1. So, You Want To Run A Contest…
Your Promo Tool-Kit Contest Checklist
Objective
You want to create buzz about your new book or your writer friend’s book(s). You want to get more readers &
reviews out there in the blogosphere, on GoodReads, on Amazon, on Twitter, where they might affect the
buying habits of other potential readers. You want librarians and teachers to hear of your book, so they
recommend it to their students. If you said yes at any time, then a contest is one way to reach your goal(s).
Preparatory Steps
What prizes to offer
• Books (finished copies, pre-orders or ARCs)
• Book swag including bookmarks, stickers, postcards, bookplates, magnets, tshirts, etc. (Anything on
which you can print your book cover, slogan, quotations, etc.)
• Book-specific swag/prize packs Ex. If you book is about vampires, you could include red lipstick, fake
vampire fangs, etc. or if your novel or it’s main character is always seen with a type of candy or
interested in something distinctive, then you could offer a miniature version as a keepsake, like a ballet
slipper for a book with ballerinas.
• Gift certificate to an online bookstore
Get some photos
Either take some pictures of the prizes winners can expect (especially for book swag and book-specific prizes)
or grab some existing ones from your publisher’s website or your own files.
Write contest post
Include who, what, where, when, why (if there is an applicable why), and how of entering your contest
Use a “Form” template from Google Docs
They’re free, fast to setup, easy to use, attractive and can be either embedded into your blog post or linked to
depending on what you prefer. Plus, they create a handy spreadsheet with all entrants listed clearly. Make sure
to ask their name, email address (to contact them), and blog URL (so you can link to their site should they win)
at the minimum. You can offer few entries (which makes selecting the winner easier) or as many as you want.
Extra Entries?
Types of extra entries
(Use up to 6 ways for entrants to promote your contest for extra entries)
• Tweet contest (with or without a specific message)
• Leave comment on your blog

2. 2
• Follow you on Twitter
• Like you on Facebook
• If you have a contest button/banner, then give extra entries for those who post it on their blogs
• Promote your book trailer
• Refer a friend to the contest
• Sign up for email subscription to your blog
• Become a friend with Google Friend Connect
• Change your Twitter avatar to your book cover
• Get them to take a photo with your book somewhere
• Ask local bookstores if they’re planning on selling your book on release day
• Add up the entries for you
Keep in mind that for every extra entry someone earns, you’ll need to manually add a new line on the
spreadsheet, which can take up quite a bit of time.
Promote Your Contest
Where should you publicize your contest?
• On your blog
• On your website (if it’s separate from your blog)
• On your Twitter feed
• On your Facebook Page
• GoodReads events that you send to your friends
• Some GoodReads groups offer a comment thread to spread the word about contests, so promote
them there
• Send an email to your email list (if you have one)
And The Contest Is Over….
• Open spreadsheet & add in extra entries if required and note the first & last number of lines
• Use Random.org to generate a randomly generated number between the first and last # of lines on the
spreadsheet & create a post announcing the winners as well as emailing them
• In winner post (or in contest policy on your site) clarify that winners have 48 hours to respond with their
mailing address before you have to select someone else instead