakes. Just make sure you read through them carefully and change the necessary details to make it your own.
Basic Contest Rules are always the best. When it comes to Contest/Sweepstakes Rules like many other things "less is more".
Win Prizes by doing just about anything
Win Prizes - There is nothing more exciting then hearing the sound of the words "You’ve just won a prize!" It doesn’t matter if it’s five dollars or a huge jackpot of one million dollars. Of course, if it’s the big jackpot you have just won, you’ll probably be a little more excited from the news. Imagine that you could win cash prizes that will bank roll your next vacation or even a down payment on a new home. Many of us dream about winning a big prize almost every day of our lives, but most of us rarely do win. Why? It's not because we do not have the luck of the Irish, but simply because we haven’t put forth the effort and tried. Statistics will tell you that the more you enter competitions and play money games, the more you will increase your chances to Win Prizes such as cash, whether it’s offline or online. The problem starts when you fail to take action.
Did you know that you could be winning prizes for everyday tasks like going for a walk, playing a game, or watching TV?
Entering sweepstakes can be lot of fun, but it is also time consuming. But what hobby isn't? If you're having trouble finding time to enter sweepstakes, not a problem, you can win prizes for things you are doing anyway. Here are some ways you can Win Prizes without making any extra effort.
You can Win Prizes while surfing the Internet.
There are very few people now a days who do not use the internet to search for things, whether it's to find a birthday gift for someone, your favorite sports team game times, or recipes for dinner tonight. If you search through a website like Blingo, you can get chances to Win Prizes every time, with no extra effort required.
You can Win Prizes for recycling and doing other Green Activities.
Recycling is one of the most important things that we can do to help the environment and save the earth. If your city is participating in Recycle Bank's home recycling program, you can earn points just for doing your regular recycling. Then, redeem the points for rewards like vacations, electronics, gift cards, sweepstakes entries, and more. If your city is not involved in the Recycle Bank program, you can still earn rewards with other green activities like recycling your electronics, joining eBay's Team Green.
Win Prizes for exercising, or just get up and start moving. It can be hard many times to get motivated to get out and exercise, but the Plus3 Network is encouraging everyone to get moving by giving you the chance to Win Prizes. To enter to Win Prizes, just track your daily activities. Activities can be more extensive like rock wall climbing or mountain biking, or it can be much more low impact like walking, playing with your Wii, or doing work around the house.
Depending on the difficulty of the exercise and the time you spend exercising, you can earn money for your favorite charity. Plus, you can Win Prizes from Plus3 and from various sponsors. So not only do you get encouragement to be healthier, but you also win prizes effortlessly.
Playing online games is a great way to take a quick break from your day or pass some time while having fun. Many online game sites are offering the chance to Win Prizes just for playing. Here are a few of them:
Win Prizes for Reviewing Books. Why not read a book and then tell the world about what you think about it. If you love to share your opinions about the books you read, you could Win Prizes at the same time. Many of the companies on the list of book sweepstakes sites offer prizes for book reviews. You can also check your favorite book sites to see if they offer reviews on sweepstakes.
Why not Win Prizes for Watching TV. Yes, even being a couch potato can be a way to win great prizes, if you use Reward TV. It is very simple just visit the site each day and answer trivia questions about the television shows you watched the day before. You earn points, which you can use to enter sweepstakes with prizes worth up to $10,000 or more. Another option to Win Prizes is by taking surveys about television to earn more points.
There are many opportunities out there to Win Prizes you just need to look.
Food Competition - Let's Get Cooking!
When you are looking for Food Competition to enter good places to start are magazines, newspapers and the internet.
They tend to keep up on the cooking trends such as ingredients, seasonings, ethnic cuisines, nutrition concerns and what is new in the cooking world. Sponsors want recipes that consumers will really try, so your Food Competition recipe should have a broad appeal and not require hard-to-find ingredients. With that said, it all depends on the rules and requirements. The rules will dictate which direction you will need to go with your recipe. Not one Food Competition is never like the next. Being original is key but you also have to follow the rules.
Make sure you know the rules of every Food Competition you are entering and read them through carefully.
Too many participants have been disqualified from a particular Food Competition because they didn't pay attention to the rules. Sometimes even the most minor screw up will get you thrown from the competition. The saying "you eat with your eye's" is so true. The appearance of a dish sets the tone and the way a dish tastes is the bottom line. Make sure you have your family and friends try out your "Masterpiece" before you enter it into a Food Competition.
Naming your dish is very important. A creative and unusual name will get the judges' attention for sure.
Use descriptive words that capture the feeling of your dish. For instance, say you have entered a Hamburger Grilling Contest. The "All American Burger" will not get you to far if you know what we mean. Not very "original". Unless, the Food Competition rules state that main focus is on taste only. Otherwise, look to your ingredients that you want to use for ideas. Special occasions and Holidays can sometimes spark an idea. The 1# place to start is to take a look at the rules of the Food Competition you want to enter. Once you know that, the possibilities are endless.
We suggest brainstorming and writing anything and everything down that comes to mind. There is no such thing as a right or wrong idea no matter what culinary background, skills or expertise that you or the judges bring to the le. One dish made on that day with those judges might not pan out, but it might with others. Just remember a Food Competition is totally subjective. You can check out the popular food magazines and see what the latest buzz is, again it all depends on what the rules are for each particular Food Competition.
Keeping it simple is definitely the way to go. Make sure your ingredients can be found at most markets. Complicated recipes don't often win, and if you have to go to another country to get the ingredients you can forget it. You have lost the Food Competition before you even have started. Appearance is very important. It might taste delicious, and also look appetizing. Food presentation is an art. That is why it is called "Culinary Art". Not a chef? Don't worry, anyone can a win a Food Competition. The judges do not care if you went to some world-famous culinary school or not. What matters is presentation, taste and if you can make their pallet jump for joy.
Here are some ongoing Food Competitions. You can find a Food Competition that is right for you on all levels and types.
*The All-New Bake-Off Food Competition
It’s bigger, better and fresher than ever. While the grand-prize remains the same awesome size of$1 million dollars. They are adding even more fun. There is three updated recipe categories, brand-new location "Vegas" and, best of all, Pillsbury members get to choose which 100 recipes make it to the finals.
*Vermont Maple Food Competition
The Vermont Maple Syrup and Maple Products contest, which is held annually at the Maple Exhibit hall, is the largest maple contest in Vermont . The winners of this contest deserve to be recognized as having made the "Best of Vermont," a laudable achievement in a state already know for the outstanding quality of its maple products. The maple syrup contest will include three Vermont maple grades: Vermont Fancy, Medium Amber, Dark Amber.
*Punkin Chunkin Food Competition & Chili Cook-off
All Chili entries must be received and displayed at the assigned table in the Food Contest Display Tent. Late entries cannot be judged, but they are welcome as part of the taste samples and auction. All entries must contain canned, frozen or fresh pumpkin (pumpkin pie spice does not count). Recipes need not be originals. Each entry must have its own entry form and be accompanied by the complete recipe which includes instructions for preparation.
*The 5th Computer Food Competition
You will view your digital application during this live competition. Show that the digital technologies you have developed is more creative than the average cook. Your creations will be evaluated by a professional cook and a group of international scientists! This takes the average Food Competition to a technological level. Do not forget to have fun when you enter a Food Competition. That is what is most important.
Guidelines for a Video Competition
Video Competition - is a great way to improve your Photography/Videography skills. A Video Competition simply for the sake of a Video Competition is a lot of fun and the competition could help you raise the bar as a professional Videographer as you understand your work will be seen by a group of professionals and perhaps even shown together with various other champions.
Different types of a Video Competition can be found in all shapes and sizes and array from an online friendly Video Competition or national to a regional Video Competition or A Video Competition sponsored by clubs.
Follow the Video Competition Policies.
While they may be a little boring to go through the terms and conditions of entry to the Video Competition is very important. They will indicate everything you need to know for your entry.
Some of the major factors are how will the images be made use of. Each competitor will have the images submitted differently and it is worth considering the ramifications of this. Competitors that enter their photo's need to know what will happen to their work after the Video Competition. This could leave a lot of Videographers upset if they find their pictures starting to show up all over the place. Make sure you know the out come and will happen to your work after you enter it.
Read the rules of the Video Competition to see how many shots you could send, when they need to be in, the format they ought to be in and so on. Stay with these standards or you might well be wasting your time.
Adhere to the Theme of the Video Competition.
You would be amazed at how many judges will say that the amount of photo's entered do not stick with in the theme. The Competitors sometimes get so hung up on their work and how great it looks they forget to stay with the theme.
While it's always possible to find an image in your archive of video's that will fit the motif of the Video Competition you might have more luck when shooting something brand-new. You might not only get better results but either way you will be adding to your library.
It is endless to what you could do to improve your chances of winning a Video Competition if you simply do a little abstract thought and research prior to you starting to shoot.
If the Video Competition is yearly, consider the winners from last year while you don't want to duplicate them, they can offer you some pointers as to the kind of pictures that do well. If the competition is operated by a company or has a major sponsor this could also be worth remembering as it could possibly tell you regarding the kind of picture they are looking for. Finally, if the judges names are published take a little time to familiarize yourself with their work. Exactly what design of work they do, what kind of image might they cherish?
Avoid the same old things.
Remember, that the judges will potentially be viewing hundreds if not thousands of pictures in their pursue of finding a winner so if your picture is much like every other photo, is it more likely to fall below their radar.
If an image does not feel right or not up to what you think it should be then take another and more if you need too. Don't go for average outcomes because the judges will not.
One of the huge mistakes that judges have mentioned when evaluating a Video Competition is the images where the professional videographer just has not paid attention to every component of the structure. Distracting aspects turn up in backgrounds, foregrounds, color etc and that could mean the difference between an excellent shot or a great one.
Remember you are telling a story, hitting people with emotion, you want to make a connection and evoke some kind of a reaction with those looking at the picture. Technically fantastic shots without a soul will certainly leave judges desiring something more.
The Ride on! Video Competition has become very popular sponsored by the Utah State Parks and Recreation. They manage 43 state parks in Utah from Bear Lake State Park at the Utah/Idaho border to the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum deep in the Four Corners region, and everywhere in between. They also administer the Utah off-highway vehicle, boating, and trails programs. Working to provide access to waterways and trails, and promote education, safety, and resource protection. They encourage Video enthusiasts to please enter their The Ride on! Video Competition.
Art Competition - The Art of an Art Competition
Art Competition – An Art Competition should be about your art, right? Well, unfortunately many times takes a back seat because entries are not being submitted properly. Make sure you are not making some of these common mistakes when entering an Art Competition.
Make sure you read the Art Competition rules thoroughly.
Then do it again. Take your time and make sure you understand what you are reading. We know this sounds like common sense but it is often overlooked.
The company that is putting on the Art Competition has developed their competition rules in a certain order to administer, process and judge the art in a thorough and systematic manner. They will have specific instructions how they want the submitted artwork to be labeled, sized and named. Understand exactly what they want will make or break if you win or not, even if your work is the best thing on the planet.
Know the Art Competition deadlines.
The company who is managing the Art Competition will always have deadlines that you must adhere too. Everything from advertising, materials and judge schedules revolves around deadlines. It is unfair for an artist to expect the company to change their schedule in order to help the artist with their scheduling issues. It is not fair to all of the other artists if you so not get your submission entered on time.
The Art Competition Theme and Media - Understand what the company who is putting on the Art Competition wants from the artist. If it says 2 dimensional art, do not submit your jewelry, sculpture or crafts. If it says no photo's, then do not submit any photo's with your entry.
If you have any questions or issues about the theme of the Art Competition or what is acceptable, you can contact and discuss this with the companies event staff. You can save everyone a lot of trouble, wasted time and effort by asking or having the theme and media questions cl